Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned from 1628 to 1658), to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 17-hectare (42-acre)complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.
Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees, which in 2015 would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees (U.S. $827 million). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.
The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. It is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India’s rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year. In 2007, it was declared a winner of the New 7 Wonders of the World (2000–2007) initiative.
History
It is generally accepted that Agra was both an ancient city from the times of the Mahabharata (see above) and yet nevertheless Sultan Sikandar Lodī, the Muslim ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, founded Agra in the year 1504. After the Sultan’s death, the city passed on to his son, Sultan Ibrāhīm Lodī. He ruled his Sultanate from Agra until he fell fighting to Mughal Badshah (emperor) Bābar in the First battle of Panipat fought in 1526.
The golden age of the city began with the Mughals. It was known then as Akbarabād and remained the capital of the Mughal Empire under the Badshahs (emperors) Akbar, Jahāngīr and Shāh Jahān. Akbar made it the eponymous seat of one of his original twelve subahs (imperial top-level provinces), bordering (Old) Delhi, Awadh (Oudh), Allahabad, Malwa and Ajmer subahs. Shāh Jahān later shifted his capital to Shāhjahānabād in the year 1649.
Since Akbarabād was one of the most important cities in India under the Mughals, it witnessed a lot of building activity. Babar, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, laid out the first formal Persian garden on the banks of river Yamuna. The garden is called the Arām Bāgh or the Garden of Relaxation. His grandson Akbar the Great raised the towering ramparts of the Great Red Fort, besides making Agra a centre for learning, arts, commerce and religion. Akbar also built a new city on the outskirts of Akbarabād called Fatehpūr Sikrī. This city was built in the form of a Mughal military camp in stone.
His son Jahāngīr had a love of flora and fauna and laid many gardens inside the Red Fort or Lāl Qil’a. Shāh Jahān, known for his keen interest in architecture, gave Akbarabād its most prized monument, the Tāj Mahal. Built in loving memory of his wife Mumtāz Mahal, the mausoleum was completed in 1653.
Shāh Jahān later shifted the capital to Delhi during his reign, but his son Aurangzeb moved the capital back to Akbarabād, usurping his father and imprisoning him in the Fort there. Akbarabād remained the capital of India during the rule of Aurangzeb until he shifted it to Aurangabad in the Deccan in 1653.
After the decline of the Mughal Empire, the city came under the influence of Marathas and was called Agra, before falling into the hands of the British Raj in 1803.
In 1835 when the Presidency of Agra was established by the British, the city became the seat of government, and just two years later it was witness to the Agra famine of 1837–38. During the Indian rebellion of 1857 British rule across India was threatened, news of the rebellion had reached Agra on 11 May and on 30 May two companies of native infantry, the 44th and 67th regiments, rebelled and marched to Delhi. The next morning native Indian troops in Agra were forced to disarm, on 15 June Gwalior (which lies south of Agra) rebelled. By 3 July, the British were forced to withdraw into the fort. Two days later a small British force at Sucheta were defeated and forced to withdraw, this led to a mob sacking the city. However, the rebels moved onto Delhi which allowed the British to restore order by 8 July. Delhi fell to the British in September, the following month rebels who had fled Delhi along with rebels from Central India marched on Agra but were defeated. After this British rule was again secured over the city until the independence of India in 1947.
Agra is the birthplace of the religion known as Dīn-i Ilāhī, which flourished during the reign of Akbar and also of the Radhaswami Faith, which has around two million followers worldwide. Agra has historic linkages with Shauripur of Jainism and Runukta of Hinduism, of 1000 BC.
FAIR & FESTIVALS
Agra is a beautiful city, which is visited by a crazy number of travelers from all around. Fair and festivals in Agra are quite colorful. If you visit the Mughal City during the celebrations, it is an ideal time to get a sneak-peak into the culture and traditions of the region. Following are some of the most popular fairs and festivals in Agra:
Taj Mahotsav
One of the most famous festivals in Agra, Taj Mahotsav is an annual event, which is organized in the month of February for 10 days. Close to the Taj Mahal, the Crafts Village or Shilpgram is the venue of the festival. The festival is organized by Uttar Pradesh Tourism to promote the art and craft of the region, made painstakingly by local craftsmen. The festival is a display of art, crafts, culture, traditional variety of food, and folk performances. Ghazal and Mushairas (poetry) performances is the other highlight. For children, there are camel and elephant rides.
The festival welcomes the spring season with zeal. The Mahotsav starts with a grand procession that has decorated camels and elephants, folk artists, accompanied by drumbeaters. Some of the best attractions at Taj Mahotsav include Chikankari from Lucknow, handmade carpets from Badohi, wood carvings from Saharanpur, silk from Varanasi, blue pottery from Khurja, Sapera dance from Rajasthan, Nautanki from Uttar Pradesh, Lavani from Maharashtra, and so on.
Bateshwar Fair
The town of Bateshwar is located at a distance of just 70 km from Agra. It is named after the presiding deity, Bateshwar Mahadeo. This town is known for its cultural as well as spiritual significance as it has 108 temples of several Hindu gods and goddess. An annual fair is organized here in the months of October/November, dedicated to Lord Shiva. During this month-long event, thousands of devotees of the Lord take a dip in the holy waters of River Yamuna. Livestock and Cattle Fair is a part of this fair. The festivities can be seen in Agra too.
Ram Barat
Organized before Dussehra, Ram Barat is the special marriage procession of Lord Ram, which is organized every year in Agra. It is a part of Ramleela, which ends on the day of Dussehra, when Lord kills Ravana. At a special venue the palace of the Goddess Sita, Raja Janak, ‘Janakpuri’ is set-up. One of the highlights is the bedecked ‘jhankis’. This venue becomes the base for the fair, which is visited by thousands of devotees of the Lord who come to witness the royal wedding.
The procession of Ram Barat commences from Lala Channomalji Ki Baradari, traversing through the lanes of the city, to arrive at Janakpuri venue. The idol of Lord Rama, along with his brothers on elephants, is kept on special chariot decorated with silver leaves. Their bejeweled headgears look fabulous. The role of female characters are played by the local teenaged boys.
Kailash Fair
Organized at a location, just 12 km away from Agra, Kailash Fair is held at Kailash temple for paying homage to Lord Shiva. The festival is organized in the month of August/September for celebrating the appearance of Lord Shiva as a stone lingam. Devotees from nearby places attend this fair.
Demography of Agra District
- District Area- 4027 sq.km.
- No. of Revenue Sub Disivions(Tehsil)- 6
- No. of Blocks- 15
- No. of Nagar Nigam- 1
- No. of Nagar Palika Parishad- 5
- No. of Nagar Panchayat- 7
- No. of Gram Panchayat- 690
- No. of Revenue Villages- 931
- No. of Lok Sabha Seat- 2
- No. of Vidhan Sabha Seat- 9
Main Industries of District Agra
- Major Industries
There are 12 units in the district those comes under major & medium scale industries.
They producesElectrical Goods
Fans
Pipes
C.I. Casting
Floor
Leathr Goods and Shoes
Steel Rolling
Packing
Milk Products
- Small Industries
In this category, 7200 units are working at Agra, those produces
Cotton and Textile
Wood Paper Products and Stationery
Leather Goods and Metal Products
Auto and Engine Parts
Electrical Goods etc.
- Handicrafts Works
In Handicrafts, Zari Zardozi, Marvel, Strone carving and Inley work, Carpets about 13000 people are working. About 116 are exporting units and two Padam Shree Award winners are Mr. Sekh Samruddin and Shri Hari Kishan Badal, 37 States and National awards winners of handicrafts.
- Shoes Industries
Above 1.5 Laks pairs of shoes per day manufactures in agra by the cottage, small scale and medium scale footwear units.There about 60 organised footwear units, 3000 tiny manufactureing units and about 30000 house holds artisans units. There are a large number of ancillary industries, supporting footwear industries in Agra. (About 20 small scale machinery manufacutes and 100 various kinds of footwear component manufactures.) About 65% of total domestic requirement of shoes in india is supplied from Agra.
There are around 70 export units in Agra in which two golden cards holders and three silver card holders units. Total export turn over agra about Rs. 450 crore.
Disaster Management
A disaster is a serious disruption, occurring over a relatively short time, of the functioning of a community or a society involving widespread human, material, economic or environmental loss and impacts, which exceeds the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources.
In contemporary academia, disasters are seen as the consequence of inappropriately managed risk. These risks are the product of a combination of both hazards and vulnerability. Hazards that strike in areas with low vulnerability will never become disasters, as in the case of uninhabited regions.
Helpline No. – 1070
Helpline
The contact details related to different public services in the district.
HELPLINE TOLL FREE NUMBERS –
- CM Helpline :1076
- UP 112 (Police) : 112
- Fire: 101
- UP Ambulance Service: 108
- Child Helpline : 1098
- Women Hepline : 1090
- Call ambulance for pregnant ladies :102
- Relief Helpline:1070
- Cyber Security Helpline Number:1930
- Mobile Veterinary Helpline Number – 1962
- NIC Service Desk : 1800111555
Handicraft
Taj Mahal is the iconic spot of Agra. Apart from sightseeing, Taj Mahal is famous for photography, night visit, museum strolling, relaxing, romantic outing and also shopping. However, there is no official souvenir or handicraft shop inside Taj Mahal. You can find numerous handicrafts stores right outside the monument. The area around Taj Mahal will be bursting with vendors. If you are visiting during tourism season, you are in for a treat.
Places of Interest:-
| Place | State | Distance in km from DHQ | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Keetam Lake | UP | 25 | Pachhi Vihar and Surkuti |
| National Bird Sanctuary Bharatpur | Rajasthan | 55 | Bird Sanctuary |
| Bateswar | UP | 80 | Animal fair and Temples |
| Mathura | UP | 55 | Temples |
| Vrandavan | UP | 75 | Radha Krishna Temples |
| Goverdhan | UP | 70 | Famous For Prikrama |
| Fatehpur Sikri | UP | 30 | World Famous Buland Darwaja |
| Mangalayatan | UP | 60 | Jain temple |
| Sikandra | UP | 17 | Akbar Ka Makbara |
