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Cities Of India
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States & Cities >>
Uttar-Pradesh >> Agra
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Located about 204 km south of Delhi in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Agra is one of the most famous tourist spots of the country. The city, situated on the west bank of river the Yamuna, is known world over as home to a wonder of the world, Taj Mahal.
A part of the great northern Indian plains, Agra has a tropical climate. Summers are extremely hot and the maximum temperature can be as high as 45 degree Celsius, while winters are cold and foggy. The monsoon season is marked by heavy rains and high humidity. |
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For most of the time Agra alternated with Delhi as the capital of the Mughal Empire. As such one finds many marvels of the Mughal architecture in and around the city, the most famous of them being the Taj Mahal. Besides the Taj, the Agra Fort (also called the Red Fort) makes an interesting sight. Other major attractions include the tomb of Mirza Ghiyas Beg, Jama Masjid, Akbar’s tomb at Sikandra, Rambagh, the Mughal Garden and Dayal Bagh Temple. Besides the historical monuments, one can also explore Agra’s rich heritage of handicrafts in its markets.
Places Of Interest:
Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-Daula's Tomb, Moti Masjid. |
Excursions from
Agra
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Aligarh
Situated at a distance of 91 km from Agra, Aligarh is famous for
being the home to the Aligarh Muslim University. The university was
founded by Sir Syad Ahmad Khan in the 19th century. The city is also
known for its locks. |
Bhandirvan
Thirty-one kilometres from Mathura lies Bhandirvan where, it is
believed, Radha and Krishna were married under a banyan tree (Bhandirvat)
while Brahma presided as an officiating priest. The ceremony was
supposed to have been attended by other gods also. |
Fatehpur Sikri
39 kms from
Agra stands Fatehpur Sikri, the red sandstone city of yesteryears.
The city was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in AD 1564 in honour
of the Muslim saint Sheikh Salim Chisti. Fatehpur Sikri was intended
to be the capital city but the shortage of water and unrest in the
north-west made Akbar abandon it. One of the major attractions of
this city is the marble tomb of Sheikh Salim Chisthi. Other places
of interest include Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-i-Khas, Buland Darwaza, Panch
Mahal, Jodha Bai’s Palace and Birbal Bhavan.
Ferozabad
For those interested in glass
products, a visit to Ferozabad becomes necessary. Situated about 44
km away from Agra, this industrial city is famous for its glassware.
You can buy products such as glass bangles and chandeliers in
abundance here.
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Gokul
It is in Gokul that Lord Krishna was
supposed to be secretly raised. The town is about 16 km south of
Mathura. One of the most notable structures here is the Chaurasi
Khamba (84 pillars), also known as Nand Maharaja’s house. Most of
the the temples and structures here are built around the legends.
The mud temples on the side of the hill mark the places where
Krishna is supposed to have killed the demons Putana, Trinavarta,
and Shakatasura. A little distance away is Utkhal where Yashoda is
believed to have tied Krishna to a grinding mortar as a punishment
for breaking her pitcher and stealing butter. At Brahmand Ghat, she
is supposed to have witnessed the entire universe in Krishna’s mouth
while chastising him for having eaten mud.
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Govardhan Hill
Legend has it that Krishna lifted this hill in order to protect the
villagers from the torrential downpour caused by the wrath of God
Indra. It is believed that for seven days, he held the hill on his
little finger while his disc generated enough heat to evaporate the
excess rainwater. Govardhan is situated 25 km west of Mathura on the
road to Deeg.
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Keetham Lake
Also known as Sur Sarovar, the Keetham Lake is situated at about 23
kilometres from Agra within the Surdas Reserved Forest. One can
witness a wide variety of fish and water birds in the lake. The
tranquil surroundings present an ideal relaxing place. |
 Mathura
Located about 47 km from Agra, Mathura is famous as the birthplace
of Lord Krishna. Besides being an important pilgrim place of the
Hindus, it is one of the seven most sacred cities in India. Mathura
is also an important crafts centre.
Visiting Mathura gives one a chance to trace the early years of the
life of Lord Krishna. Among the foundations of the Kesava Deo
Temple, one comes across a small room designed as a prison cell. In
the cell is a stone slab on which, it is believed, Lord Krishna was
born some 3,500 years ago. Adjacent to the temple stands the mosque
built by Aurangzeb. The place, referred to as Sri Krishna
Janambhoomi, has been a subject of dispute between the Hindus and
Muslims.
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Vrindavan
10 kms from Mathura lies the town of Vrindavan. The place is
associated with the childhood exploits of Lord Krishna. Vrindavan
has scores of temples, shrines, and memorial stones and hermitages
of the saints and Krishna’s followers. One of the most impressive
buildings that greets the visitor in Vrindavan is the Govind Dev
Temple. This red sandstone structure is supposed to be
architecturally one of the most advanced Hindu temples in northern
India.
One can also have a look at the 150-year-old Ranganathan Temple,
popularly known as the Rangaji Temple, which is located in a
beautiful complex. Around 4000 other temples are said to exist in
Virndavan. The town is also the seat of ISKCON (International
Society for Krishna Consciousness) which has built a magnificent
temple here.
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Agra Fact File
• Area 120.57 sq km.
• Altitude 169 m above sea level
• Population(1991) 891,790
• Languages Hindi and Urdu
• Best time to visit Winters
• STD Code 0562 |
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