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Agra Tradition ascribes the foundation of the
present city of Agra to Raja Badal Singh, around 1475 AD. However, the
mention of Agraban in the Mahabharat, suggests that it has been the
sister of Mathura, an ancient city in the vicinity, from a very early
period. Sikander Lodi made this place his capital, when the Lodis ruled
North India. With the arrival of the Mughals in 1526, led by Babar, Agra
entered a completely new epoch which has contributed to making it a much
sought after destination in contemporary times. Agra reached its zenith
between 1556 and 1658, under the Mughal emperors Akbar, Jehangir and
Shah Jahan. Akbar made it a great center of learning, art, commerce and
culture. His successors built on the foundations he laid. Most of the
famed monuments, including the Taj Mahal, belong to this period, when
Agra was a hive of building activity of exceptionally high standards. It is not surprising, then, that modern Agra still reflects its Mughal heritage. A walk down the narrow, bustling streets of the city will introduce the visitor to the flavors of Mughlai food, the traditional craftsmen busy creating an endless variety of masterpieces, and much more. |
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