At Taj Mahal, in the city of Agra, India

 “The Taj Mahal rises above the banks of the river like a solitary tear suspended on the cheek of time.” ― Rabindranath Tagore

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(on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh) The city of Agra, in the Indo-Gangetic Plain on the Yamuna River, is found about 125 miles (200 km) southeast of Delhi. There was an early reference to an “Agravana” in the ancient Sanskrit epic Mahabharata, and Ptolemy is said to have called the site “Agra.” The city was founded by Sultan Sikandar of the Lodī dynasty in the early 16th century to be the capital of the Delhi sultanate. Agra also served as the Mughal capital during some periods of that empire. In the late 18th century the city fell successively to the Jats, the Marathas, the Mughals, the ruler of Gwalior, and, finally, the British in 1803. It was the capital of Agra (later North-Western) province from 1833 to 1868 and was one of the main centers of the Indian Mutiny (from 1857–58).

+ Agra is best known for the Taj Mahal, which was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. A complex mausoleum, the Taj Mahal is often considered to be the world’s best example of Mughal architecture. The Mughal emperor Shah Jahān built it for his favorite wife, Mumtāz Maḥal, in the mid-17th century. Agra Fort (16th century) was built by the emperor Akbar; it contains the Pearl Mosque (Moti Masjid; 17th century), constructed of white marble, and a palace, the Jahangiri Mahal. (The fort was also designated a World Heritage site in 1983.) The Jāmiʿ Masjid, or Great Mosque, and the elegant tomb of Iʿtimād al-Dawlah (1628), of white marble, are located near the Taj Mahal. To the northwest, at Sikandra, is the tomb of Akbar. The fort and the Taj, 1.2 miles (2km) apart, both overlook the river on different parts of the bend.

+ One of the most popular tourist destinations in India, Agra is as loved by Indians as it is by visitors who throng here in large numbers to admire its beauty. (Along with Delhi and Jaipur, Agra forms the Golden Triangle of tourism in India.) The city was first mentioned in Mahabharata as Agrevana, which means the border of the forest. It was later established by Sikandar Lodi of the Lodi Dynasty in the 16th century who built many structures including forts, step wells, and mosques in Agra. He moved his capital from Delhi to Agra and after his death, his son ruled the city for nine years. Later, Sher Shah Suri ruled Agra, and from 1556 to 1658 it was the capital of the Mughal Empire. (During the reign of the Marathas, Akbarabad became Agra.) Under the Mughal reign the city of Agra was ruled by greats like Akbar, Jehangir, and Shah Jahan. (Agra’s golden age started during their rule.) By 1803, however, it came under the British Raj that remained strong for most part until India gained independence in 1947. (With so many prominent rulers having ruled the city, Agra is home to several important monuments including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites.)