Agra

Home to World's Eight Wonder - The Taj Mahal, Agra is an ancient city on the bank of Yamuna river in India, within the state of Uttar Pradesh. It achieved prominence as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1526 to 1658 and till today remains a major tourist destination because of its many splendid Mughal-Era buildings, most notably the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Fatehpur Sikri, all three of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Demographics
The total population in Agra as per census in 2001 was approximately 27 lakhs. The male to female ratio is 55:45. The portion of urban population is quite high in the city. Of the total population, around 11 lakhs make urban population (according to the survey in 2001).

Climate of Agra
The climate of Agra is extreme and tropical. Summers in Agra are extremely hot. The maximum temperature can be as high as 45°C, while winters are cold and foggy. The monsoons are marked by heavy rains and high humidity. Agra travel is feasible throughout the year, but one must avoid the extreme hot summers (April-June) and rainy season (July-Sept). The most suitable time to visit Agra is in winters.

How to visit Agra?
Agra lies at a distance of 200 km from New Delhi. Agra is very well connected via rail and road with other nearby cities. A large number of trains ply from New Delhi to Agra. There is also a special luxurious tourist train called the "Palace on Wheels" from New Delhi which covers Jaipur, parts of Rajasthan and Agra. It takes around 3 hours to reach Agra by train from Delhi. Besides the trains, there are a number of buses which connect Agra with New Delhi. Driving on the National Highway is a pleasing experience and it takes nearly 3-4 hours to reach Agra. There are a couple of flights from New Delhi to Agra. Nearest Airport is Kheria airport, 6 km from Agra town.

Important Tourist Destinations in Agra

• Taj Mahal
• Agra Fort
• Fatehpur Sikri
• Itmad-Ud-Daulah's Tomb
• Chini Ka Rauza
• Aaram Bagh
• Swamiji Maharaj
• Sikandra

Education in Agra
Agra has an average literacy rate of 48.6% with 63.1% male and 30.8% female literates, as per 1991 census.

Total
University	2
Medical College	1
Engineering College	4
Degree College	6
Management Institutes	2
Computer Institutes	2
Polytechnics	2
Schools (CBSE/ICSE)	13
Colleges	27
Central School	3

Trade and Economy in Agra

• The Economy of the Agra district is agriculture based.
• The base of Agra city is Small Scale Industries (SSI), Commerce and Trade.
• About 40% of the total economy of Agra depend on industry (directly or indirectly).
• Over 7200 Small Scale Industrial Units are spared all over the district.
• Around 70 export units, having a total export turn over of about Rs. 450 Crores.
• Fully computerized district industries center, along with the Internet facility.
• Dial up connectivity provided by the National Informatics Center, Agra Unit.
• About 65% of total domestic requirement of shoes in India is supplied from Agra economy.
• Agra city is famous for the Leather Goods, Handicrafts, Zari Zardozi, Marvel and Stone carving & inlay work. Agra is also well known for sweets (Petha) and Snacks (Dalmoth and Gajak).

Industries in Agra

Industries in Agra Shoes Industries Electrical Goods Fans Pipes CI Casting Floor Leather Goods Steel Rolling Packing Milk Products

Small Industries Cotton and Textile Wood Paper Products and Stationery Leather Goods and Metal Products Auto and Engine Parts Electrical Goods etc. Handicrafts Works Zari Zardozi Marvel Strone carving and Inley work Carpets