Agra

What it's known for

Agra is famous for the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and it forms the Golden Triangle tourist circuit with Delhi and Jaipur. Sultan Sikandar Lodi made it his seat of government in 1504–1505, and it later served as the capital of the Mughal Empire until 1658.

Fun facts

1. Emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal between 1632 and 1648 in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.
2. Shah Jahan spent his last years imprisoned in Agra Fort by his son Aurangzeb, and he is said to have died gazing at the Taj Mahal, about 2.5 km away.
3. The most accepted origin of the name is the Hindi word 'agar', meaning salt pan, because of the area's salty soil.