History of Agra - from way before construction of Taj Mahal till the Mughal Invasion

From Mathura to Agra, as our journey moved, the history too moved from Lord Krishna to Mughal rule. Every structure and monument in Agra has historical importance, before starting my journey with the Magnificent Taj Mahal and other monuments in Agra, here is something with the history of this place.
    Situated in the banks of famous river Yamuna, Agra had great hindu rulers and imperial glory of mighty Mughals.Its said that Aryans settled at the same the present Agra. They choice as their settlement because it was situated between the fertile valleys of Ganga and Yamuna. Agra, which was called 'Arya-Griha' during their rule later got abbreviated and got its name Agra.

    Few other history identify Agra with the 'Agra Vana' of Mahabharat period. This place was famous for its lenghty and vast green forests and was famous as 'Brij Mandal' or 'Brij Bhoomi', which comprised of eighty four sub-forests(Mathura and Vrindavan were also one amonge the eighty four). This  place was found by maternal father of Krishna, Maharaja Agrasen or Ugrasen, whose name ultimately came to be known as Agra. Its said, there was a big prison of King Kansa, in Agra. During Mahabharath Agra was a prosperous city and was not very far from then capital Indraprasthna(present day Delhi). Then was a rule of Rajput of Mewar.

    Mohammad Ghaznavi invaded Agra in 1022AD and ruined Agra so much that it became one of the most insignificant villages of the land. It started losing its ancient glory and became a neglected city. Turned into a deserted and destroyed city. It became a mere village in the Sarkar of Bayana before Sikandar Lodi an Afghan ruler, made it his capital. Sikandar Lodi a military general, spotted Agra a suitable site to serve his military head quarters and became the seat of his Government in 1504AD. 

    There was a old fort of King Badal Singh called Badalgrah fort, which Sikandar Lodi demolished and constructed a new fort during his rule. Lodi constructed many buildings and his new city Sikandara which was 12km from Agra then, presently emerged into Agra after territorial expansion.

    In 1526AD, Babur invaded India to master Lodi's empire, which included Agra, Delhi and some parts of Punjab, in the third battle of Panipat. During his rule Babur, built Aaram Bagh, situated on the bank of Yamuna.

After the death of Babur, Humayun heired the throne. Due to his incapability to administer, he was attacked by Afghans and forced to leave Hindustan. Meanwhile he had married to Hamida Bano during his rule in India, who later gave birth to Akbar. With the help of Afghan, Humayun recaptured India in 1555AD.

    Though Babur and Humayun retained Agra as their seat of government, the city reached the pinnacle of its political power, cultural heights and architectural glory during the reign of Akbar, and his two immediate successors Jahangir and Shah Jahan.

    Following posts on the different monuments of Agra, which gave back the city its lost glory.

Related Posts: Check out the complete series on Golden Triangle Tour.