Agra
| Agra | |
|---|---|
| |
| Presidency: Bengal | |
| Coordinates: | 27.179700°N 78.021400°E |
| Altitude: | 171 m (561 ft) |
| Present Day Details | |
| Place Name: | Agra |
| State/Province: | Uttar Pradesh |
| Country: | India |
| Transport links | |
| Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway East Indian Railway Great Indian Peninsula Railway | |
The city of Agra is situated about 105 miles (170km) south-south-east of Delhi. As well as being the home of Fatehpur Sikri, the Taj Mahal and the Agra Fort, Agra is an important railhead and junction.
History
Administration
The British took possession of Agra in 1803, and until 1829, the civil administration of the city was conducted by a 'Collector' under the orders of the commissioners of the Ceded and Conquered Provinces. Between 1833 and 1835, Agra had its own Presidency, but this was abolished and the city was taken into the North-Western Provinces. The first Lieutenant-Governor installed there was Charles Metcalfe. Agra remained the seat of government for the province until 1858, when the administration was transferred to Allahabad. Ten years later, the High Court of Judicature followed.
In 1903, the North-Western Provinces were renamed the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (United Provinces for short) and under independant Indian rule this province became Uttar Pradesh.
Military
- Battle of Agra 1803 in the 2nd Maratha War
- Retreat to Agra 1804 in the 2nd Maratha War
- Battle of Agra 1857 in the Indian Mutiny
Social
Over three quarters of a million people, mostly Indians, died during the Agra famine of 1837–38 that hit the North-Western Provinces.
Churches and missions
Anglican
- St George's, Cantonment - built 1828, consecrated 1835
- St John's Church, native church - built 1856, run by the Church Mission Society
- St Mathias's Church, Agra Fort
- St Paul's, Civil Lines - built 1855, run by the Church Mission Society
Roman Catholic
- RC Cathedral, Civil Lines - built 1848, the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Agra
- St Patrick's, Cantonment
Other denominations
- Havelock Chapel, Cantonment - run by the Baptist Mission, erected 1873 in memory of Sir Henry Havelock who, with the 13th Regiment of Foot, built a Baptist chapel in the Cantonment in 1837
- American Episcopal Methodist - by the District Courts, built 1887
Missions
- Church Mission Society, St John's College
- Baptist Mission
- Methodist Mission
Education
Colleges
- Agra College - founded in 1823 with an endowment from the East India Company
- St Peter's College - Roman Catholic institution, founded 1841 (wikipedia entry)
- St John's College - founded by the Church Mission Society in 1850 (wikipedia entry)
- Medical College - opened in 1855 for native hospital assistants
Schools
- Victoria High School - founded in 1862
- St George's High School for European children
- Convent school for girls
Transport
Railway
Agra was an important rail head, served by the East Indian Railway, the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, and by both broad and metre gauge lines of the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway.
Stations
- Agra Cantonment Station (BB&CIR, GIPR) - (became Idgah Railway Station) in the centre of the city, along the Fatehpur Sikri Road
- Agra City Station (EIR, GIPR) - in the northern part of the city
- Agra Fort Station (BB&CIR, EIR, GIPR) - next to the Fort
- Agra Jail Station - in the North West of the city
- Agra Junction Station - on the right bank of the Jumna river
- Agra Road Station (GIPR) - (became Agra Cantt Station) to the south west of the cantonment, near the Sadar Bazaar
- Raja-ki-Mandi Station (GIPR) - in the northern part of the city