Connoisseurs of Art and Architecture, the Mughal Rule defined the city's landscape

History of Agra dates back to the Mahabharata days. It was then a part of Brijbhumi or the Land of Lord Krishna. In more recent times, Agra came into prominence under the rule of Sikander Lodhi, the second ruler of the Lodhi Dynasty, who made the city his capital. In 1526, A.D. Babur's army defeated and ousted the Lodhi dynasty, thus starting the Mughal Rule.

Babar, the founder of the Mughal Dynasty made Agra his capital. He is credited with building the first planned garden in the city, the Ram Bagh. A true visionary, Babar was focused on how he wanted to develop the city; he brought in some of the finest artists, skilled craftsmen to Agra.

Agra continued to flourish under the Mughal rule. Emperor Akbar, Jehangir and Shahjahan took upon them to promote the city as a prime center for arts, learning and trade. The world famous Taj Mahal was built during the rule of Shahjahan.In the post Mughal era, Agra was ruled by the Jats, the Marathas and finally the British. It remained the capital of the North-Western provinces, called as the Agra Presidency till the Great Mutiny of 1857, after which the capital shifted to Allahabad.