Aligarh
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Victoria gate, a part of Aligarh University campus |
Aligarh is a city in the
northern Indian
state of
Uttar Pradesh. The city is located about 90 miles south-east of
New Delhi. It is the administrative headquarters of
Aligarh District, and has a population of half a million. It is mostly known as a university town where the famous
Aligarh Muslim University is located.
The city was originally established as a fort in the
12th century, and was known as Kol. The name was changed to Aligarh in
1776 upon the building of an important fort there. It was taken by the British in
1803. Its garrison mutinied in
1857. The remains of the ancient fort still stand 3 km north of the town. Many railway lines pass through the city connecting it to most of the important destinations in the region.
The city is located on a plain between the
Ganges and
Jumna Rivers. The
Grand Trunk Road passes through the city.
Aligarh is synonymous with the University that is spread across much of the city civil lines area.
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A church in Naqvi Park, a lesser known part of Aligarh. |
This city is famous for locks and brass castings (sculptures).
The town was witness to
2006 Aligarh Riots.
2001 Census: 667,732
