Aligarh

Aligarh is a District in the Uttar Pradesh. The city is located about 90 miles southeast of New Delhi. It is the administrative headquarters of Aligarh District, Aligarh Police Range and Aligarh Division, 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 Aligarh division includes Aligarh, Etah, Hathras and Kanshi Ram Nagar districts. In 1875, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan founded the Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College in Aligarh and patterned the college after Oxford and Cambridge universities that he had visited on a trip to England. This later became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920. This is a city having a hot and dry temperature. The coldest months of the year here are between December and January, where the mean temperature ranges between 15 degrees Celsius and 12.2 degrees Celsius. The hottest months of the year are between May and June where the mean temperature lies between 32.2 degrees Celsius and 33.8 degrees Celsius, in shade. The city is an agricultural trade centre. The processing of agricultural products and manufacturing are also important.

The district lies on the plains of river Ganges and Yamuna. The prestigious Aligarh Muslim University is situated at Aligarh district. Locks and brass articrafts are manufactured in Aligarh district. The locks of Aligarh is so famous that it is known as 'Tala Nagri'. The district even exports Brass Artwares, Glass Beeds and other electrical items to different industries of the world. Tourists come to Aligarh to visit Jama Masjid of Aligarh and Aligarh Fort.

Aligarh known as Koli in the ancient times and was founded by the Dor Rajputs in 372 A.D. The city came under the reign of various tribes and empires including the Mughals who renamed it to Aligarh and the French who built the Aligarh fort. The famous battle of Aligarh was also fought here in 1803 which put the city under the control of the British. The city is also famous for its lock industry.