Aligarh City Amazing Facts and History of Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh

Aligarh Railway Junction

Aligarh City Amazing Facts and History of Aligarh

In 1194, Qutb-ud-din Aibak mounted a successful invasion of the region, and Hisam-ud-din Ulbak appointed the first Muslim governor. His court-historian Hasan Nizami wrote that Kol to be "one of the most celebrated fortresses of Hind". Koil is also mentioned in Ibn Battuta’s Rihla, when Ibn Battuta visited Koil along with 15 ambassadors representing Ukhaantu Khan, the Mongol Emperor of the Yuan dynasty in China, through route to the coast at Cambay (in Gujarat) in 1341.

During the time of Ibrahim Lodhi, Muhammad, son of Umar who named the city after his own name as Muhammadgarh in 1524-25. Later, Sabit Khan became the governor of this city during the time of Farrukh Siyar and Muhammad Shah renamed the town after his own name Sabitgarh. When a Shia commander, Najaf Ali Khan captured the Koil city and he gave its present name of Aligarh. But once again the Aligarh district panchayat has sent a proposal to the Uttar Pradesh government, seeking a change in the name of the city to 'Harigarh, if it will happen then Aligarh Railway Station also will be changed from Aligarh Junction to Harigarh Junction. 

Battle of Aligarh (1803)

The Battle of Aligarh was fought between the Maratha confederacy and the British East India Company on 1 September 1803 during the Second Anglo-Maratha War (1803–1805) at Aligarh Fort. The British 76th Regiment, now known as the Duke of Wellington's Regiment occupied the fort, which was under the control of the French officer Perron, and established British rule. In 1804, the Aligarh district was formed by the union of the second, third and fourth British divisions with Anupshahar from Moradabad and Sikandara Rao from Etawa. On 1 August 1804, Claude Russell was appointed the first Collector of the new district.

According to prominent historian Prof. Irfan Habib “Ibn Batuta also came to Aligarh during his world's journey in the 13th century. The city’s old name was Koil. Maratha renovated the Aligarh Fort and they renamed the city as Aligarh in the memory of Najaf Ali Khan who was the general of Delhi under Marathas supremacy. But the area of city remained as Koil, later in 1803, Britishers captured it and change the name as Aligarh.” 

Aligarh was made a district in 1804. Colonel Russell was made the first Collector. With this, the foundation of urban administration was laid in the city. Earlier Aligarh was part of the Maratha Empire. French soldiers and officers were in large numbers in the army of the Maratha Empire.

The Aligarh Fort, which today houses the AMU's Botanical Garden, used to house the garrison of Maratha soldiers (including the French). It used to be a kind of military base. There is a stone on its entrance, which mentions the victory of the British and the martyrdom of French military officers.

After the formation of the district, the administration, police and judiciary started doing their work here. Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the founder of AMU (Aligarh Muslim University), was also a judicial officer here. The impact of the Mutiny of 1857 also had on Aligarh. The cement road was first built on the railway road. The railway line had come to Aligarh long before this. The main track from Delhi to Howrah passes through Aligarh. Aligarh developed very rapidly after getting connectivity from the railways.

The British set up a handcuffs factory in Aligarh, and with this, the foundation of the lock industry was laid here. Till now, the identity of Aligarh is Tala (Lock), while it has become an important center for the export of education and hardware products. The historical exhibition (Aligarh Numaish) held here every year has also done the work of giving impetus to the development of Aligarh and its urban nature. Shopkeepers, artists, etc.

First in Aligarh City

Ø  The first electric pole was installed in Mohalla Jaiganj
Ø  There were cisterns outside the police stations to feed the horses.
Ø  Since it was a significant center of trade of locks, there were no hotels, but the number of inns was 84.
Ø  Kathpula (wooden bridge-whose old remains are still present) became the first bridge to reach the Civil Lines area.
Ø  Instead of cars, tongas (horsecart) were the primary resources of local transport, the tonga stand still exists.

25 Britishers, six Nawabs, and three Vaishyas took command of the city of that time.

In 1893 the city got the status of a municipality. After this, the town remained a municipality for about 100 years. The credit for making it a municipal corporation went to former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav in 1995. He was here on the occasion of the launch of Anand Agro Sugar Mill at Gopi Loudhua. In the journey from Municipality to Municipal Corporation, 25 British rulers, 6 Muslim rulers, and a person from the Vaishya community have commanded the city significantly. Once a woman took charge.

The journey from Municipality to Municipal Corporation

1. The city became a municipality for the first time in 1893, with JM Harrison becoming the designated administrator.
2. Abdul Samad Khan became the President on 1 June 1921.
3. M Khawaja became the second president in 1923.
4. In 1925 Sohan Lal became the BA President.
5. Abdul Khaliq became President in 1931.
6. Shiv Prasad became President in 1940.
7. Abdul Majeed Khawaja became the President in 1940 itself.
8. LN Mathur became the President in 1945.
9. Abdul Mufid Khan Sherwani was President in 1945 itself.
10. In 1952, the administration took over the task by becoming a super seat.
11. Until 1988, the board was run by the administrators.
12. OP Agarwal became the President in 1988.
13. Municipal corporation status in 1995, Ashutosh Varshney became the mayor.
14. In 2001, Savitri Varshney became the mayor.
15. Ashutosh Varshney again became the mayor in 2006.
16. Shakuntala Bharti became the mayor in 2012.
17. The present mayor of the city is Mohd Furqan, who was elected in 2017.

                                        

Grand Mosque AMU

Famous visiting places in Aligarh City: The Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh is one of the top-ranked Universities of India, and the University is located in UP’s magnificence city ‘Aligarh’. Sometimes it is referred to as ‘Mecca of Higher Education’, and the city offered more than 60 amazing heritage visiting sites, including the University’s world class buildings. But here we will discuss only those visiting places which are located outside the University campus. In previous post, we have already wrote an article about the all historical monuments and buildings of University, that article is available on our blog post.

Fountain of Naqvi Park

Main Church Naqvi Park

Rajkeey Udhhan Jawahar Park/Naqvi Park: It is one of the most famous visiting parks of Aligarh also known as Naqvi Park, which is located near the Ghanta Ghar and main campus of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh, India. The park has the most characteristic and an oldest Christ Church of North India, built in 1835 by Bishop Wilson. He was the greatest revivalist of Christianity by buildings, also he is called as ‘Shahjahan’ of Christians in India. Being a popular place among couples and families, this is a much-crowded site in Aligarh city. People often enjoyed and facilitated themselves with its green gardens, walking paths, fountains, and playgrounds. Two-timing slots are available for visitors with the minimal entry fee of 5 INR per day and 60 INR per month; 5:15 AM – 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM – 6:15 PM.

Aligarh Qila

Aligarh Qila Nursery

Aligarh Qila Botanical Garden

Main Entrance Gate Aligarh Qila

Aligarh Fort/Qila: It is located near the Faculty of Law AMU Aligarh and in front of the new building of the Dawakhana Tibbiya College. It is placed at some distance from G T Road (Grand Trunk, which was built by Sher Shah Suri during the 16^th century). Most of its parts are damaged now, and it consists of a regular polygon encircled by a broad ditch. The fort was built by Muhammad in 1524-25, during the reign of Ibrahim Lodhi, the last Sultanate ruler of India, who was defeated by Babur (the founder of Mughal Empire) in the First Battle of Panipat 1526. The distance of Aligarh fort is around one or two km from the University’s main campus via Old Chungi and Shamshad market road. The Botanical garden and Nursery of Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh, located inside the Aligarh Fort, also has a big forest and lush Green Park.

Ghanta Ghar Aligarh

Ghanta Ghar Aligarh: Ghanta Ghar' or Clock Tower is a park and old building complex maintained by the municipal corporation of Aligarh city. It is situated in front of the district magistrate's office residence and Church House. A perfect place for morning walks and evening walks or freehand exercise. Open to all during day hours. It reminds you of the old heritage of the city. This clock tower was erected in 1893 by the voluntary contribution of Hindus and Muslims of the Aligarh district. It was named after the then-revenue Collector Harrison. It was built in Victorian Gothic style.

Aligarh Jama Masjid Upper Court

Aligarh Jama Masjid Upper Fort: This is the famous Mosque not only in India but also the biggest Mosque in Asia which is wearing the large amount of Gold, an estimated amount is more than 6 quintal, which is situated in UP’s Aligarh city. This Jama Masjid is located in the Upper Fort area of Aligarh city. The construction work of this Mosque was started by Sabit Khan Jange Bahadur in 1724 during the reign of Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah (1719-1728), who was the Governor of Aligarh (Koil) of that time. It was completed in four years from 1724 to 1728. The Mosque have many similarities to Tajmahal in its architectural shapes, because it has 17 white domes on the top, also in this Mosque more than 5000 people can perform the prayer in one time. It is the first Mosque of India where more than 73 martyrs graves of 1857 revolt, making there. It is placed on Aligarh’s highest point. It is Asia’s highest Golden Mosque.

Strachey Hall AMU

Establishment of Aligarh Muslim University (1875):- In 1875, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan established Muhammadan Anglo Oriental College (MAO) in Aligarh and patterned the college after Oxford and Cambridge universities that he had visited on a trip to England in 1869-70. This later became Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) in 1920.