The most elaborate tomb ever erected , in memory of beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal in 1652, Emperor Shah Jahan. Taj Mahal is built of pure white Marble and is considered to be one of the seven wonders of the world.

The city was planned according to Indian Vastu shastra by Vidyadhar Bhattacharya in 1727.[20] There are three gates facing east, west, and north. The eastern gate is called Suraj pol (sun gate), the western gate is called Chand pol (moon gate) and the northern gate faces the ancestral capital of Amer.[7][21] The city is unusual among pre-modern Indian cities in the regularity of its streets, and the division of the city into six sectors by broad streets 34 m (111 ft) wide. The urban quarters are further divided by networks of gridded streets. Five quarters wrap around the east, south, and west sides of a central palace quarter, with a sixth quarter immediately to the east. The Palace quarter encloses the Hawa Mahal palace complex, formal gardens, and a small lake. Nahargarh Fort, which was the residence of the King Sawai Jai Singh II, crowns the hill in the northwest corner of the old city.

Agra Municipal Corporation is responsible for the maintaining city's civic infrastructure and carrying out associated administrative duties. The Municipal Corporation is headed by a mayor.[23] There are 91 wards and each ward is represented by an elected member. Agra Development Authority (JDA) is the nodal government agency responsible for the planning and development of Agra.[24] Agra consists of two parliamentary constituencies Agra and Agra Rural.[25]

In addition to its role as the provincial capital, educational, and administrative center, the economy of Agra is fueled by tourism, gemstone cutting, the manufacture of jewelry and luxury textiles, and information technology. In 2008, Agra was ranked 31 among the 50 Emerging Global Outsourcing cities.[26] Agra Stock Exchange is one of the regional stock exchanges in India and was founded in 1989.[27] Agra is a major hub for arts and crafts. It has many traditional shops selling antiques, jewellery, handicrafts, gems, bangles, pottery, carpets, textiles, leather and metal products. Agra is one of India's largest manufacturers of hand knotted rugs.[28][29] Agra leg, a rubber-based prosthetic leg for people with below-knee amputations was designed and is produced in Agra.[30][31].

Agra has many cultural sites like Jawahar Kala Kendra and Ravindra Manch. Government Central Museum hosts several arts and antiquities. There is a government museum at Hawa Mahal and an art gallery at Viratnagar. There are statues depicting Rajasthani culture around the city.[32][33] Agra has many traditional shops selling antiques and handicrafts. The prior rulers of Agra patronized a number of arts and crafts. They invited skilled artisans, artists and craftsmen from India and abroad who settled in the city. Some of the crafts include bandhani, block printing, stone carving and sculpture, tarkashi, zari, gota, kinari and zardozi, silver jewellery, gems, kundan, meenakari and jewellery, Lakh ki Chudiya, miniature paintings, blue pottery, ivory carving, shellac work and leather ware.[5][22] Agra has its own performing arts. The Agra Gharana for Kathak and Ghoomar are popular folk dance styles.[34][35][36] Tamasha is an art form where Kathputli puppet dance is shown in play form.[37] Agra has four majors fairs and festivals namely Elephant Festival, Gangaur, Kite Festival Agra and Teej. Agra is also famous for its Agra Literature Festival in which country-wide authors, writer and literature lovers participate in it.[38].