Aligarh
Aligarh ( ⓘ; formerly known as Koil) is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of Aligarh district, and lies 342 kilometres (213 mi) northwest of state capital Lucknow and approximately 130 kilometres (81 mi) southeast of the capital, New Delhi. The cities and districts which adjoin Aligarh are: Gautam Buddha Nagar, Bulandshahr, Sambhal, Badaun, Kasganj, Hathras, Etah and Mathura. As of 2011, Aligarh is the 53rd most populous city in India.
Aligarh | |
|---|---|
City | |
From top, left to right: Sir Syed Mosque; Aligarh Clock Tower;, Bab-e-Syed, Church of Ascension; Aligarh Habitat Centre; Kennedy House Complex, which houses Aligarh's Cultural Education Center | |
Aligarh Location in Uttar Pradesh, India Aligarh Aligarh (India) | |
| Coordinates: 27.88°N 78.08°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Aligarh |
| District | Aligarh |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipal Corporation |
| • Body | Aligarh Municipal Corporation |
| • Mayor | Prashant Singhal (BJP) |
| Elevation | 178 m (584 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 874,408 |
| • Rank | 53 |
| Demonym | Aligarian |
| Language | |
| • Official | Hindi |
| • Additional official | Urdu |
| • Regional | Braj Bhasha |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN Code | 202001, 202002 |
| Telephone code | 0571 |
| Vehicle registration | UP-81 |
| Website | aligarh |
The recorded history of Aligarh begins in the 12th century, under the name Kol. Kol was a major city of the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire, serving as both a political and economic centre. Beginning with a major rebuilding of the Aligarh Fort in the 16th century, the city was renamed several times before eventually settling on the current name, Aligarh, in the mid-1700s. It is notable as the seat of Aligarh Muslim University, which was founded here as Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875, initiating the Aligarh Movement.