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{{About|the municipality in Uttar Pradesh, India|its namesake district|Aligarh district|the 2015 Hindi film|Aligarh (film)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Aligarh
| settlement_type    = City
| map_alt            =
| map_caption        =
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border                   = infobox
| total_width              = 275
| image_style              =
| perrow                   = 2/2/2
| image1                   = AMU Masjid - panoramio.jpg
| image2                   = Aligarh clock house.jpg
| image3                   = Bab E Syed - panoramio.jpg
| image4                   = Church of ascension.jpg
|image5 = Aligarh Habitat Center.jpg
|image6 = Kennedy House.jpg
}}
| image_caption      = From top, left to right: [[Sir Syed Mosque]]; [[Aligarh Clock Tower]]; Bab-e-Syed, Church of Ascension; Aligarh Habitat Centre; Kennedy House Complex
| pushpin_map        = India Uttar Pradesh#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Uttar Pradesh, India
| coordinates        = {{coord|27.88|N|78.08|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{IND}}
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_type2  = Division
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of districts of Uttar Pradesh|District]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flagicon image|..Uttar Pradesh Flag(INDIA).png}} [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Aligarh division|Aligarh]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Aligarh district|Aligarh]]
| established_title  = <!-- Established -->
| established_date   = 1753 as Aligarh
| named_for          = [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://aligarh.nic.in/history/ |title=District Aligarh History |access-date=25 October 2024 |quote=when a Shia commander, Najaf Khan, captured Kol, he gave it its present name of Aligarh.}}</ref>
| government_type    = [[Municipal corporation|Municipal Corporation]]
| governing_body     = [[Aligarh Municipal Corporation]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Prashant Singhal ([[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/lucknow-news/bjp-dominates-municipal-elections-wins-aligarh-mayor-seat-by-a-massive-margin-of-over-50-000-votes-101684006436050.html|title=BJP wrests Aligarh, continues winning streak in Agra|work=Hindustan Times|date=14 May 2023 |accessdate=22 May 2023}}</ref>
| unit_pref          = Metric
| area_footnotes     =
| area_total_km2     =
| area_rank          =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m        = 178
| population_total   = 874408
| population_as_of   = 2011
| population_footnotes = <ref name="Census2011"/>
| population_density_km2 =
| population_rank    = 53
| population_demonym = Aligarian
| demographics_type1 = [[Language]]
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Hindi language|Hindi]]<ref name="langoff">{{cite web|title=52nd Report of the Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities in India|url=http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|website=nclm.nic.in|publisher=[[Ministry of Minority Affairs]]|access-date=20 December 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525141614/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf|archive-date=25 May 2017}}</ref>
| demographics1_title2 = Additional&nbsp;official
| demographics1_info2 = [[Urdu]]<ref name="langoff"/>
| demographics1_title3 = Regional
| demographics1_info3 = [[Braj Bhasha]]
| timezone1          = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1        = +5:30
| postal_code_type   = [[Postal Index Number|PIN Code]]
| postal_code        = 202001, 202002
| area_code          = 0571
| area_code_type     = Telephone code
| registration_plate = UP-81
| website            = {{URL|https://aligarh.nic.in/}}
| official_name      =
}}
'''Aligarh''' ({{IPA audio link|Aligarh.ogg}}; formerly known as '''Koil'''<ref name="Chandra"/>) is a city in the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]] in [[India]]. It is the administrative headquarters of [[Aligarh district]], and lies {{convert|342|km}} northwest of state capital [[Lucknow]] and approximately {{convert|130|km|mi|abbr=}} southeast of the capital, [[New Delhi]]. The cities and districts which adjoin Aligarh are: [[Gautam Buddha Nagar district|Gautam Buddha Nagar]], [[Bulandshahr district|Bulandshahr]], [[Sambhal district|Sambhal]], [[Badaun district|Badaun]], [[Kasganj district|Kasganj]], [[Hathras district|Hathras]], [[Etah district|Etah]] and [[Mathura district|Mathura]], as well as [[Palwal district]] of [[Haryana]]. As of 2011, Aligarh is the [[List of cities in India by population|53rd]] most populous city in [[India]].
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 Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875, initiating the [[Aligarh Movement]].
==History==
Written references to the city commence only from 12th century onward; however, archaeological records suggest that the town used to be inhabited by Jains.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Rezavi|first=Syed Ali Nadeem|date=24 September 2021|title=Aligarh or Harigarh?|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/communalism/politics-of-renaming-aligarh-or-harigarh/article36287567.ece|journal=Frontline|pages=60–62|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220102010712/https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/communalism/politics-of-renaming-aligarh-or-harigarh/article36287567.ece|archive-date=2 January 2022}}</ref> The area of Aligarh before the Ghurid conquest of the region was under the sway of [[Dor Rajputs]] in 12th century.<ref name="Chandra">{{Cite book|author=Satish Chandra|author-link=Satish Chandra (historian)|title=Medieval India:From Sultanat to the Mughals-Delhi Sultanat (1206-1526) |volume=1|publisher=Har-Anand Publications|year=2004 |isbn=978-8-12411-064-5 |pages=27|quote=The areas of Meerut, Baran (modern Buland sher) and Koil (modern Aligarh) in upper doab had been under the control of Dor Rajputs, had been occupied by the Turks shortly after the battle of Tarain|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=L5eFzeyjBTQC&pg=PA27}}</ref>
In 1194, [[Qutb-ud-din Aibak]] mounted a successful invasion of the region and Hisam-ud-din Ulbak was installed as the first Muslim governor; court-historian [[Hasan Nizami]] noted Kol to be "one of the most celebrated fortresses of Hind".<ref name=":0" /> Beginning the 13th century, the place featured — as Kol or Koil — in multiple Persian (as well as non-Persian) [[Delhi Sultanate|Sultanate]] sources as a center of economic prominence, especially for production of distilled wine.<ref name="Chandra"/><ref name=":0" />{{efn|The origins of this name is unclear; it might have been the name of the inhabiting tribe or a mythological character or a local mountain.<ref name=":0" />}} By the mid-13th century, the town commanded enough importance for (would-be Sultan) [[Ghiyas ud din Balban]] to erect a minaret.<ref name=":0" />
Under the Khiljis and Tughlaqs, the prominence continued unabated; it had become an ''[[Iqta'#Mamluk sultanate of Delhi|iqta]]'' by the times of [[Alauddin Khalji]].<ref name=":0" />
Kol is mentioned in [[Ibn Battuta]]'s ''[[Rihla]]'', when Ibn Battuta, along with 15 ambassadors representing [[Toghon Temür|Ukhaantu Khan]], emperor of the [[Mongol Empire|Mongol]] Chinese [[Yuan dynasty]], travelled to Kol city en route to the coast at [[Cambay]] (in [[Gujarat]]) in 1341.<ref>The Adventures of Ibn Battuta, by [[Ross E. Dunn]], p. 215</ref> According to Battuta, it would appear that the district was then in a very disturbed state since the escort of the Emperor's embassy had to assist in relieving [[Jalali, Uttar Pradesh|Jalali]] from an attacking body of Hindus and lost an officer in the fight. Ibn Batuta calls Kol "a fine town surrounded by mango groves". From these same groves the environs of Kol would appear to have acquired the name ''Sabzabad'' or "the green country".{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
In the reign of [[Akbar]], Kol was made a Sirkar and included the ''dasturs'' of Marahra, Kol ba Haveli, Thana Farida and Akbarabad.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} Akbar and [[Jahangir]] visited Kol on hunting expeditions. Jahangir clearly mentions the forest of Kol, where he killed wolves.<ref name="history_of_aligarh_site">{{cite web|title=Histor11|url=http://www.aligarhdirectory.com/history.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041011105835/http://www.aligarhdirectory.com/history.php|archive-date=11 October 2004|access-date=29 July 2015|publisher=Aligarhdirectory.com}}</ref>
During the time of [[Ibrahim Lodhi]], Muhammad, son of Umar, was the governor of Kol. He built a fort at Kol and named the city Muhammadgarh, after himself, in 1524–25. Sabit Khan, who was then the governor of this region, rebuilt the old Lodhi fort and named the town Sabitgarh, after himself.
The ruler of Koil was Bargujar King Bahadur Singh who, in 1753, rose against the destruction of Hindu temples. The [[Jat]] ruler, [[Surajmal]], with consent of [[Safdar Jang]], occupied the fort of Koil. Bahadur Singh continued the battle from another fort and died fighting in what is known as the "Battle of Ghasera". It was renamed Ramgarh and Rao Durjan Singh Poonia of Bijauli was made the kiledar of the fort.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Siddiqi|first=Jamal Muhammad|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KuwdAAAAMAAJ&q=bahadur+singh |title=Aligarh District: A Historical Survey, from Ancient Times to 1803 A.D.|date=1981|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal|isbn=978-0-8364-2355-6|pages=109–112}}</ref>  When a Persian Mughal [[Shia]] commander, [[Mirza Najaf Khan|Najaf Khan]], captured Ramgarh, he renamed it and gave it its present name of Aligarh.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Aligarh|first=Statistics|title=Aligarh Statistics|publisher=JR Hutchinson|year=1856|location=Aligarh}}</ref> [[Aligarh Fort]] (also called Aligarh Qila), as it stands today, was built by French engineers under the control of French officers [[Benoît de Boigne]] and [[Pierre Cuillier-Perron|Perron]].<ref name="history_of_aligarh_site"/>
===Battle of Aligarh (1803)===
[[File:Gerard Lake.jpg|thumbnail|150px|right|General [[Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake|Lord Gerard Lake]] who oversaw the [[Siege of Aligarh]]]]
The [[Battle of Aligarh]] was fought on 1 September 1803 during the [[Second Anglo-Maratha War]] (1803–1805) at [[Aligarh Fort]]. The British [[76th Regiment of Foot|76th Regiment]], now known as the [[The Duke of Wellington's Regiment|Duke of Wellington's Regiment]] besieged the fort, which was under the control of the French officer [[Pierre Cuillier-Perron|Perron]], and established British rule. In 1804, the Aligarh district was formed by the union of the second, third and fourth British divisions with the addition of Anupshahr from Muradabad and Sikandra Rao from Etawa. On 1 August 1804, [[Claude Russell]] was appointed the first Collector of the new district.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O54IAAAAQAAJ&q=aligarh+russell&pg=PA348 |title=Descriptive and Historical Account of the Aligarh District |author=Edwin T. Atkinson |page=348 |year=1875 |access-date=13 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705125841/http://books.google.com/books?id=O54IAAAAQAAJ&dq=aligarh+russell&as_brr=1&pg=PA348&ci=131,1035,783,115&source=bookclip |archive-date=5 July 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>
==Administration==
[[Aligarh district]] is divided into five [[tehsil]]s, namely [[Kol Tehsil]], [[Khair|Khair Tehsil]], [[Atrauli]], [[Gabhana]] and [[Iglas]]. These tehsils are further divided into 12 blocks.
The city is administered by Nagar Nigam Aligarh (Municipal Corporation), which is responsible for performing civic administrative functions administered by Mayor and Municipal Commissioner (PCS Officer). Infrastructure development of the city is looked after by the Aligarh Development Authority (ADA) administered by Divisional Commissioner (chairman) and vice-chairman (PCS Officer).
Aligarh is the headquarters of Aligarh Police Range and [[Aligarh Division]]. A DIG looks after Aligarh for legal condition and law; a Commissioner looks for four districts of [[Aligarh Division]] (Aligarh, [[Etah]], [[Hathras]], [[Kasganj]]).
==Demographics==
{{bar box
|title=Religions in Aligarh city (2011)<ref name="religion">{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Table C-01 Population by Religion: Uttar Pradesh|url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11394/download/14507/DDW09C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
|titlebar=#Fcd116
|left1=Religion
|right1=Percent
|float=left
|bars=
{{bar percent|[[Hinduism]]|darkorange|55.36}}
{{bar percent|[[Islam in Uttar Pradesh|Islam]]|green|42.64}}
{{bar percent|[[Christianity in Uttar Pradesh|Christianity]]|dodgerblue|0.53}}
{{bar percent|Other or not stated|black|0.47}}
|caption=Distribution of religions
}}
According to the 2011 Census, Aligarh has a total population of 874,408, of which 461,772 are males and 412,636 are females. Population in the age range 0–6 years is 119,543. The literacy rate is 59.15%, of which the male literacy rate is 63.42% and female literacy rate is 54.37%. The effective literacy rate of 7+ population of Aligarh was 68.5%, of which male literacy rate was 62.9% and the female literacy rate was 70.8%. The [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes]] have a population of 138,184 and 332 respectively. There were 147,363 households in Aligarh as of 2011.<ref name="Census2011">{{cite web |title=Census of India: Search Details |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=140882 |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |access-date=29 September 2019}}</ref> The city lies in the cultural region of [[Braj]].<ref name="LuciaMichelutti1">{{cite web | url=http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/2106/1/U613338.pdf | title=Sons of Krishna: the politics of Yadav community formation in a North Indian town | publisher=London School of Economics and Political Science University of London | work=PhD Thesis Social Anthropology | date=2002 | access-date=20 May 2015 | author=Lucia Michelutti | pages=49}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Khalifa Daud, Aligarh.png|Sunni Muslim, Aligarh
File:Meer Inayut Hosein, Shiah Mahomedan, a Syud or descendant of Mahomed, Allyghur.png|Shia Muslim, Aligarh
</gallery>
{{pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Languages in Aligarh (2011)<ref name="Lang"/>
|label1 = [[Hindi]] |value1 = 81.50 |color1 = orange
|label2 = [[Urdu]] |value2 = 17.20 |color2 = green
|label3 = Others |value3 = 1.20 |color3 = grey
}}
[[Hindi]] is the most spoken language. Urdu is the second-largest language.<ref name="Lang">{{cite web |title=2011 Census of India, Population By Mother Tongue - Uttar Pradesh (Town Level) |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10235/download/13347/DDW-C16-TOWN-STMT-MDDS-0900.XLSX |access-date=27 June 2022 |website=censusindia.gov.in |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>
==Geography==
===Location===
Aligarh is located at the coordinates {{coord|27.88|N|78.08|E|}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Aligarh2.html |title=Falling Rain Genomics, Inc – Aligarh |publisher=Fallingrain.com |access-date=13 October 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011080051/http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/36/Aligarh2.html |archive-date=11 October 2011 |url-status=live  }}</ref> It has an elevation of approximately 178 metres (587 feet). The city is in the middle portion of the [[Doab#The Doab|doab]], the land between the [[Ganges River|Ganges]] and the [[Yamuna River|Yamuna]] rivers. The [[Grand Trunk Road]] passes through it via NH-91 is 134&nbsp;km from capital of India.
==Climate==
Aligarh has a [[hot semi-arid climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''BSh'') a little too dry to be a monsoon-influenced [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cwa''). Summers start in April and are hot with temperatures peaking in May. The average temperature range is {{convert|28|-|38|C|F}}. The monsoon season starts in late June, continuing until early October, bringing high humidity. Aligarh gets most of its annual rainfall of {{convert|800|mm|in}} during these months. Temperatures then decrease, and winter sets in December, and continues until February. Temperatures range between {{convert|2|-|11|C|F}}. Winters in Aligarh are generally mild, but 2011–12 experienced the lowest temperature of 1&nbsp;°C. The fog and cold snaps are extreme.
{{Weather box
| location = Aligarh (1991–2020, extremes 1932–2011)
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan record high C = 30.7
| Feb record high C = 33.3
| Mar record high C = 41.7
| Apr record high C = 44.8
| May record high C = 47.5
| Jun record high C = 46.7
| Jul record high C = 44.5
| Aug record high C = 42.1
| Sep record high C = 40.2
| Oct record high C = 41.7
| Nov record high C = 36.1
| Dec record high C = 32.8
|year record high C = 47.5
| Jan record low C = 0.0
| Feb record low C = 1.7
| Mar record low C = 3.9
| Apr record low C = 10.9
| May record low C = 15.5
| Jun record low C = 18.6
| Jul record low C = 19.9
| Aug record low C = 19.9
| Sep record low C = 14.8
| Oct record low C = 11.0
| Nov record low C = 2.9
| Dec record low C = 1.2
|year record low C = 0.0
|Jan high C = 	19.1
|Feb high C = 	23.5
|Mar high C = 	30.2
|Apr high C = 	37.1
|May high C = 	40.2
|Jun high C = 	38.6
|Jul high C = 	34.9
|Aug high C = 	33.2
|Sep high C = 	33.3
|Oct high C = 	32.8
|Nov high C = 	27.5
|Dec high C = 	22.0
| year high C = 	31.1
|Jan low C = 	7.3
|Feb low C = 	10.4
|Mar low C = 	15.0
|Apr low C = 	20.5
|May low C = 	24.6
|Jun low C = 	26.5
|Jul low C = 	26.2
|Aug low C = 	25.5
|Sep low C = 	23.9
|Oct low C = 	19.2
|Nov low C = 	13.2
|Dec low C = 	8.6
| year low C = 	18.4
| rain colour = green
| Jan rain mm = 	15.2
| Feb rain mm = 	16.5
| Mar rain mm = 	10.4
| Apr rain mm = 	12.0
| May rain mm = 	27.2
| Jun rain mm = 	66.2
| Jul rain mm = 	217.7
| Aug rain mm = 	216.3
| Sep rain mm = 	107.7
| Oct rain mm = 	17.2
| Nov rain mm = 	2.7
| Dec rain mm = 	3.7
| year rain mm = 	712.8
| Jan rain days = 	1.4
| Feb rain days = 	1.4
| Mar rain days = 	1.3
| Apr rain days = 	1.0
| May rain days = 	2.7
| Jun rain days = 	4.0
| Jul rain days = 	9.3
| Aug rain days = 	10.3
| Sep rain days = 	5.5
| Oct rain days = 	1.0
| Nov rain days = 	0.3
| Dec rain days = 	0.4
| year rain days =
|time day = 17:30 [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| Jan humidity = 	66
| Feb humidity = 	57
| Mar humidity = 	46
| Apr humidity = 	33
| May humidity = 	34
| Jun humidity = 	48
| Jul humidity = 	68
| Aug humidity = 	75
| Sep humidity = 	67
| Oct humidity = 	52
| Nov humidity = 	57
| Dec humidity = 	62
|year humidity = 	72
|source 1 = [[India Meteorological Department]]<ref name=IMDnormals>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240408025145/https://www.imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| archive-date = 8 April 2024
| url = https://www.imdpune.gov.in/library/public/Climatological%20Tables%201991-2020.pdf
| title = Station: Aligarh Climatological Table 1991–2020
| work = Climatological Normals 1991–2020
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| access-date = 7 July 2024}}</ref><ref name=IMDextremes>
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200205042509/http://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| archive-date = 5 February 2020
| url = https://imdpune.gov.in/library/public/EXTREMES%20OF%20TEMPERATURE%20and%20RAINFALL%20upto%202012.pdf
| title = Extremes of Temperature & Rainfall for Indian Stations (Up to 2012)
| publisher = India Meteorological Department
| date = December 2016
| page = M210
| access-date = 27 April 2020}}</ref>
}}
==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Aligarh}}
The city is an agricultural trade centre.<ref name="india9">{{cite web|url=http://www.india9.com/i9show/Aligarh-46874.htm|title=India9.com|publisher=India9.com|date=7 June 2005|access-date=13 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825080103/http://www.india9.com/i9show/Aligarh-46874.htm|archive-date=25 August 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Agricultural product processing and manufacturing are important.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005730/Aligarh|title=Britannica|publisher=Britannica|access-date=13 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081118131848/https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9005730/Aligarh|archive-date=18 November 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>
Aligarh is an important business center of Uttar Pradesh and is most famous for its [[Lock (security device)|lock]] industry. Aligarh locks are exported across the world. In 1870, Johnson & Co. was the first English lock firm in Aligarh. In 1890, the company initiated production of locks on a small scale here.<ref>{{cite news|author=Pawan Jain|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Locked-out/articleshow/2601.cms|title=Locked out|date=3 June 2003|access-date=3 November 2020|website=Times of India}}</ref>
Aligarh is famous for its brass hardware and sculptures. The city has many manufacturers, exporters, and suppliers involved in the brass, bronze, iron and aluminium industries.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sengar |first=Resham |date=5 March 2018 |title=When in Aligarh, do not miss these unique experiences |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/when-in-aligarh-do-not-miss-these-unique-experiences/articleshow/64465042.cms |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>
Indian Diecasting Industries which manufactures aluminium and zinc die-casting parts is located at Sasni Gate in Aligarh.<ref>{{cite web |title=Indian Diecasting Industries - Manufacturer of Aluminium Die Cast Components for Automotive Industry & Zinc Die Cast Component for Automobile Industry from Aligarh |url=https://www.diecastingindia.com/ |website=diecastingindia.com |access-date=9 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref>{{better source needed|reason=Need third party WP:Independent source|date=June 2022}}
[[Harduaganj Thermal Power Station]] (also referred as [[Kasimpur Power House]]) is 15&nbsp;km from the city. [[Narora Atomic Power Station]] is located 50&nbsp;km from Aligarh.
==Education==
===Universities and colleges===
[[File:Bab-e-Sayyad.jpg|thumb|right| The main entrance gate of [[Aligarh Muslim University]], founded and centralised in 1920.]]
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a University or college to this list if it already has its own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
<!---♦♦♦ Please keep the list in alphabetical order ♦♦♦--->
* [[Aligarh Muslim University]] campus is spread over 467.6 hectares in the city.
* [[Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences]]
* [[Jamia Al-Barkaat]]
* [[Mangalayatan University]]
===Schools===
<!---♦♦♦ Only add a school to this list if it already has its own article on the English Wikipedia ♦♦♦--->
* [[Our Lady of Fatima Senior Secondary School, Aligarh]]
* [[STS School]]
== Art and craft ==
Aligarh is associated with an [[appliqué|applique]] and [[Embroidery of India|embroidery]] art known as ''[[Phool Patti ka Kaam|phool patti ka kaam]]''.
{{Further|Phool Patti ka Kaam}}
==Locations==
===Cultural landmarks===
[[File:Church of ascension.jpg|thumb|Church of Ascension]]
Aligarh has several popular landmarks. Most notable few of them are [[Aligarh Fort]], Jama Masjid,<ref>{{cite news |title=मुल्क की ही नहीं एशिया की भी सबसे ज़्यादा महंगी है यह मस्जिद |url=https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/zeesalaam/special/a-huge-quantity-gold-use-in-asia-number-one-mosque-situated-in-aligarh/644070 |access-date=6 January 2021 |work=Zee Salaam |date=21 February 2020}}</ref> Khereshwar Temple which is the birthplace of Swami Shri Haridas Ji, Dor fortress (1524), which is now in ruins, lies at the city's centre, its site is in the area now called Upper Fort (Balai Qila) and is occupied by an 18th-century mosque. The area Shah Jamal is very famous for a Sufi saint Syed Shah Jamal is also known as Shamsul Arifeen, of whom the tomb is located at Shahjamal area and surrounded by a graveyard. The Sufi Saint is mentioned by Ibn Battuta in his book ''The Travels of Ibn Battuta''. The saint is said to be of Sufi Chishtiya order.
[[File:Aligarh Numaish Ground.jpg|thumb|Aligarh Numaish Ground]]
The Annual Cultural Exhibition, popularly known as Numaish, is held at the exhibition ground in January and February. The land Numaish Ground was donated by [[Bhikampur and Datawali (Aligarh) State|Nawab Rehmat Ullah Khan Sherwani]]. The cultural shows take place at three grand stages (Kohinoor, Krishnanjali and Muktakash). In all, more than 150 stage events featuring artists from across [[India]] take place during a period of 28–30 days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.epaper.jagran.com/epaper/29-jan-2015-36-aligarh-archive-edition-aligarh-city-Page-4.html |title=Dainik Jagran |publisher=Epaper.jagran.com |date=29 January 2015 |access-date=29 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521192726/http://epaper.jagran.com/epaper/29-jan-2015-36-aligarh-archive-edition-aligarh-city-Page-4.html |archive-date=21 May 2015 }}</ref>
==Historical places==
[[File:Aligarh Fort 1.JPG|thumb|[[Aligarh Fort]]]]
[[File:Aligarh Muslim University Masjid.jpg|thumb|Sir Syed Mosque beside Strachey Hall, Aligarh Muslim University]]
* [[Shekha Jheel]], Bird Sanctuary
* [[Maulana Azad Library]], AMU (Estd 1875)
*Naqvi Park.
* [[Sir Syed Masjid]] in [[Aligarh Muslim University]]'s campus.
===Aligarh Muslim University===
[[Aligarh Muslim University]] (AMU) is one of the oldest central universities. It was established by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan as Madrasatul Uloom Musalmanan-e-Hind in 1875–78 which later became Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College (MAO College). It was designed to train Muslims for government services in India and prepare them for advanced training in British universities. The Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College became Aligarh Muslim University in 1920. It is famous for its Law, Medical, and Engineering courses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kumar |first=Anuj |date=20 April 2024 |title=In Aligarh, the city of locks, Urdu as the key to a brighter future |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/uttar-pradesh/in-aligarh-the-city-of-locks-urdu-as-the-key-to-a-brighter-future/article68087889.ece |access-date=12 September 2024 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>
===Museums===
[[Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences]] maintains 'Museum on History of Medicine and Sciences' and 'Museum on Arts, Culture and Orientalism'. It was established by a family [[Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman]] and [[Syed Ziaur Rahman]] at the heart of the city and near a busy market of Dodhpur.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/16/travel/world-medical-museums/| title =World's 10 weirdest medical museums| publisher =Bryan Pirolli for [[CNN]], Travel (24 May 2013)| access-date =17 December 2017| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20170314192625/http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/16/travel/world-medical-museums/| archive-date =14 March 2017| url-status =live| df =dmy-all| date =16 May 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.news18.com/newstopics/ibn-sina-academy.html/| title=Ibn Sina Academy| publisher=Eram Agha for [[News18]], (5 November 2017)| access-date=17 December 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110133510/http://www.news18.com/newstopics/ibn-sina-academy.html| archive-date=10 November 2017| url-status=live| df=dmy-all}}</ref>
== Transport ==
===By rail===
{{See also|Aligarh railway station}}
Aligarh Junction railway station is the primary station for Aligarh city and is a major stop on the Delhi-Kolkata route. It is an A-Class railway station. It is one of the oldest railway station of this route. It connects Aligarh to the states of [[West Bengal]], [[Odisha]], [[Bihar]], [[Jharkhand]], north-east and most of Uttar Pradesh, and important stations of cities such as [[New Delhi railway station]], [[Mumbai Central]], [[Kolkata]], [[Bhopal Junction railway station]], [[Indore]], [[Jammu]], [[Gwalior]], [[Lucknow]], [[Jhansi]], [[Puri]], [[Kanpur Central railway station]], [[Etawah Junction railway station]], [[Tundla Junction railway station]], [[Agra Cantonment railway station]] and [[Varanasi]]. Aligarh railway station handles over 136 trains daily (in both directions) and serves around 204,000 passengers every day. Aligarh has one Branch Railway Line to Bareily.
[[File:Aligarh Railway Station in the morning - panoramio.jpg|thumb|right|[[Aligarh Junction railway station]]]]
Aligarh City has following railway stations:
*[[Aligarh railway station|Aligarh Junction]]: an A-Class Railway Station
*Somna (Gabhana) railway station
*Mahrawal railway station
*Kalua railway station
*Daudkhan railway station
*Mandrak railway station
*Harduaganj railway station (Satha, near Kasimpur Power House)
*Manjoorgarhi railway station (Chherat)
===By road===
Aligarh is 140&nbsp;km from New Delhi. It is one of the Division of UPSRTC. Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) buses serve cities all over the state and cities in [[Uttarakhand]], [[Rajasthan]], [[Madhya Pradesh]] and [[Haryana]].
Aligarh City has three [[UPSRTC]] bus stations:
*Aligarh Depot(Old Bus Station/Gandhi Park Bus Station) bus station
*Masoodabad(esta. 2000) (Budh Vihar Bus Station/New Bus Station/Workshop Bus Station/Raghuveerpuri Bus Station/Mathura Bus Station) Depot bus station(non-functional from 2018 to 2021)(now functioning since 2021 post renovation into a well facilitated Bus Station)
* Aligarh Satellite Bus Stand(New Bus Station/Sootmill Bus Station/Sarsaul Bus Station)(functioning since 2018 due to sudden non-functioning of Masoodabaad Bus Station during 2018-2021 period)
There are buses plying from Aligarh to Delhi at frequent intervals via
1) Khair, Tappal, Palval, Faridabad, Delhi - The route is under construction between Khair and Palval and should be strictly avoided by cars. No toll charges.
2) Khair, Tappal, Yamuna expressway, Noida, Greater Noida, Delhi, Gurgaon - Best and recommended route for Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon. Toll Charges are ₹120 between Aligarh and Delhi.
3) Old GT Road, Bulandshahr, Ghaziabad, Delhi - NH 91 - It is a 6-lane highway. Toll charges are ₹285.
Following Highways are connected to Aligarh:
*[[National Highway 91]] - It connects [[Kolkata]] to national capital [[New Delhi]]. Ghaziabad-Bulandshahr-Aligarh section is a 6-Lane Highway.
*[[National Highway 93]] - It connects Moradabad to Taj Nagri [[Agra]] via Aligarh. Aligarh-Agra section is constructed as Brijbhoomi Expressway.
*[[Yamuna Expressway]] - It is a 6-Lane Expressway connecting Greater Noida with Agra.
Aligarh City has Mahanagar Bus Service (City Bus Service) which provides local transport to Aligarh.
*Route-1 J N Medical College-Uperkot
*Route-2 Gandhi Park-Sarsaul/Sootmill
*Route-3 Ghantabagh-Quarsi
*Route-4 Gandhi Park-Boner
*Route-5 Etah Chungi-Collectrate
Apart from this an Air-conditioned Electronic Bus Service has been  running within the city since January 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 January 2022 |title=पहली बार अलीगढ़ की सड़कों पर फर्राटा भरती नजर आएंगी "इलेक्ट्रिक बस सेवा" |url=https://hindi.news18.com/news/uttar-pradesh/aligarh-for-the-first-time-electric-bus-service-will-be-seen-on-the-streets-of-aligarh-3940227.html |access-date=18 April 2022 |work=News18 |language=hi}}</ref>
===By air===
[[File:Aligarh-airport.webp|thumb|alt=ALIGARH AIRPORT|ALIGARH AIRPORT]]
[[Aligarh Airport]], Situated on NH 91, Dhanipur, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. It is Also known as Dhanipur Air Strip/Dhanipur Hawai Patti. This airport is also used as flying Club. The Government of Uttar Pradesh signed a memorandum of understanding with the Airports Authority of India in February 2014 for the development of the airport.
At this time direct flight started by the regional airline Flybig from Lucknow to Aligarh and vice versa under the RCS-UDAN scheme.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://flybig.in/documents/Flight_Schedule_Apr_2024.pdf |title=Flybig }}</ref>
The nearest international airport from Aligarh is [[Indira Gandhi International Airport]], [[New Delhi]]. It is 140&nbsp;km from Aligarh.
Another nearest airport from Aligarh is [[Agra Airport]], [[Agra]]. It is about 98 Km from Aligarh
==Notable people==
=== Businessmen and entrepreneurs ===
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* [[Sheela Gautam]], founder of Sheela Foam Limited-Sleepwell
* [[Vijay Shekhar Sharma]], founder of [[Paytm]]
* [[Khwaja Abdul Hamied]], Pharmacist, founder of [[Cipla]]
===Educationalists===
[[File:Faculty of Arts, AMU by Sarim Ashrafi.jpg|thumb|Faculty of Arts, [[Aligarh Muslim University]]]]
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* [[Ziauddin Ahmad]], mathematician, M.L.A. (Central), Vice-Chancellor of [[Aligarh Muslim University]] Movement. He established several institution including J.N. Medical College
*[[Roshan Ara Bokhari]], dancer, choreographer and dance teacher<ref>{{cite news |title=International Dance Day: National Performing Arts Group pays tribute to Roshan Ara Bokhari |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/84970/international-dance-day-national-performing-arts-group-pays-tribute-to-roshan-ara-bokhari/ |work=Daily Times |date=1 May 2016}}</ref>
* [[Masud Husain Khan]], linguist, the fifth Vice-Chancellor of [[Jamia Millia Islamia]] and the first Professor Emeritus in Social Sciences at [[Aligarh Muslim University]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Parekh |first=Rauf |date=3 February 2009 |title=DAWN - Features; February 03, 2009 |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1071962/dawn-features-february-03-2009 |access-date=13 April 2021 |work=DAWN.COM |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Syed Ahmad Khan]], founder of [[Aligarh Muslim University]]
* [[Shafey Kidwai]], academic, bilingual critic, translator, columnist, author, professor in the Department of Mass Communications at Aligarh Muslim University
===Writers, poets and publishers===
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* [[A.R. Akela]], Dalit author and publisher, owner of "Anand Sahitya Sadan
* [[Syed Amin Ashraf]], Urdu poet and professor of English at AMU
* [[Qurratulain Hyder]], Padma Bhushan, Urdu novelist, writer, and journalist
* [[Akhlaq Mohammed Khan]], pen name Shaharyar, Urdu poet, [[Bollywood]] lyricist and served as Professor at [[Aligarh Muslim University]]
* [[Munshi Nawal Kishore]], book publisher
* [[Jainendra Kumar]], Hindi writer
* [[Gopaldas Neeraj]], poet, recipient of [[Padma Bhushan]]
* [[Saghar Nizami]], Urdu Poet
* [[Prem Kishore Patakha]], Hindi Humorous Poet
* [[Maitreyi Pushpa]], Hindi fiction writer
* [[Gafil Swami]] (born 1953), Hindi poet
* [[Rameshraj Tewarikar]], Hindi Tewari poet, Editor:′ Tewari-Paksha (tri-monthly)
===Historians===
[[File:Victoria gate.jpg|thumb|Victoria gate]]
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* [[Irfan Habib]], eminent Indian historian and Professor Emeritus at [[Aligarh Muslim University]]
* [[Mohammad Habib]] (1895–1971), noted Indian historian and served as Professor Emeritus at [[Aligarh Muslim University]]
===Film actors===
[[File:ZHCET's View at Night.JPG|thumb|ZHCET's View at Night]]
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* [[Shamim Ara]], Pakistani film actress<ref>https://upperstall.com/profile/luminary/shamim-ara/</ref>
* [[Bharat Bhushan]], Bollywood actor
* [[Aadesh Chaudhary]], Indian television actor
* [[Nitin Chauhaan]], Indian television actor
* [[Ravindra Jain]], Bollywood music director
* [[Kanika Maheshwari]], Indian television actress
* [[Alka Nupur]], former actress, kathak dancer
* [[Mohd Sharia]], Bollywood actor
* [[Chandrachur Singh]], Bollywood actor
* [[Hasan Zaidi]], Indian television actor
* [[Zarina (artist)|Zarina]], Indian artist
===Sports persons===
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* [[Piyush Chawla]], Indian cricketer
* [[Zafar Iqbal (field hockey)|Zafar Iqbal]], Former hockey captain of India
* [[Annu Raj Singh]], international shooter
* [[Rinku Singh (cricketer)|Rinku Singh]], Indian Cricketer
===Politicians===
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* [[Mukta Raja]], MLA of Aligarh
* [[Zafar Alam (Uttar Pradesh politician)|Zafar Alam]] ex-MLA from [[Aligarh (Assembly constituency)]]
* [[Dalbir Singh Chaudhary]], MLA from Baruli vidhansabha constituency
* [[Mohammad Furqan]], Former mayor of Aligarh
* [[Satish Kumar Gautam]], MP from [[Aligarh (Lok Sabha constituency)]]
* [[Sheela Gautam]], ex MP and ex chairperson of [[Sleepwell]]
* [[Zameer Ullah Khan]] ex MLA from [[Koil (Assembly constituency)]] and [[Aligarh (Assembly constituency)]]
* [[Jamal Khwaja]], ex MP
* [[Sanjeev Raja]], ex MLA
* [[Bijendra Singh]], ex MP
* [[Chaudhary Sunil Singh]], ex MLC
* [[Kalyan Singh]], ex governor and ex Chief Minister of [[Uttar Pradesh]]
* [[Rajendra Singh]], ex Agriculture and Irrigation Minister, Govt of [[Uttar Pradesh]]
* [[Sandeep Singh (politician)|Sandeep Singh]], MLA [[Atrauli]], grandson of [[Kalyan Singh]] former Chief Minister of [[Uttar Pradesh]]
* [[Thakur Jaivir Singh]], ex MLA (Now MLC)
* [[Roohi Zuberi]], advocate
===Medical professionals===
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* [[Khwaja Abdul Hamied]], pharmacist, founder of [[Cipla]] (pharmaceutical company)
* [[Prerna Kohli]], clinical [[psychologist]], social worker and author
* [[Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman]], Unani physician and author
* [[Syed Ziaur Rahman]], [[Pharmacology|pharmacologist]], researcher and author
* [[Ashok Seth]], an Indian [[interventional cardiologist]]
=== Social activists ===
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* [[Javed Abidi]], born with [[spina bifida]], he was an activist working for the disabled community and served as the first director of the [[National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People]] (NCPEDP)<ref>{{cite news |title=Demand made for legal recognition of sign language |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/Demand-made-for-legal-recognition-of-sign-language/Article1-634161.aspx |access-date=16 July 2023 |work=Hindustan Times |agency=PTI |date=4 December 2010 |archive-date=26 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126011941/http://www.hindustantimes.com/Demand-made-for-legal-recognition-of-sign-language/Article1-634161.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref> and founded [[Disability rights movement|Disability Rights]] in India
* [[Jai Kishan Das]], a close associate of [[Sir Syed Ahmad Khan]]
==See also==
*[[Jamia Millia Islamia]]
==Notes==
{{Notelist}}
==References==
{{Reflist}}
== Further reading ==
* Aligarh in My Days (Interviews of former Vice-Chancellors of Aligarh Muslim University), Ed. [[Syed Ziaur Rahman]], Non-Resident Students' Centre, [[Aligarh Muslim University]], Aligarh, 1997.
* {{cite book|title=Descriptive And Historical Account of the Aligarh District|first=Edward|last= Atkinson|isbn=978-1-147-42719-6|publisher=Nabu Press|orig-year=1875|year=2010}}
{{Aligarh district}}
{{Uttar Pradesh}}
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{{Wikiquote}}
[[Category:Aligarh| ]]
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[[Category:Cities and towns in Aligarh district]]
[[Category:Cities in Uttar Pradesh]]