Agra – You might be aware that Agra has also been a major center of rug weaving since the 16th century. Agra also made its presence felt as a center of rug weaving when it became the Mughal capital in 1566. The city of Agra originated and remains the main center of production for the highly prized carpets. One of the most famous examples of Agra carpets in history is the Emperor Akbar Carpet, which is believed to have been commissioned by the Mughals in the mid-16th century. It was built for the court of Emperor Akbar. This famous carpet is 35 feet long and 17 feet wide, and has an intricate design of flowers, birds and animals, as well as Arabic inscriptions. In the 18th century, Agra was ruled by the Maratha Empire, which led to the Maratha style of carpet weaving. In the 19th century, Agra came under the control of the British Empire and the carpet weaving industry flourished under their patronage. Agra rugs from this period were influenced by European design trends, and many featured intricate floral patterns and pastel colors. Agra carpets were highly prized by British collectors, and many were exported to countries in Europe and America.