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The history of Aligarh traces back to the time of Mahabharat, when the capital of Pandavas was shifted to Ahar (presently Bulandshahar Disrtict) after the destruction of Hastinapur. Being near to Delhi as well as Mathura (Braj), Aligarh previously known as Kol has his own significance in the history. The geographical setting of the city makes it an important city for settlements. The archeological explorations have found potteries such as OCP (Ochered Colored Pottery), PGW( Painted Grey Ware), RW(Red Ware) in the region which date backs to 1500 BC. The written descriptions and history of the city flinches from the Sultanate period in Tarikh-e- Firuzshahi to Ain-i Akbari, Amal-I Shahjahani and Tuzk-e- Jahangiri. Ibn Battuta's has also mentioned about Kol in his Rihla, when he traveled along with 15 ambassadors representing Ukhaantu Khan, the Mongol Emperor of the Yuan dynasty in China. They traveled to Koil city en route to the coast at Cambay (in Gujarat) in 1341. Other than Ibn Battuta travelers like Fitch, Mildenhall, Hawkins, Francisco Pelsaert, Peter Mundy and W. Foster have mentioned about Koil in their travel accounts. The first prominent writing about history of Kol is Akhbarul Jamal by Raje Mohammad in the Eighteenth Century who specifically writes about the Balai City. Muslim history scholars such as Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, Altaf Husain Hali, Zakaullah,Ziauddin Barani etc. have written well about the city in their respective works. Also there are British writings and records for the Koil city. After the establishment of AMU, Prof. Mohammad Habib has also written well about the city. His son Prof. Irfan Habib has proficiently worked over the geographical and historical setting of the city. A comprehensive work by Prof. Jamal Siddiqui over the complete Aligarh District gives well information about the city. After the establishment of MAO College, there have been many writings over Aligarh Movement and post 1857 history. Tariq Hasan, Theodore Morrison and many other writers have written over the history of Aligarh Muslim University and Aligarh Movement. The Department of History, Aligarh Muslim University have produced many thesis on the history of the city under the supervisor of different guides which already have worked over the history of the city. The different historians have written about the history of the city in different aspects. Some have written in narrative aspect and some have written taking account the political and social scenario of the city at different period of time. The historian have strained to trace different layers of history over the city.