Located on a strategic point in the heartland of India, Allahabad was also of great importance for the Mughal rulers and later the British. In Allahabad, the British formally transferred the governance of India from the East India Company to the Crown. In the subsequent years of struggle for independence from colonial rule, Allahabad became one of the focal points of the freedom fighters. Home to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India, Allahabad witnessed many important landmarks in the freedom movement.
Sangam at Prayag(Allahabad) is at the confluence of river Yamuna and Ganga and is a sacred holy site for Hindus. Legend has it that is called Triveni Sangam because three rivers meet up here - the holy Ganga,Yamuna and mythical Saraswati which is believed to be flowing beneath the surface. Allahabad is known for the red-spotted guavas available in plenty and at unbelievably cheap prices.
Historically Speaking
Allahabad finds reference in ancient Hindu scriptures including the Vedas, Puranas and the epic Ramayana as Prayag, the confluence of the three holy rivers of Yamuna, Ganga and Saraswati. The latter is a subterranean river believed to emerge at the sangam or confluence to join with the other two
rivers. Known as ‘tirtha raj’ or the king of all pilgrimages, Allahabad was believed to have been chosen by Lord Brahma for the sacred confluence. According to legend, this is the spot where the sage Bharadwaj had his ashram, where thousands of students lived and studied under him. Lord Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana also visited the ashram. Historical evidence of a very ancient settlement has been found at archaeological sites in Allahabad. At the Draupadi Ghat evidence of habitation and artefacts dating from 1100 till 800 BC were recovered. Remains from the Kushana era (1st century AD) have been found around the site of the Bharadwaj Ashram. Little remains of this ancient epoch in the history of this town. The Muslims annexed Allahabad in 1194, but the foundations of the modern city were laid by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1575. Named Illahabas, the city acquired its grand fort overlooking the sangam in 1583. It is in this fort that Khusrau, the son of Emperor Jahangir fought to gain control of the throne and was first imprisoned and then killed in 1615 by his brother Shah Jahan. In 1801, the British annexed the city and its fort, establishing colonial rule for the next 150 years. After the Mutiny of 1857, the British shifted the headquarters of the Northwestern provinces to Allahabad. Lord Canning announced the transfer of power to the crown in 1858 in this city. In the subsequent years Allahabad witnessed some important events in the freedom struggle. Home to Pandit Motilal Nehru, one of the most important leaders of the movement, Allahabad hosted the first Indian National Congress in 1885. Mahatma Gandhi’s call for a mass movement against imperialist rule was launched as the Quit India Movement from Allahabad in 1920. In subsequent years Motilal Nehru’s son Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru spearheaded the struggle to its conclusion from Anand Bhavan; the residence that has now been converted into a museum.
Shopping
The main shopping area is around the Civil Lines, Chowk and Katra regions. Chowk is the traditional old city bazaar, while Civil Lines is more upmarket.Events
The Magh Mela in January is an important religious event for Hindus. The Mela is held annually on the banks of Sangam and is also referred to as ''Mini Kumbh Mela''. The bathing dates are spread over 45 days and attract more than a million devotees. The Ardh Kumbha Fair (6 yearly) and the
Maha Kumbha that occurs every twelve years are other major festivals here.
Night Out
Restaurants cater mainly to the local citizens and provide good, clean and tasty fare. There are cinemas in the city that play the latest Bollywood movies. You can also catch a play at the local theatre and for those who prefer an evening of great music the Prayag Sangeet Samiti holds classical
music shows that you must check out. The pub culture here is almost non existent. To get a drink it would be a better idea and also a lot safer to go to the bigger hotels rather than the few small bars in the city.
Activities
Apart from the regular sightseeing, Allahabad has a rich tradition of classical Indian music and many music concerts are organized in the winter months. The Prayag Sangeet Samiti organises dance and music evenings in the city. Go for an early morning aarti or take a boat ride on the along the ghats
at sunrise and witness the splendid view of devotees starting their day in prayer.
Sights
Allahabad is divided in two distinct halves by the railway station with the orderly grid patterned Civil Lines and adjoining districts forming the central and northern parts. The old city spreads along the eastern banks of the River Yamuna. Lying 7 kms from the centre is the holiest spot in Allahabad,
the Sangam (confluence). Here the muddy brown Ganga meets the blue Yamuna and the mystical Saraswati, with a broad flood plain forming a sandy patch in between. Devotees come for ritual bathing in the holy waters at the Sangam and priests or pandas perform special rites of worship to help them in their quest for salvation. The road to the Sangam is lined with stalls selling various religious paraphernalia, including flowers, vermilion powder, coconuts and other offerings. Pilgrims also come to these shores to perform the last rites of their relatives. Boats can be hired at the main ghat (river landing used for bathing) east of the fort. To the south of the Sangam along the Yamuna lies the Saraswati Ghat and closeby on the banks of the Yamuna is the new Mankameshwar Temple , dedicated to Lord Shiva. Allahabad Fort , commissioned by Emperor Akbar in 1583, stands sentinel on the eastern bank of the Yamuna. The fort is occupied by the Indian army and therefore much of its lies out of bounds to the public. There are three gateways into the fort, which is surrounded by a 7-metre wall. You get the full impact of this impressive structure from boats on the river. The areas open to the public are the Patalpuri temple , an underground temple believed to have been visited by Rama, the hero of Ramayana and an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The Akshaya Vat , a venerable old banyan tree, supposedly indestructible, sits in a protected space within the temple. Mentioned by the 7th century Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang, this tree is considered sacred and devotees would jump from it to gain moksha (salvation). The Saraswati Kup or Well of Saraswati is believed to be the source of the elusive river Saraswati lies inside the Fort. Close to the fort''s main entrance is the polished sandstone Ashoka Pillar , 10.6 metres high and dating from 242 BC. The pillar was brought from the Buddhist site of Kausambi by Emperor Akbar and has the edicts of Emperor Ashoka inscribed on it. It also carries an inscription in Persian declaring Jahangir’s accession to the Mughal throne. To visit the Fort, you will need to get permission from the Commandant at the Ordnance Depot inside. To the right of the fort is the Hanuman Temple , dedicated to the Monkey God. Painted a bright vermilion red, the colour associated with Hanuman, the temple houses a reclining image of the god. During the monsoons when the Ganga floods its banks, the temple gets submerged. A towering 130-feet structure called the Shankar Viman Mandapam houses images of important Hindu saints and divinities. The site of the ancient Bhardwaj Ashram , said to have been visited by Lord Rama on his way to the forest now lies in the centre of the city. The ashram once housed nearly 10,000 students who studied under the tutelage of Sage Bhardwaj. To the west of the riverfront is the Minto Park , laid out by Lord Minto in 1910. A memorial in the park commemorates the proclamation of the assumption of rule by the British crown, announced by Lord Canning in 1858. To the south of the Allahabad’s main railway station lie the Mughal gardens known as Khusrau Bagh . Dedicated to Khusrau, the rebel son of Emperor Jahangir, the garden holds his mausoleum. The simple sandstone tomb completed in 1622 lies next to that of Khusrau’s mother’s double-storeyed burial chamber. Beyond is another tomb believed to contain the remains of Khusrau’s sister. The colonial area laid out in grid pattern during the mid-19th century holds remnants of the Raj era. They include the Uttar Pradesh High Court , the All Saints Cathedral and Allahabad University . The 19th century All Saints’ Cathedral popularly known as Patthar Girjaghar (stone church) is a towering Gothic structure that still holds prayers and Sunday Mass. Designed by Sir William Emerson, the architect of the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, the outstanding feature of this church is its vivid stained glass windows. The white marble exteriors are faced in red stone and the altar displays fine marble inlay work. The St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Cathedral built in 1879 is to the northwest.Alfred Park or Company Bagh is now known as Chandra Shekhar Azad Park . A memorial tower stands within the park. The Public Library of Allahabad was shifted to its new location within the Park in 1879. The library has a collection of some 75,000 books besides historical manuscripts and journals. On the edge of the Chandra Shekhar Azad Park sits the Allahabad Museum . The grounds of the museum have a display of ancient sculptures, while the interior houses a collection of ancient terracottas and stone sculptures. A remarkable image amongst the exhibits is a 12th century Shiva-Parvati from Khajuraho. The museum also exhibits ancient coins, traditional Rajasthani miniature paintings and works of some modern artists including Jamini Roy and Nicholas Roerich. The other sections of the museum include a portion devoted to natural history where stuffed birds and animals are in residence and a gallery on the independence movement with a good collection of photographs and historical documents. North of the Museum is the 19th century Allahabad University with its Indo-Saracenic buildings. Among the most prominent colonial buildings within the campus is the Muir College, now housing the Science Faculty, built in 1874 by Sir William Emerson. A quadrangle within has tall ornate arches and a 61-metre tower crested with domes. The tower was built in ochre stone brought from Mirzapur, while the floors are made of marble and mosaic. The domes are covered with blue and white glazed tiles from the town of Multan, now in Pakistan. The Mayo Memorial Hall, built in 1879, had a 180 feet tower. Decorated by Professor Gamble of the South Kensington Museum in London, the hall commemorated Lord Mayo and was built to host public meetings, receptions and balls. About a kilometre from the Museum is the sprawling Anand Bhawan , an elaborate Victorian building set amid well laid out lawns. Home of Pandit Motilal Nehru and his son Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, this house has now been turned into a museum. Memorabilia of the Nehru family are displayed here. The old section of the Anand Bhawan called Swaraj Bhawan was donated to the nation in 1930 by Pandit Motilal Nehru. Swaraj Bhawan was used as headquarters of the Congress Party. Indira Gandhi, the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru and later Prime Minister of India was born here.Within the grounds of Anand Bhawan is the Jawahar Planetarium . Running four shows in Hindi in a day, the planetarium is of special interest for stargazers.
How to get there by AirBamrauli airport lies 18 kms out of the city. At the time of writing, no commercial airlines operate to Allahabad. The closest operational airport is at Varanasi, which is three hours away by road. |
How to get there by RailThe best way to get to Allahabad is by train. Allahabad is on the main broad gauge trunk line between Delhi and Calcutta. Trains on this line stop at the Allahabad Junction Station in the Civil Lines area. |
How to get there by BusIf you are driving around India, the city is extremely well connected from all directions. The city is connected to most places in Uttar Pradesh and around by state and national highways. All east bound traffic coming from the north has to pass Allahabad. The roads are reasonably good and driving on them is quite pleasant, particularly if you have a driver. Buses link Allahabad to all the major north Indian cities including Delhi (643 kms), Gwalior, Jhansi, Kanpur, Lucknow (204 kms), Meerut and Varanasi (122 kms). Buses terminate at the Leader Road bus stand, the Zero Road bus stand and MG Marg bus stand. |
Best time to VisitThe best time to visit Allahabad is during the winters between November and March. |
Hotels in Uttar PradeshHotel Kanha Shyam is a major 4 star hotel. Grand Continental Hotel, Ajay International, Milan Palace, Hotel Samrat and Hotel Yatrik are in the moderate range. These hotels offer dining and conference facilities and suit the business traveler. |
What to PackIf you are travelling to Allahabad in the summer, light cottons are sufficient. In winter, light woolens would be required as the evenings get chilly. You are in the heart of conservative India, so it''s advisable to stay clear of clothes that would raise eyebrows or attract unwanted attention. |
Nearby Places
Jhusi or Pratisthanpuri is an ancient site 9 kms from Allahabad. Reached after crossing the Ganga on boat or via road, the site has several temples and ashrams. Bhita , 22 kms southwest of Allahabad, is an archaeological site dating well before the 3rd century BC. Originally
excavated in 1910-11, the site revealed evidence of ancient habitation and was a major trade centre. The mythological kingdom of Nishadraj or the king of boatmen sits 40 kms away on the banks of the Ganga. Known as Shringverpur, this ancient site with its Ramchaura is believed to be the spot where Lord Rama stayed a night before being taken across the river by Nishadraj. The Tons River Aqueduct and the Upardaha Lake about 45 kms from Allahabad are popular picnic spots for local people. 69 kms from the city is the Mughal township of Kara. Once the provincial capital of the region, the town has some Hindu shrines including the Sheetla Mata temple and the Kaleshwar Mahadev temple of Lord Shiva. Kausambi , an ancient town sits next to the Yamuna RIver, 62 kms from Allahabad. Legend says the town was settled by descendants of the Pandavas who fled the flooded city of Hastinapur. Early excavations at Kausambi revealed an important Buddhist site where the Buddha himself came to preach. Referred by the Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang, this town was continuously inhabited from the 8th century BC till the 6th century AD. Some historians have suggested evidence of even earlier habitation at the site. A 6-km mud wall surfaced with brick is visible at the site. Inside are remains of brick houses, paved roads, tanks, a drainage system and a large 5th century BC stupa. A damaged Ashokan column is one of the few standing structures among the ruins. Accessed from Allahabad by taxis or private cars, you can also reach Kausambi by a daily bus from the Leader Road bus stand.
