Destination Features

A City of many dimensions is what befits a description of Allahabad. In addition to being a major pilgrimage centre, the city has played an important part in the formation of modern India. Hindu mythology states that Lord Brahma, the creator god, chose a land for 'Prakrishta Yajna'. This land, at the confluence of three holy rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, blessed by gods, came to be known as Prayag' or 'Allahabad'.

Foreseeing the sancity of the place, Lord Brahma also called it as 'Tirth Raj' or 'King of all pilgrimage centres'. The Scriptures - Vedas and the great epics - Ramayana and Mahabharata, refer to this place as Prayag.

During the time of the Mughals a massive fort was built in 1583, by emperor Akbar.

Centuries followed. Allahabad became the headquarters of North Western Provinces, after being shifted from Agra. Well preserved relics of the British impact includes the Muir College and the All Saints Cathedral.

Many important events in India's struggle for freedom, took place here - the emergence of the first Indian National Congress in 1885, the beginning of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violence movemebt in 1920.

Anand Bhawan, the home of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, is now a shrine to the independence movement. Now maintained as a Museum, allows visitors to peer through glass screens into the interior to see how the first family lived.

This confluence of history, culture and religion makes Allahabad, a unique city.

How to Reach
Allahabad is conveniently connected to the rest of the country by comforable and easy rail and road connections.

By Air
Presently, there is no air link to Allahabad. Nearest Airports are Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur.
Babatpur Airport, Varanasi (140 km).
Amausi Airport, Lucknow 2
Chakeri Airport, Kanpur

By Rail
Allahabad has Four Railway Stations - Prayag Station, City Station, Daraganj Station and Allahabad Junction. Major trains of the broad-gauge Delhi - Kanpur - Calcutta Line arrive at Allahabad Junction. Some major trains arriving at Allahabad are Mahanagari Express (Varanasi - Allahabad - Mumbai); Magadh Express (Patna - Allahabad - New Delhi); Saryu Express (Allahabad - Faizabad); Kalka Mail (Howrah - Allahabad - Kalka); Prayag Raj Express (Allahabad - New Delhi); Bramaputra Mail (Guwahati - Allahabad - New Delhi); Bombay Mail (Howrah - Allahabad - Mumbai) ; Rajdhani Express (New Delhi - Allahabad - Howrah); Toofan Express (Ganganagar - Allahabad - Howrah); Ganga Gomti Express (Allahabad - Lucknow); Ganga Kaveri Express (Varanasi - Allahabad - Chennai).

By Road
Allahabad on National Highways 2 & 27, is connected to the rest of the country by good, motorable all weather roads. Some important road distances are Ayodhya - 167 km., Chitrakoot - 137 km., Agra - 443 km., Ahmedabad - 1207 km., Delhi - 643 km., Bhopal - 680 km., Mumbai - 1444 km., Calcutta - 799 km., Hyderabad - 1086 km., Jaipur - 673 km., Jhansi - 375 km., Lucknow - 204 km., Madras - 1790 km., Nagpur - 618 km., Patna - 368 km., Thiruvanathapuram - 2413 km., Udaipur - 956 km., Varanasi - 125 km., Khajuraho - 294 km., Lambini (Nepal) - 406 km.

Allahabad also has three bus stands catering to different routes. The buses from westersn destinations like Delhi, Agra, Lucknow and Kanpur halt at Leader Road Bus Stand (Enquiry Ph. No. 602114). The Zero Road Bus Stand (Enquiry Ph. No. 400192) serves the buses going on the southern route i.e. Mahoba and Satna. Buses from Varanasi and other eastern towns arrive at M. G. Road Bus Stand.

Local Transport
Tourist Taxis, Auto-Rickshaws and tempos are available for local transport, the rates are usually negotiable. City Bus, Service connects various parts of the city.

Museums
Allahabad Museum, Near Chandra Shekhar Azad Park.
Open : 10.15 a.m. - 4.30 pm.
Closed on Monday, Second Saturday of every month and other Government Holidays.

University Archaeological Museum, University Campus.
Open : 11.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and University Holidays.

The Holy Town of Confluence of Three Sacred Rivers

Located on the banks of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga, Allahabad is one of the most famous pilgrim centres in Uttar Pradesh.
Legend has it that the ancient Saraswati River once flowed underground, and joined the Yamuna and the Ganga in Prayag, the ancient name for Allahabad.
The confluence of these holy rivers is known as Sangam, which is considered a very sacred place for Hindus. They firmly believe that after they die and are cremated, they would attain moksha, or freedom from the cycle of birth-death-rebirth, if their ashes are immersed at Sangam.


¤ The Town OF Maha Kumbh Mela

Allahabad is also the site for the mammoth Maha Kumbh Mela that is held every 12 years, and draws over 2 million people, both from India and abroad. During the Ardh Kumbh Mela that takes place once in six years, thousands of devotees come to Allahabad to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganga and Yamuna.

The Magh Mela is held annually, in January and February, and lasts for 15 days. These melas (fairs) commemorate the struggle between gods and demons over a kumbh (pot) of amrit, the elixir of life. When the amrit surfaced from the bottom of the ocean, Lord Vishnu, the Hindu Preserver of the Universe ran away with the pot of amrit. While he was running, four drops of the elixir fell on the sites that are now the holy towns of Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain.


¤ Other Attractiions

Allahabad is also famous for its guavas, and for its university, which is also called ‘the Oxford of the East’. An architectural wonder, the Allahabad University is where some of India’s greatest leaders studied at some point or the other.
Other British monuments of interest in Allahabad are the High Court, the All Saints Cathedral and the Mayo Complex, to name a few. Khusrao Bagh and Akbar’s Fort are the architectural remnants of the Mughal Empire (a.d. 1526-1857) in Allahabad.

Hire a cyclerickshaw. It is the cheapest, best and most widely available means of transport. You will have to haggle for the prices, though.

There are many places to visit....

Take a bath in the holy Sangam...

Visit the fort...

Have a look at Anand Bhavan and the Allahabad University,both are close by.

The regional Engineering College of UP also resides here ie Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology(MNNIT).A famous Medical college called Motilal Nehru Medical College is also from the same city.

There are many good hotels.There is only one 3 star hotel ie Kanha Shyam...U can stay in some good Dharamshalas and some cheap hotels....

In Chowk u can have some good cheap hotels...Civil lines is the most porsh area of Allahabad

You can have any food of ur desire...

U can go for a North Indian Thali or south Indian..Dont forget to taste the Allahabadis Guavas.....

Sangam is the most unique feature of Allahabad.Ganga Yamuna and saraswati meet at a point.saraswati is invisble.But the meeting point of Ganga and Yamuna can be very well seen as the colors of the 2 rivers differ.Ganga is brown in color as its less deep and muddy.Yamuna is blue in color as its very deep....

U can easily the line of seperation between the 2 rivers.....