FACTS &
FIGURES
Area : 63.07 sq km
Altitude : 98 m above sea level
Population : 10,223,65
Languages : Hindi, English, and Urdu,
Best time to visit : November to February
STD Code : 0532
LOCATION
Allahabad lies 135 km west of Varanasi in the north
Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and is at the confluence
of the Ganga (also Ganges), Yamuna, and the mythical
Saraswati River, the point of their mingling known
as Sangam. Also known by its old name of Prayag, the
city is an educational hub and a great pilgrimage
center, especially the world-famous Kumbh Mela.
CLIMATE
The climate of Allahabad is one of the extreme types
with annual range of temperature differing by around
12°C. The temperature varies from a maximum of
45.6°C to a minimum of 1.1°C. The weather
is one of the finest in the month of January and February.
Annual rainfall is 1935.5 mm and the maximum being
914.7 mm (August) and minimum 68.3 mm (December).
Monsoon touches Allahabad by 15th of June.
PAST
Allahabad finds mention in the holy scriptures—the
Vedas and the grand epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata,
and in the Puranas—as Prayag. Hindu mythology
has it that Lord Brahma, the creator, chose a piece
land on earth, on which the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati
would flow into a quiet confluence. He referred to
it as ‘Tirtharaj’ or the ‘king of
all pilgrimage centers'.
Allahabad’s antiquity attracted curious itinerants
from even the Far East. Huen Tsang and Fa Hien, the
Chinese travelers, who visited it in the fifth and
the seventh centuries respectively, found it a flourishing
state. As time wore on, Allahabad found playing itself
host to the royalty, including the illustrious Harsha,
Akbar, Dara Shikoh, Khusro, and Queen Victoria. In
1575, the Mughal Emperor Akbar named it ‘Illahabas.’
Akbar realized its strategic importance and built
a magnificent fort on the banks of the holy Sangam.
Over the centuries that followed, Allahabad remained
on the forefront of national importance—more
so during the days of the Indian independence struggle.
The chequered history of Allahabad with its religious,
cultural and historical ethos also gave rise to several
renowned scholars, poets, writers, thinkers, and political
leaders. Allahabad today is an important city where
history, culture, and religion create a confluence—much
like the sacred rivers that caress this God-graced
land.
SITES TO VISIT
The meeting point of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical
Saraswati rivers, Sangam is around 7 km from Civil
Lines. This is one of the most sacred places of the
Hindu religion. It hosts the Maha Kumbh Mela (the
largest gathering of Hindus) and Ardh Kumbh. At the
point at which the brown Ganges meets the Greenish
Yamuna, pandas (priests) perch on small platforms
to perform puja and assist the devout in their ritual
ablutions in the shallow waters. Boats are available
for visitors.
Near the Sangam is situated the Allahabad Fort built
by Akbar in the ad 1583. Unrivalled for its design
and craftsmanship in its heydays, the fort is now
used by the army and only a part of it is open to
the visitors. This huge, majestic fort has three magnificent
galleries flanked by high towers. The visitors are
allowed to see the Ashoka Pillar, Saraswati Kup (a
well said to be the source of the river Saraswati),
and Jodhabai Palace. The Patalpur temple and the much-revered
Akshaya Vat (immortal Banyan tree) are also here.
Swaraj Bhawan, the historical building built by Motilal
Nehru, was donated to the nation in 1930 to be used
as the headquarters of the Congress Committee. The
former prime minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi
was born here.
A fine museum today, Anand Bhawan was once home to
one of the most powerful families of Indian politics,
the Nehrus. Today, it houses memorabilia of the Gandhi–Nehru
family.
Khusro Bagh is a large garden where tombs of Khusro,
son of emperor Jahangir, and Shah Begum are located.
Hanuman Mandir is a unique temple famous for the
supine image of Hanuman. This is the only temple to
have Hanuman in a reclining posture.
Mayo Memorial Hall is situated near the Thornhill
and Myne Memorial. This large hall has a 180-feet
high tower. Professor Gamble of the South Kensington
Museum, London, ornamented the interior of this memorial
hall with designs. Completed in 1879, this hall was
meant for public meetings, balls and receptions in
commemoration of the assassinated Viceroy.
Other place to visit are Shankar Viman Mandapam,
Mankameshwar Temple, All Saints Cathedral (Patthar
Girjaghar), Minto Park, Allahabad University, Allahabad
museum, Minto park, Muir College, Jawahar Planetarium,
Chandra Shekhar Azad Park, and public library.
SITES NEARBY
Situated 9 km from Allahabad, Jhusi (Pratisthanpuri)
is a place for people wanting peace of mind and soul.
It has many ashrams and temples and can be reached
from Allahabad by taxis, buses, and boats, etc.
Kaushambi (62 km) is a place traditionally associated
with the Mahabharata. The city was once a great Buddhist
center. Lord Buddha is believed to have visited Kaushambi
twice to deliver discourses. The ruins of an ancient
fort bear witness to the antiquity of the place. There
are also remains of a monastery.
Bhita (20 km) is an archeological site with remains
dating back to 300 bc.
Shringverpur (40 km) was once the capital city of
the kingdom of Nishadraj (King of Boatmen). Legend
has it that Lord Rama stayed here overnight while
going to the forest. Before steering Rama across the
Ganga in his boat, his feet were washed by Nishadraj.
Other places that can be visited are Tons river aqueduct,
Kara, and Upardaha Lake
FAIRS AND
FESTIVALS
The Kumbh Mela is the greatest of north Indian festival-fairs
and it has exerted a mesmeric influence over the mind
and the imagination of the ordinary Indian from time
immemorial. It is held once every three years by rotation,
on the banks of holy rivers—the Godavari in
Nasik, the Shipra in Ujjain, the Ganga in Haridwar
and the Sangam in Allahabad. The Purna (complete)
Kumbh, the biggest and the most auspicious fair, which
falls once every twelve years, is always at Allahabad.
When the particular configuration of the Kumbh at
Allahabad falls on a Monday, it is called the Somvati
Amavasya and the spiritual benefits increase manifold.
The Purna Kumbh is followed by the Ardh Kumbh in importance
and this fair falls every six years when millions
of devout congregate at Allahabad on the banks of
the holy river, braving the hazards of cold, disease,
hunger and a myriad other privations, to gain spiritual
salvation and contentment.
Other fairs include the Magh Mela, which is celebrated
in the month of February.
HOW TO REACH
Allahabad does not have an airport of its own. The
nearest airports are at Varanasi (147 km) and Lucknow
(210 km). Allahabad is situated on the Delhi–Calcutta
route and can be reached from any part of India by
rail or bus. It is connected with Delhi and Calcutta
by some of the fastest trains in India like Rajdhani,
Magadh, and Shramjeevi. The average time taken from
Delhi is 10 hours, Calcutta 15 hours, and Mumbai 24
hours.
