Allahabad is a city of various dimensions of religious of the history of British Raj colonial beauty. Besides of being a chief pilgrimage center, this city has played a significant part in the development of modern India. As per Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma (the creator god) chose a land for ‘Prakrishta Yajna’ and this land is located at the confluence of three holy rivers – Yamuna, Ganga and Saraswati blessed by the gods. This place rose to be called as ‘Prayag’ or ‘Allahabad’. Major Hindu Scriptures like, the Vedas, the great epics – Ramayana and Mahabharata referred this place as Prayag. As per historical facts, Allahabad became the headquarters of North Western Provinces and thus, posses well preserved relics of the British impact including the All Saints Cathedral and the Muir College. Some of the major events of the freedom struggle of India, including the emergence of the first Indian National Congress (in 1885) and the beginning of Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violence movement (in 1920), took place here only. If you are planning a visit to Allahabad, then read on to this article and get to know about the popular places of the city:
Places to Visit in Allahabad:
Sangam
About 7 KM away from Civil Lines overlooked by the eastern walls of the fort, muddy banks and large flood plains protrude towards the sacred Sangam (meet). At this major destination of Allahabad, the brown Ganges joins the Greenish Yamuna and pandas (priests) alight on small platforms to perform puja (pray). These pandas also assist the devotees in performing their ritual ablutions in the shallow waters. The ghats (bank of river) are covered with the shorn hair of pilgrims who come at ‘sangam’ to offer pind for their deceased parents.
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Allahabad Fort
The Allahabad fort was constructed by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the year 1583 A.D. This fort is located on the bank of the Yamuna very close to the confluence site (Sangam). In its heydays, the fort was known for its captivating design, craftsmanship and construction. This majestic fort has three beautiful galleries lined with high towers. Presently, this massive fort is being used by Indian Army and only a specific area is open to visitors. Here, visitors can visit the Ashokan Pillar, Saraswati Kup (a well, which is said to be the source of the Saraswati River) and Jodhabai Palace.
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Patalpuri Temple
It is an underground temple, inside the Allahabad fort that lays the Akshaya Vat – or the immortal tree. This temple is believed to have been visited by Lord Rama and was also seen by the popular Chinese traveler and writer ‘Hiuen Tsang’ during his visit to this place. Ashoka Pillar and Akshaya Vat are also places located close to this temple.
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Some of the other famous tourist attractions that you must visit when in Allahabad are Hanuman Mandir, Kumbh Mela, Allahabad University, Shankar Viman Mandapam, Mankameshwar Temple, Swaraj Bhawan, Anand Bhawan, Jawahar Planetarium, Sai Dham Mandir, Allahabad Museum, Chandra Shekar Azad Park, All Saints Cathedral (Patthar Girjaghar), Khusro Bagh, Public Library (1864) and much more.
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