INDIALINE
Complete India Travel Guide

Allahabad Tourism

Bathing in the Ganges River Allahabad Uttar Pradesh

Allahabad or Prayag as it was previously called is one of the most ancient cities in India. It is famous for housing the hugely famous Kumbha Mela celebrated once in 12 years at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythological Saraswati river. The ancient origin of the city has brought it a rich heritage that have enriched the culture of the city immensely. The divinity and sacred culture of the city has given the country a number of national leaders and thinkers to lead the common people of the country. As you will visit the city, the simple and clam lifestyle of the city will definitely steal your heart.

The ancient city of Allahabad is full of divine attractions which includes the world famous Kumbh Mela held once in twelve years. Here are some special attributes of the city -

Sangam

Sangam is the sacred place where three holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati meet. It is also well known as Triveni Sangam and is considered to be the most holy bathing destination is India. The famous Kumbha Mela is celebrated at this very place and it is widely believed that bathing here at this auspicious time helps you to attain Moksha (salvation). The Ganges here is muddy-coloured and shallow while Yamuna is blue and deep. The invisible river Saraswati is considered to flow underground and can't be seen.

Allahabad Fort

Built by Akbar in 1583, this huge fort commands over the environment with its grandeur of Mughal architecture. Nestles on the bank of Yamuna river near the Sangam, it houses a 35 ft high Ashoka Pillar inside the fort. Since the fort is in the control of army, a written permission is required to enter in it.
Hanuman Temple

A small ancient temple dedicated to Hanumana is one of the prime attractions of Allahabad. Situated a few feet below the ground, the temple houses Hanumana in a reclining posture. It is said that every year the Ganges floods until it touches the holy foot of sleeping Hanumana and then only starts receding. Located by the Sangam side, this temple is open to non-Hindus also.

Anand Bhavan

The ancestral house of Nehru family is a must see in Allahabad. This beautiful house stores the heritage of Motilal Nehru, Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi. You can also visit the room where Mahatma Gandhi used to stay and work. It is open daily 9:30 am to 5 pm, except on Mondays.

Allahabad Museum

This ancient museum stores the true heritage of Allahabad in its walls. The ivory Krishna Arjuna on the carved sandalwood chariot is the main attraction of the museum. It is open from 10:3 am to 4:30 pm and remains closed on Mondays.

Getting There

By Air

Allahabad has a domestic airport which offers connection to some of the selected cities of the countries. But the nearby airports at Varanasi (140 km) and Lucknow (210 km) offer regular flight service to almost all the major cities of India including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

By Rail

Allahabad is one of the major railway hubs in India with four railway stations – Prayag station, City station, Daraganj station and Allahabad junction. Some major trains connecting Allahabad with the rest of the country are Prayag Raj Express (Allahabad - New Delhi), Brahmaputra Mail (Guwahati – Allahabad – New Delhi), Bombay Mail (Howrah – Allahabad – Mumbai) and Toofan Express (Ganganagar – Allahabad – Howrah).

By Road

Allahabad is on the national highways 2 and 27. Regular bus services connect Allahabad with rest of the country. The good roads make the journey to Allahabad relaxing and enjoying. Some impostant road distances are : Varanasi – 125 km, Ayodhya – 167 km, Lucknow – 204 km, Khajuraho – 294 km and Delhi – 643 km.