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General
Information
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.
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
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.
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