Allahabad Sightseeing, Quick Facts, History, Packages, Tours & Excursions

Allahabad is said to be a history lovers paradise.  Places in and around the city make for interesting sightseeing trips, including the city of Old Allahabad with its traditional mohallas. It is a reservoir of monuments belonging to different periods in Indian history.

Sangam, where the rivers Ganga and Yamuna meet, is the most famous spot in the city and a must visit for all pilgrims to take a dip and wash away all sins. This is around 7kms from the Civil Lines that can be reached by boat from the main ghat, or even seen from the fort's eastern wing. It is believed to be the same place where drops of nectar fell out from the pitcher held by the divine creator, commemorating which event the Kumbh Mela takes place every 12 years.

Allahabad Fort

This fort was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 15^th century, located on the banks of the Yamuna. It has three large galleries bordered by high towers, and is said to be one of the finest Mughal forts in terms of architectural beauty and size. Within the fort compound you can see the Zenana, Jodhabai's Palace, the Ashoka Pillar, Saraswati Koop and the Patalpuri Temple.

Patalpuri Temple is an underground temple, said to have been visited by Lord Rama. Inside this temple is a very sacred banyan tree, the Akshaya Vat (or the immortal tree). The Ashoka Pillar within the fort is a 3^rd century piece of work standing 10.6 mts tall, and made out of polished sandstone. Added on to the pillar are inscriptions commemorating Emperor Jehangir's succession to the throne.

More Temples:

Alopi Devi Mandir, located in Alopibagh near Sangam, is said to be one of the famous Siddipeeths. Here there is no idol of worship, except for a small kund placed in a wooden jhoola or swing.

Nagvasuki Temple is located in Daragunj locality of Allahabad, on the riverbanks of Ganga and has a statue of Bhismapitamah of Mahabharata fame.

Hanuman Mandir located near Sangam, is another well known temple in the city attracting many devotees.

The other temples you could visit are the ancient temple of Someshwar Mahadev, dedicated to Lord Shankar, and located opposite the fort; Shankar Viman Mandapam which stands 130 feet tall and has many deities, and Mankameshwar Temple  also dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Anand Bhawan

This is the ancestral home of the Nehru Family which today has been converted into a museum housing memorabilia of the family.

Also visit the Allahabad Museum, home to some really interesting pieces of sculpture from the Gupta Dynasty.

Chandra Shekar Azad Park is adjoining the museum, and is home to some fine buildings built during the colonial period. Another beautiful park is Minto Park laid down in the early 19^th century.

Excursions:

Visit the city of Kaushambhi, 62 kms from Allahabad, and an ancient seat of Buddhism. You can find the remains of the Ghositaram Monastery, an Ashoka Pillar, and  an old fort here.

Visit the Sheetla Temple in Kara (69 km away) and other adjoining temple.

The Jain Temple at Prabhosa (50km) is another interesting spot, where you can also see a cave with historic inscriptions.

Garhwa, 50 kms from Allahabad, has the ruins of some striking temples of Purvanchal. The main attraction here is a temple with 16 magnificently carved pillars of stone, with inscriptions dating to the Gupta Dynasty. In addition there are some fine pieces of sculptures to see as well, some of the better ones having been already moved to the Lucknow State Museum.

The idyllic village of Shringverpur is 40kms from the city. It was said to be the capital of Nishadraj also known as King of Fishermen and has been mentioned in the Ramayana. It is said that the city was named after a sage called Shringi Rishi, whose temple was unearthed during excavations conducted here.

Tourism Info:

Regional Tourist Office

Tourist Bungalow

35, M.G. Marg

Civil Lines, Allahabad

One of the largest cities of Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad has a long and significant past. It is of great religious significance to Hindus, as well as a centre of culture and learning. The city's ancient name was Prayag, which is the word for 'meeting point' since Allahabad is at the convergence of three holy rivers, the Ganga, Yamuna, and mythical Saraswati.  It also happens to be one of the four places where Kumbh Mela takes place. Prayag also means 'place of sacrifice' in Sanskrit. According to Hindu mythology, Lord Brahma chose this holy spot to offer his first sacrifice after he created the world.

Archaeological excavations have established that this ancient town goes all the way back to 1100 BC. The Puranas tell us it was originally inhabited by the Yayatis, after which it became one of the important settlements of the Aryans. Lord Rama is also believed to have spent some time here.

Prayag and its surrounding regions saw the rule of many dynasties - from the Mauryan, to the Guptas, Kushanas, and finally the powerful Kannauj empire. This was followed by the Muslim rule of Mohd Ghori. But it was under the Mughals that Prayag rose to great heights. The city of Prayag got its new name Allahabad from King Akbar who also built a beautiful and large fort on the river banks. There was a minor intervention by the Marathas, and then the city came under the British colonial rule, around the 18^th century.

Allahabad played an important role in the Revolt of 1857, and later in the struggle for India's independence. It continues its pivotal role play in social and political matters and has been the home of many prime ministers and eminent personalities. It is home to many small and large scale industries contributing to the economy of the state and is also used as the reference point for Indian Standard Time.