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Travel Guide » Asia » Allahabad
Explore: The World | India
Allahabad
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(Uttar Pradesh)


Land of the Holy Sangam

A holy river, a turbulent history, a world-class University, the birthplace of renowned writers there is so much to look for in Allahabad. Every nook and corner of this city is a landmark - be it Civil Lines or Minto Park! If you are infected with the travel bug and want a place that has a history interesting enough to explore, consider this. The journey is bound keep you intellectually occupied and spiritually alive.

Because that is what Allahabad has done to generations of humanity. The Writer comes here seeking inspiration the sinner comes seeking solace.
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To See & Do
Must See, Must Do
  • A dip in the Ganga and boat ride on its serene waters.
  • The Kumbh Mela. The experience of watching nearly two million people dunk themselves thrice in the river believing that it will take them to heaven can be life changing, indeed.
  • Dig into some juicy, almost seedless guavas.
  • If you are a history enthusiast then read up Dominique Lapierre and Larry Collin's Freedom at Midnight to understand why and what made Allahabad so crucial to the Indian freedom movement.

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Historical
  Akbar's Fort The fort, built in 1583, and the nearby temples are marvels of Mughal architecture. However, the fort is now occupied by the Indian Army, and can only be viewed from outside. For special visits to the Fort, you will need to get prior permission from the Commandant at the Ordnance Depot inside (Tel: 26064738), which is rather difficult. Ashoka Pillar Close to the fort's main entrance is the polished sandstone Ashoka Pillar, 10.6 m high and dating to 242 BC. This pillar containing edicts of Ashoka was brought here from Kausambi by Emperor Akbar. It also carries an inscription in Persian declaring Jahangir's accession to the Mughal throne. Mayo Memorial Hall Built in 1879, it has a 180 feet tower. Decorated by Prof. Gamble of the South Kensington Museum in London, the hall was built to host public meetings, receptions and balls. Allahabad University Established in 1887, it is the fourth oldest university of India after Calcutta, Bombay and Madras universities. Previously known as Muir Central College after its founder the university building is an excellent sample of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The university is known for its distinguished alumnae, which includes the poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan

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Parks
  Khusrau Bagh This park surrounded by high walls contains ornate Mughal tombs. A simple sandstone tomb, that of Prince Khusrau, lies next to a more elaborate double-storeyed burial chamber belonging to Khusrau's mother. There is another tomb believed to have the remains of Khusrau's sister, Nesa Begum. Minto Park To the west of the riverfront is the park laid out by Lord Minto (the Governor-General) in 1910. A plaque here commemorates the proclamation of the assumption of rule by the British Crown, announced by Lord Canning in 1858. This park has now been renamed as MM (Madan Mohan) Malviya Park. Chandra Shekhar Azad Park Head here for a slice of history. Named Alfred Park or Company Bagh by the British, it was renamed thus after Independence. The legendary freedom fighter, Azad, was actually killed here. A memorial tower for Queen Victoria stands within the park, but oddly enough the Victoria is now missing! The Public Library of Allahabad, within the park precincts, boasts of some 75,000 books besides well-preserved manuscripts and journals.

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Museums
  Allahabad Museum Visit it for its rich collection of ancient terracotta's and stone sculptures. Don't miss the remarkable image of the 12th-century Shiva-Parvati from Khajuraho. The painting gallery is also impressive with its numerous Rajasthani miniature paintings and works of some modern artists including Jamini Roy and Nicholas Roerich. The gallery on the Independence movement has some rare photographs and historical documents. The museum is near Chandra Shekhar Azad Park and open 10.15 am-5 pm, all days except Mondays and government holidays. Anand Bhavan An elaborate Victorian building set amidst well laid-out lawns, it was the home of Pandit Motilal Nehru and his son Jawaharlal Nehru. It has now been converted into a museum showcasing memorabilia of the Nehru family. Pandit Motilal Nehru donated the older portion of Anand Bhavan, called Swaraj Bhavan, to the nation. It was used as the headquarters of the Congress Party in the pre-Independence days. Indira Gandhi was born here. Within the grounds of Anand Bhavan is the Jawahar Planetarium. It runs four shows in Hindi and is of special interest to stargazers. It is open 11 am to 4 pm on all days except Mondays.

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Religious Places
  Triveni Sangam The belief that a ritual ablution at the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati can cleanse one of his/her sins draws a large number of Hindu believers here. An early morning dip is the ideal, both ritually and because the sun rising over the Sangam is a sight to behold. Patalpuri Temple Legend has it that Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana, visited this underground temple near the fort. It's definitely ancient though, and worth a dekko. Akshaya Vat This grand old banyan tree, considered to be undying, is located within a protected space in the Patalpuri Temple. It finds mention in the travelogues of the 7th-century Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang. Pilgrims used to jump to death from here, believing that they would attain salvation. Saraswati Kup More legends here. This well inside the fort is believed to be the source of the mythical river Saraswati. Hanuman Temple To the right of the fort is this temple with Hanuman in an unusual supine position. Painted a bright vermilion, the colour associated with Hanuman, the temple gets submerged during the monsoons when the Ganga floods its banks. It is believed that the Ganga touches the feet of Hanuman thus to receive blessings. Bhardwaj Ashram This ancient monastery, said to have been visited by Lord Rama, now lies in the centre of the city. It once housed nearly 10,000 chhatras (students) who studied under the tutelage of Sage Bhardwaj. All Saints Cathedral This 19th-century church, popularly known as Patthar Girjaghar (Stone Church) is a towering Gothic structure that still holds Sunday Mass. Designed by Sir William Emerson of the Victoria Memorial fame, the outstanding feature of this church is its vivid stained glass windows. The white marble exteriors are faced in red stone and the altar displays fine marble inlay work.

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Festivals
  Of particular importance are the annual Magh Mela (mid-January/February) and Kumbh Mela, which happen once in 12 years. The Ardh Kumbh takes place once in six years and will be held in Allahabad next in 2007.
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