 Allahabad (इलाहाबाद) Travel Guide, India
New Yamuna Bridge, Allahabad, India
Author: Abhijeet Vardhan (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
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Allahabad (Hindi: इलाहाबाद, Urdu: الله آباد) is a city in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. Covering 63.07 sq km (24 sq mi), it has a populaiton of 5.95 million people.
Allahabad is located in the southern part of Uttar Pradesh, at the confluence of two rivers regarded sacred to Hinduism: the Ganges and the Yamuna. Allahabad itself is regarded as the second oldest city in India. During ancient times, it was called Prayag, which means "the place of sacrifice" in Sanskrit.
Guide to Allahabad Hotels
It's never easy finding the hotel that's just right for your stay. Still, by taking a little time to do your research, you increase your chance of getting a good hotel at the best price. Go through the list of hotels in Allahabad which we've put together, with full description, star rating, address, location map and evaluation. Pick the hotel of your choice and view the rates offered by different booking sites. Yes, we show you prices from different websites, so you don't have to visit them one by one.
Anand Bhavan, Allahabad
Author: Balasub (Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic)
More on Allahabad
Modern Allahabad, located 205 km (127 mi) from the state capital, Lucknow, is one of the fasterst growing cities in India. Allahabad is associated with seven out of the past fourteen Prime Ministers of India, namely Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Gulzarilal Nanda, Vishwanath Pratap Singh and Chandra Shekhar, all of whom were either born there, studied there (at Allahabad University) or got elected from the constituency there.
Allahahad experiences a humid subtropical climate, with hot, dry summers, cool, dry winters, and a separate wet monsoon season. The hottest month is May, when the temperature soars to 42°C. Coldest months are December and January, when the average low temperature drops to 9°C. August and July are the wettest months, receiving 308 mm and 300 mm of rain respectively.
Tomb of Khusrau Mirza, Allahabad
Author: Joy1963 (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Allahahad became part of the Mughal Empire in 1526. Mughal Emperor Akbar built a mighty fort here. The Mughal rule lasted until 1765, when the British took over. The city was active in the struggle for independence. The first Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, hailed from Allahabad.
Allahabad is the site of the annual Hindu pilgrimage, called the Magh Mela, which is held by the banks of the Ganges. This festival is staged on a mammoth scale once every 12 years, and is called the Kumbha Mela. Regarded as the most sacred of Hindu pilgrimages, it draws millions of devotees as well as countless onlookers and tourists.
2001 Kumbh Mela, Allahabad
Author: Yosarian (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Visiting Allahabad
Most tourist to Allahabad take a train from Delhi. A recommendable train to take is the Prayag Raj Express (Train No. 2418). It leaves New Delhi daily at 9:30 pm at night and arrives in Allahabad at 6:30 am the next morning. Coming back, you can consider taking the Duranto Express, which leaves Allahabad on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10:40 pm at night and arrives in New Delhi at 6:05 am the next morning.
Places of Interest in Allahabad
- Akshaivata
The undying banyan tree within Allahabad Fort.
- All Saints Cathedral
A magnificent example of colonial architecture in British India, the cathedral was designed in the Gothic style by William Emerson, who also designed the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta.
- Allahabad Fort
Fort built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1583.
- Allahabad Museum
Museum exhibiting artifacts from the city's long history, including ancient sculptures and terracottas.
- Anand Bhavan
The ancestral home of the Nehru-Gandhi family, today a museum displaying Nehru memorabilia.
- Khusrau Bagh
Mughal formal garden named after Khusrau Mirza, the eldest son of Emperor Jahangir. He led an unsuccessful rebellion and was later murdered.
- Muir College
Another architectural masterpiece by William Emerson, designed in a fusion of Gothic and Indian architectural styles.
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