Allahabad (official name Prayagraj) [1] ), a city in the State of Uttar Pradesh, India is an important tourist destination attracting many tourists annually. Enriched with a glorious history and being one of the oldest cities in the world, Prayagraj has several historical monuments from different periods of Indian History, from the tomb of Khusru, in Khusrobagh which was built during the medieval period under Mughal Rule to All Saints Cathedral in Civil Lines built during the British Raj to Alopi Devi Mandir in Alopibagh which is one of the oldest Hindu temples built during the ancient period.[ citation needed ] Several more historical locations like the Allahabad Fort built by Emperor Akbar during the Mughal Rule to several ancient Hindu temples like the Hanuman Temple near Sangam adorn the city.[ citation needed ] Prayagraj is also famous worldwide for the Kumbh Mela, a holy religious gathering of Hindu pilgrims which also attracts many tourists and has been taking place in the city from ancient times. There are several other places of interest like the Allahabad University which was built by the British during the British Raj to several contemporary monuments, each depicting a different time-period in the history of the city.
Types | Picture | Attraction | Period | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Holy river | Triveni Sangam | - | It is the "confluence" of two physical rivers Ganges, Yamuna, and the invisible or mythical Saraswati. It is a place of religious importance and the site for historic Kumbh Mela held every 12 years. | |
Park | Chandrashekhar Azad Park | 1931 | Formerly known as Alfred park and Company Garden, it is a public park of 133 acres area and is the biggest park in Prayagraj. [2] It is renamed after freedom fighter Chandra Shekhar Azad, who sacrificed his life here, during the Indian independence struggle in 1931. | |
Cathedral | All Saints Cathedral | 1887 | A noted Anglican Cathedral in Allahabad. [3] It is an example of 13th-century Gothic style [4] buildings in Asia built by the British during their rule in India. In 1871 AD, British architect Sir William Emerson, architect of Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, designed this monument. It was consecrated in 1887 | |
Fort | Allahabad Fort | 1583 | Allahabad Fort was built by Emperor Ashoka but repaired by Emperor Akbar in 1583. [5] The fort stands on the banks of the Yamuna near the confluence with the river Ganges. It is the largest fort built by Akbar. In its prime, the fort was unrivaled for its design, construction and craftsmanship. This huge fort has three galleries flanked by high towers. | |
High Court | Allahabad High Court | 1869 | A fine example of Georgian architecture, it was one of the first high courts to be established in India. | |
Museum | Allahabad Museum | 1931 | Established in 1931, [6] it is known for its rich collection and unique objects of art, and is funded by Ministry of Culture. | |
University | Allahabad University | 1887 | One of the oldest universities established in the Indian subcontinent. Its origins lie in the Muir Central College, named after Lt. Governor of North-Western Provinces, Sir William Muir in 1876, who suggested the idea of a Central University at Allahabad, which later evolved to the present university. [7] [8] At one point it was called the "Oxford of the East", [9] | |
Museum | Anand Bhavan | 1930 | Anand Bhavan is a large bungalow in Allahabad which has been turned into museum. It was constructed by Indian political leader Motilal Nehru in the 1930s to serve as the new residence of the Nehru family when the original mansion Swaraj Bhavan was transformed into the local headquarters of the Indian National Congress. | |
Neighborhood | Civil Lines | 19th century | Formerly known as Cannington [10] it is the central business district of Allahabad, and is famous for its urban setting, gridiron plan roads, [11] high rise buildings, offices, cafes, restaurants, hotels, malls, shopping complexes, theatres etc. The area was built by the British during the heyday of the British Raj and was a residential colony of the British at that time. The present day Civil Lines has several skyscrapers and modern buildings which show the constant change taking place in the city. | |
Planetarium | Jawahar Planetarium | 1979 | The planetarium was built in 1979 and is situated beside Anand Bhavan, the former residence of the Nehru-Gandhi family. It is managed by the 'Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund' (established 1964), which has its headquarters at Teen Murti House, New Delhi. [12] | |
Garden | Khusro Bagh | 18th century | It is a large walled mughal garden surrounding the mausoleums of Khusrau Mirza (died 1622), eldest son of emperor Jahangir, Shah Begum, Khusrau's mother (died 1604), a Rajput princess and Jahangir's first wife, and that of Princess Sultan Nithar Begam (died c.1624), Khusrau's sister. [13] It presents an exquisite example of Mughal architecture | |
Festival | Kumbh Mela | - | It is a mass Hindu pilgrimage of faith in which Hindus gather to bathe in a sacred river. It is considered to be largest peaceful gathering in the world with over 100 million people visiting during the Maha Kumbh Mela in 2013. [14] | |
Public Library/Meeting Hall | Mayo Memorial Hall | 1879 | A large public library cum meeting hall in Allahabad, situated near the Thornhill Mayne Memorial, was meant for public meetings, balls and receptions in commemoration of the assassinated Viceroy. [15] Mayo Memorial Hall was designed by Richard Roskell Bayne and was completed in 1879. [16] | |
Park | Minto Park | 19th century | The park is a historical site for in 1858 Earl Canning read out the declaration of Queen Victoria's Proclamation which resulted in the complete transfer of control over India from The East India Company to the government of Britain. [17] [18] | |
Bridge | New Yamuna Bridge | 2004 | It is the longest cable-stayed bridge of India, located in Allahabad [19] [20] [21] The bridge was constructed by the end of 2004 with the aim of minimizing the traffic over the Old Naini Bridge. [22] The bridge runs north–south across the Yamuna river connecting the city of Allahabad to its neighborhood of Naini. | |
Ghat | Saraswati Ghat | 2002 | Saraswati Ghat is probably the most spectacular ghat in Allahabad on the bank of Yamuna river. It is located close to Mankameshwar Temple of lord Shiva. The name of ghat comes from Hindu Goddess of learning Saraswati. It is a newly built delightful place. Stairs from three sides descend to the greenish water of the Yamuna. And above there is a park which is always covered with green grass. | |
Fort | Ulta Qila | 1855 | This mound, on which Samudra Koop & Ulta Qila are located, is also known as ‘Kot’. A big walled well is located on the mound. It is believed that this ‘Samudra Koop’ is the one, which is aptly described in Matsya Puran & Padm Puran while archaeologists believe that it was built during the reign of Samudra Gupta hence this name. Till 1855, this area was in the form of a mound only but in the same year, a Vaishnav saint Sudarshan Das from Ayodhya renovated the well and got an ashram & a temple built here. This area has big stairs on the Ganges side along with many caves. Five similar wells are found in Ujjain, Mathura, Allahabad, Varanasi & Patalpur also. Harbenga, the local ruler was very cruel. He hatched the conspiracy of maligning the Sheikh Taqui Baba- a local saint. As a consequence of curses of baba, his evil designs boom ranged and his fort got topsiturveyed (Ulta Qila) and his set up was totally destroyed in a big fire, so the place came to be known as Jhulsi or Jhunsi. But according to some documents released by the Archaeological Department, this incidence happened due to the curses of Guru Gorakhnath, the disciple of Matseyndra Nath. | |
Clock Tower | Allahabad Clock Tower | 1913 | Allahabad Clock Tower is an architectural clock tower located in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India also known as Chowk Ghantaghar. It was constructed in 1913. It is a landmark of Old Allahabad and reminds us one of finest structures in India. It is located in centre of the Chowk, Allahabad | |
Mansion | Swaraj Bhavan | 19th century | A large mansion located in Allahabad which was owned by Indian political leader Motilal Nehru in the 19th century, it has served as the ancestral home of the Nehru-Gandhi Family — future Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi was born there. The First Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru was however not born in Anand Bhawan. [23] |
Uttar Pradesh is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 1950 after India had become a republic. It was a successor to the United Provinces (UP) during the period of the Dominion of India (1947–1950), which in turn was a successor to the United Provinces (UP) established in 1935, and eventually of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh established in 1902 during the British Raj. The state is divided into 18 divisions and 75 districts, with the state capital being Lucknow, and Allahabad (Prayagraj) serving as the judicial capital. On 9 November 2000, a new state, Uttaranchal, was created from Uttar Pradesh's western Himalayan hill region. The two major rivers of the state, the Ganges and its tributary Yamuna, meet at the Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, a Hindu pilgrimage site. Other notable rivers are Gomti and Saryu. The forest cover in the state is 6.1 per cent of the state's geographical area. The cultivable area is 82 per cent of total geographical area and net area sown is 68.5 per cent of cultivable area.
Agra is a city on the banks of the Yamuna river in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, about 230 kilometres (140 mi) south-east of the national capital New Delhi and 330 km west of the state capital Lucknow. With a population of roughly 1.6 million, Agra is the fourth-most populous city in Uttar Pradesh and twenty-third most populous city in India.
Lucknow is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is also the second largest urban agglomeration in Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district and division. Having a population of 2.8 million as per 2011 census, it is the eleventh most populous city and the twelfth-most populous urban agglomeration of India. Lucknow has always been a multicultural city that flourished as a North Indian cultural and artistic hub, and the seat of power of Nawabs in the 18th and 19th centuries. It continues to be an important centre of governance, administration, education, commerce, aerospace, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, culture, tourism, music and poetry.
Allahabad district, officially known as Prayagraj district, is the most populous district of Uttar Pradesh state of India. The district headquarters is Allahabad which was renamed Prayagraj at the same time as the district was renamed. The District is divided into blocks within tehsils. As of 2011, there are 20 blocks in eight tehsils. The Allahabad division includes the districts of Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, Kaushambi and Allahabad, with some western parts that had previously part of Allahabad District becoming part of the new Kaushambi District. The administrative divisions are Phulpur, Koraon, Meja, Sadar, Soraon, Handia, Bara, Shringverpur and Karchana.
Allahabad Airport, officially known as Prayagraj Airport, is the primary domestic airport serving the city of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is located in the Bamrauli suburb of the city. One of the oldest airports in India, the airport is jointly operated by the Indian Air Force and the Airports Authority of India. It is one of the largest and busiest airports in Uttar Pradesh, ranking third in terms of handling passenger traffic after Lucknow and Varanasi. Foreseeing the Kumbh 2019, the airport was upgraded with addition of a new civil terminal extension in 2018, which was constructed in record 11 months by the TATA Projects group. The airport continues to serve domestic destinations across the country, and is set to be converted into International Airport before Mahakumbh 2025.
Allahabad Fort is a fort built by the Mughal emperor Akbar at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India in 1583. A stone inscription inside fort describe 1583 as a foundation year but this stone inscription related to ashok which was early period situated in kaushambi and taken from there to allahabad fort .The fort stands on the banks of the Yamuna near its confluence with the river Ganges. It is recognised by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance.
Naini is a satellite neighborhood and a twin city of Prayagraj in Prayagraj district, Uttar Pradesh, India. By the 1950s Naini was established as the chief industrial area of the city.
Phaphamau is a satellite locality/township of the city of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India, located on either side of Prayagraj-Lucknow highway. It lies on the banks of the Ganga River.Phaphamu was ruled by Bhil king
The Old Allahabad City, at the south of Prayagraj Junction Railway Station, consists of neighborhoods like Chowk, Johnstongunj, Dariyabad, Khuldabad etc. and was in existence from the time of Akbar. Some magnificent structures erected in this era consist of the Khusro Bagh and the Allahabad Fort. In the north of Railway Station, the New Allahabad City consists of neighborhoods like Lukergunj, Civil Lines, Georgetown, Tagoretown, Bharadwaj Puram, Ashok Nagar, Mumfordgunj etc., which are relatively new and were built during the British rule. These neighborhoods reflect British architecture like the All Saints Cathedral, Alfred Park and Allahabad High Court. Newer residential areas include neighborhoods like Kareli and suburbs like Naini Jhunsi and Manauri bajar.
Prayag is an ancient holy city of India mentioned in the Vedic scriptures and texts. Some people believe Prayag was renamed Allahabad by the Mughal ruler Akbar around 1575 or even later, but others believe Prayag was never a city and Allahabad was created during Mughal rule. Akbar was grandson of the Mughal conqueror Babur.
Allahabad, officially known as Prayagraj, also known as Ilahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is the administrative headquarters of the Allahabad district—the most populous district in the state and 13th most populous district in India—and the Allahabad division. The city is the judicial capital of Uttar Pradesh with the Allahabad High Court being the highest judicial body in the state. As of 2011, Allahabad is the seventh most populous city in the state, thirteenth in Northern India and thirty-sixth in India, with an estimated population of 1.53 million in the city. In 2011, it was ranked the world's 40th fastest-growing city. Allahabad, in 2016, was also ranked the third most liveable urban agglomeration in the state and sixteenth in the country. Hindi is the most widely spoken language in the city.
The Culture of Uttar Pradesh is an Indian culture which has its roots in Hindi and Urdu literature, music, fine arts, drama and cinema. Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, has historical monuments including Bara Imambara and Chhota Imambara, and has preserved the damaged complex of the Oudh-period British Resident's quarters, which are being restored.
Situated in the northern part of India, bordering with the capital of India New Delhi, Uttar Pradesh is one of the most popular and an established tourist destination for both Indians and non-Indians alike in India. The most populous state of India, Uttar Pradesh contains many historical monuments and places of religious significance. Geographically, Uttar Pradesh is very diverse, with Himalayan foothills in the extreme north and the Gangetic Plain in the centre. It is also home of India's most visited sites, Hinduism's holiest city, Varanasi. Kumbh city, Prayagraj. Kathak, one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh is at the heart of India, hence it is also known as The Heartland of India. Cuisine of Uttar Pradesh like Awadhi cuisine, Mughlai cuisine, Kumauni cuisine are very famous not only in India but also many places abroad and Pratapgarh is also famous for Rajputana.
Chandrashekhar Azad Park is a public park in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India. Built in 1870 to mark Prince Alfred's visit to the city, with an area of 133 acres, it is the biggest park in Prayagraj. It was renamed by the Uttar Pradesh Government after revolutionary Chandra Shekhar Azad, who sacrificed his life here during the Indian independence movement in 1931.
The architecture of Uttar Pradesh demonstrates a diverse and eclectic combination of Buddhist, Hindu, Indo-Islamic, and Indo-European architectural styles. Three of its architectural monuments—the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, as well as the township of Fatehpur Sikri founded by the Mughal emperor Akbar—are designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The architectural structures in Uttar Pradesh include ancient Buddhist stūpas and vihāras, ancient Buddhist and Hindu monasteries, townships, forts, palaces, temples, mosques, mausoleums, memorials, and other community structures. Uttar Pradesh's architectural structures also include various Hindu temples, Ghats, etc. largely found in ancient cities like Benares (Varanasi), Brindaban (Vrindavan), Mathura, and Prayagraj (Allahabad).
Prayagraj Junction is the new name for Allahabad Junction, a railway station on the Howrah–Delhi main line, Allahabad–Mau–Gorakhpur main line and Howrah–Allahabad–Mumbai line. It is the headquarters of the North Central Railway zone. It is located in Allahabad in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It serves Allahabad and the surrounding areas.
This is a timeline of the history of the city of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Prayag Junction railway station is an important railway station in Allahabad district, Uttar Pradesh. It serves Prayag town in Allahabad (Prayagraj). It consists of three platforms. The NR is developing the neighbouring Prayagraj sangam station as a coaching terminal. It is designed by architect M K Singh in the year 2018. There will be five new platforms, two washing lines, and a new station building with basement.
Om Prakash Singh is a 1983 batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre. He was the Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police, and had previously served as the Director General of CISF and Director General of NDRF.
The 2019 Prayagraj Ardh Kumbh Mela was the Ardh Kumbh Mela held at Triveni Sangam in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India from 15 January to 4 March 2019.