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Indian Tourism Directory --» North India Tourism --» Allahabad Tourism Directory

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Allahabad Tourism

Allahabad is a historian's paradise. History lies embedded everywhere, in its fields, forests and settlements. Forty-eight kilometres, towards the southwest, on the placid banks of the Jamuna, the ruins of Kaushambi, capital of the Vatsa kingdom and a thriving center of Buddhism, bear silent testimony to a forgotten and bygone era.

On the eastern side, across the river Ganga and connected to the city by the Shastri Bridge is Jhusi, identified with the ancient city of Pratisthanpur , capital of the Chandra dynasty. About 58 kilometres northwest is the medieval site of Kara with its impressive wreckage of Jayachand's fort. Sringverpur, another ancient site discovered relatively recently, has become a major attraction for tourists and antiquarians alike.

Allahabad is an extremely important and integral part of the Ganga Yamuna Doab, and its history is inherently tied with that of the Doab region, right from the inception of the town. The city was known earlier as Prayaga - a name that is still commonly used.

When the Aryans first settled in what they termed the Aryavarta, or Madhydesha, Prayag or Kaushambi was an important part of their territory. The Vatsa (a branch of the early Indo-Aryans) were rulers of Hastinapur, and they established the town of Kaushambi near present day Allahabad . They shifted their capital to Kaushambi when Hastinapur was destroyed by floods.

In the times of the Ramayana, Allahabad was made up of a few rishis' huts at the confluence of the rivers, and much of what is now central/ southern Uttar Pradesh was continuous jungle. Lord Rama, the main protagonist in the Ramayana, spent some time here, at the Ashram of Sage Bharadwaj, before proceeding to nearby Chitrakoot.

The Doaba region, including Allahabad was controlled by several empires and dynasties in the ages to come. It became a part of the Mauryan and Gupta empires of the east and the Kushan empire of the west before becoming part of the local Kannauj empire which became very powerful.

In the beginning of the Muslim rule, Allahabad was a part of the Delhi Sultanate. Then the Mughals took over from the slave rulers of Delhi and under them Allahabad rose to prominence once again.

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Places of Interest

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Sangam
The sacred Sangam is the confluence of three of the holiest rivers in Hindu mythology - Ganga , Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. It is believed that it is at the Sangam, that a few drops of the nectar 'Amrit" spilled making its waters truly magical. Around 7 Kms. From Civil Lines, overlooked by the eastern ramparts of the Allahabad fort, wide flood plains and muddy banks protrude towards the sacred Sangam. Pandas (Priests) perch on small platforms to perform puja and assist the devout in their rituals ablutions in the shallow water.

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Allahabad University
Situated near Anand Bhawan. Founded in 1887, it is one of the most famous Universities of India . It has a sprawling campus, graced by fine buildings in Victorian and Islamic architectural styles. The Muir College is the science faculty of the Allahabad University . The Vijayanagram Hall of Muir College is known for its excelled Gothic architecture .