Allahabad

Allahabad, officially Prayagraj, is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It lies at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuna rivers, near where the sacred Saraswati is believed to join them at Triveni Sangam. The site is one of Hinduism’s most sacred pilgrimage destinations and a long-standing center of learning and culture.

The city was founded by the Mughal emperor Akbar in 1583, around a fort and settlement on the Yamuna’s banks. In 2018, the government renamed the city Prayagraj, though the historic name Allahabad remains widely used in literature and on many maps and institutions.

Allahabad is the administrative headquarters of Prayagraj district and has played a significant role in Indian administration and politics. The Allahabad University, established in 1887, is one of India’s oldest universities, and the Allahabad High Court, established in 1866, is a prominent judicial institution.

Culturally, the city has been a hub for education, journalism, and public life. It hosts the Kumbh Mela at the Triveni Sangam, a mass pilgrimage held every 12 years (with Ardha Kumbh every six years), drawing millions of pilgrims. The city also contains notable temples, colonial-era architecture, and museums such as Anand Bhavan and sites around the historic Allahabad Fort.

Transportation links include a major railway junction at Allahabad Junction and road connections to regional centers. As an administrative and commercial center for central Uttar Pradesh, the city remains a focal point for religious events, education, and regional governance.