of the  most  powerful  political  families  of  India, the  Nehrus  is  also located here. Today, it stands as a lively and religiously awakened city.

in the fifth and the seventh centuries respectively, found it a flourishing state. As time wore on, Allahabad played host to the royalty, including the illustrious Harsha, Akbar, Dara Shikoh, Khusro, and Queen Victoria. In 1575, the Mughal Emperor Akbar named it ‘Illahabas’. Akbar realizing its strategic importance built a magnificent fort on the banks of the holy Sangam. Over the centuries that followed, Allahabad remained on the forefront of national importance - more so during the days of the Indian independence struggle. The variegated history of Allahabad with its religious, cultural and historical ethos also gave rise to several renowned scholars, poets, writers, thinkers, and political leaders. Revered thinkers like Buddha, Kumaril Bhatta, Adi Shankaracharya, Chaitanyamahaprabhu, Vallabhacharya, Acharya Ramanand, Maharsi Dayanand made this a city of learning, wisdom and writing. Allahabad today is an important city where history, culture, and religion create a confluence-much like the sacred rivers that caress this God-graced land.

Sangam Bath, where the Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati meet, is considered to be the most important holy bathing place in India. While the muddy-colored Ganges is shallower and more rapid, the Yamuna is bluer and deeper. The most auspicious time to bathe in the Sangam is during the Kumbha-mela. During this time, pandas (priests) can be seen perched on small platforms performing puja and assisting the devout in their ritual ablutions in the shallow waters.

The Hanuman Temple houses an idol of Hanuman in a reclining posture, a few feet below the ground. It is said that every year the Ganges overflows until it touches the sleeping Hanuman's feet and then it starts receding. This temple is located by the Sangam side of the Fort and is open to non-Hindus too.

Built by Emperor Akbar in 1583 A.D., the Allahabad Fort stands on the banks of the Yamuna near the confluence site. In its prime, the fort was unmatched in its design, construction and craftsmanship. This huge, majestic fort has three magnificent galleries flanked by high towers. Inside the fort there is the Zenana (harem) and the 3rd century BC Ashoka Pillar moved to the fort from Kausambi; 'Saraswati Koop', a well, said to be the source of the Saraswati river; Patalpuri, the underground temple and the much-revered 'Akshaya Vat' or immortal Banyan tree within the temple. The Ashoka Pillar standing 10.6 meters high has several edicts and a Persian inscription of Emperor Jehangir encrypted on it, commemorating his accession to the throne.

The Patalpuri Temple situated below the Fort is an underground temple with several deities carved in stone. The immortal Akshaya Vat (Banyan Tree) is located in this temple. It is believed that this tree will never die, even when the entire world is destroyed. The tree is positioned deeply, above an underground hole that is said to lead to the Triveni Sangam.

The Allahabad University now occupies the place where the ashram of Bharadwaja Rishi and his 10,000 disciples is said to have been located. There are the temples of Bharadwajeswara Mahadeva, Rishi Bharadwaja, and Kali here. It is said that Lord Rama and Sita visited this place when they embarked on their 14-year exile.

There is also the Mankameshwar Temple, one of the famous Shiv temples near the Saraswati Ghat on the banks of the Yamuna.

Maha Kumbh Mela: Legends have it, that the Gods fought a great battle with the demons over a pot full of amrit, which had emerged out of churning the ocean. In the ensuing tussle, four drops of this nectar fell on earth at four different places of Haridwar, Prayag (Allahabad), Ujjain and Nashik. Every 12 years when the planets are in similar alignment, the Maha Kumbh Mela takes place on the banks of the holy Sangam at Allahabad, where lakhs of pilgrims take bath on the banks of the holy Sangam. The main bathing days for the Kumbh Mela are known as 'Shahi Snans' or 'Royal Bathing Days', which are Makar Sankranti, Paush Purnima, Mauni Amavasya, Basant Panchmi, Maghi Poornima and Maha Shivratri.

Ardh Kumbh Mela: It is held every sixth year after the Maha Kumbh Mela that takes place every 12 years.

Magh Mela: This is held annually, other than the years of Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh and is rightfully called the annual mini Kumbh Mela. The auspicious Magh Mela is so called as it falls in the Magh period (Jan-Feb). This annual religious event or the great bathing festival is a smaller version of the gigantic Kumbh Mela. Sangam, the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, hosts the annual Magh Mela, which turns into the Kumbh Mela every twelfth year. During the auspicious period when the Magh Mela is held, a temporary township comes up on the banks of the Ganga river to shelter millions of pilgrims. Devotees live in these temporary shelters for the whole duration of the mela leading a sacred life.