A city of many temples, Allahabad is now known as Prayagraj. If you want to see “Sangam” (a confluence of three holy rivers of Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati), then Allahabad is your destination.
Allahabad holds prominence from the era of Akbar (Mughal Emperor). The fact that Akbar has contributed a lot to the architecture and structure of this city is well known.
Prayagraj is a land of art and literary heritage. One can find the mention of this city in Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Vedas. Due to its cultural and traditional values, Allahabad attracts many tourists from all over the world.
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Allahabad has gifted the world with poets and writers like Sumitranandan Pant, Mahadevi Verma, Firaq Gorakhpuri, Harivansh Rai Bachhan, and Suryakant Tripathi Nirala. Along with Hindu literature, many Persian and Urdu poets and writers such as Rashid Allahabadi, Shabnam Naqvi, and Tegh Allahabadi originated from Allahabad.
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How to reach Allahabad
Airways– Allahabad airport is at a distance of 12 km from the center of the city. The closest international airport is at Lucknow and Varanasi. From the airport, you can hire a cab or taxi to reach any part of the city.
Railways-Allahabad Railway station is a headquarters of the North Central Railways. The city is well connected to different cities of the country through railways. From the railway station, you can hire a cab, taxi, or auto-rickshaw to reach your desired destination. Public or private buses are also easily available.
Roadways– Many bus facilities are available to reach the city. Public transports, as well as private bus facilities, are available in this city. You can also go for an auto-rickshaw or e rickshaw to travel on a budget.
Places to visit in Allahabad
Allahabad has a unique place in the hearts of every Indian. The city was the capital of the United Provinces from 1902 to 1920. It remained at the forefront of national importance during the struggle for Indian Independence. There are many places to visit in Allahabad. Some of them are listed below:
Triveni Sangam
“The Land of Kumbh Mela”– Allahabad is regarded as one of the holiest cities in India. Located at a distance of 7 km from Prayagraj, it is the point where three rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati. Their confluence makes it the most religious place to visit in Allahabad city.
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Triveni Sangam is the site where Kumbh Mela happens every 12 years. The date of Kumbh Mela is decided based on Hindu Panchang (calendar). All the three rivers meeting here have immense significance in Indian mythology, due to which this location is among the best places to visit in Allahabad.
According to Hindu beliefs, bathing in these holy Sangam drives away all impurities of heart and soul.
A boat ride at the Sangam leaves vivid memories. You can clearly differentiate between the color of the water from the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
There is also a small market in the bank of the Sangam. You can hire a full boat at a rate of Rs 400 approximately. Platforms have been constructed at the Sangam to perform religious activities.
Kumbh Mela organized here every 12 years is a whole lot of different experiences you don’t want to miss. This mela attracts tourists from every corner of India as well as foreign tourists. India gets a chance to endorse its culture and tradition across the world.
Tips for Visiting Triveni Sangam:
You need to be very cautious while talking to any Pandit. They can charge you any rate.
Bargaining is indispensable at this place.
At the time to book a boat ride, you have to bargain a lot too. As it is a tourist place in Allahabad, people try to make more and more profit from visitors.
The place is a bit crowded. It is advisable to keep your belongings safe.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach Triveni Sangam– Triveni Sangam is connected throughout the city via transport. It is the most accessible place to visit in Allahabad. The most comfortable and easiest way is to hire a private taxi or cab to reach this place. You can also go for temp/ auto-rickshaw if you want cheaper options.
- Entry fees: No entry fees
- The time required– 2-4 hours
Anand Bhawan
Better known as the residence of the Nehru Family, this is an important place to visit in Allahabad you don’t want to miss. Anand Bhawan has been transformed into a museum showcasing various artifacts, and articles during the time of Independence. This mansion was designed by Motilal Nehru.
Anand Bhawan has been playing an important role in the history of free India. It was visited by many famous freedom fighters at that time. In the year 1970, the mansion was donated to the Government of India. Since then, it has been converted into a national museum in remembrance of the legacy of the Nehru family.
The museum here showcases the memorabilia of the Nehru family. This place has a lot of personal belongings of Nehru during his stay here. You can also find photographs, newspaper articles from the meetings held by congress. You can also read various books and records that were used by Pandit Nehru at the time of Independence.
It also has a Science Planetarium. The Planetarium was built in 1975 to incur the interest of science among school kids. Surrounded by a beautiful garden, this is one of the most loved places in Allahabad by school kids. Every year Jawaharlal Nehru Lecture is held on 14th November on his birth anniversary.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– Anand Bhawan is located within the city itself. It is 5 km away from the bus stand. You can either take a bus or hire a can to reach this place.
- Timing– 9:30 am – 5 pm
- The time required– 1-2 hours
Allahabad Museum
The Allahabad Museum is located inside Chandrashekhar Azad Park. It is one of the National level museums of India and a must place to visit in Allahabad city. The main attractions of this museum are miniatures, paintings, rock sculptures from Rajasthan and Gujarat.
This place has artifacts from Harapan civilization to the medieval period. From the Gupta dynasty to the recent period, everything is treasured in this museum. The museum is loved by the locals which makes it one of the best places to visit in Allahabad city.
Recently, a rock gallery has been introduced in the museum. It showcases a different kind of ancient rock art. You can also find a gallery dedicated to the Green project. In this gallery, you can explore the eco- life of the past in digital form. Other galleries dedicated to India’s struggle for independence can be found. Also, it has an armor gallery. Here you can find swords, pistols, and weapons.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– The Allahabad Museum is situated in the main city. It is located at a distance of 3km from the railway station. You can either hire a taxi or cab to reach the museum.
- Timing- 10 am- 5:30 pm (Tuesday to Sunday), close on Monday.
- Entry fees– Rs 50 for Indians, Rs 500 for foreigners, Rs 500 for photography.
- The time required– 1-2 hours
Khusro Bagh
Located in Lukarganj, Khusro Bagh is among those popular places to visit in Allahabad. This monument stands as a beautiful example of Mughal architecture. The location is the cementations of the Jehangir family, including Shah Begum, Khusrau Mirza, and Sultan Nisar Begum.
The architect of Jahangir’s palace had designed and built this beautiful place. Inscriptions and cravings are present on each side of mausoleums. A garden that surrounds this palace comprises lush guava and rose trees. Architecturally, this is the most elaborate of the three. It lies on an elevated platform and is built with panels depicting the scalloped arch motif.
The decorated gates have a beautifully designed balcony. The whole place contains two tombs and one empty mausoleum. Begum’s tomb is decorated with a chattri (dome-like structure). Nisar’s mausoleum is decorated with floral designs with paintings on the ceilings. The tomb of Khusro is the last of the three tombs.
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According to history, Jahangir imprisoned his son Khusro within the garden after he rebelled against him. Khusro died in an attempt to escape on the orders of his brother and Jahangir’s third son Khurram, who later became the Emperor Shah Jahan.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach- This place is at a distance of 3.3 km from the center of the city. This place to visit in Allahabad is well connected with other parts of the city. You can reach it in 12-15 minutes from the center. You can hire a private taxi or book a cab to reach this place. The airport is at a distance of 12 km from here. You can also take a bus from Sardar Patel Road to reach this spot.
- Timings– 7 am- 7 pm.
- Entry fees– No entry fees
- The time required– 1 hour
Allahabad Pillar
This pillar is one among the famous places in Allahabad. This Is built in the period of the Gupta dynasty. The sandstone pillar has inscriptions and cravings of Samudragupta and the Jahangir era. Although the pillar was further shifted to Akbar’s fort yet, the tourist must take permission before visiting this place.
The inscriptions are divided into 3 sections from the Ashoka, Samudragupta, and Jahangir’s era. The engravings are mostly in the Sanskrit language as well as in the Persian Language. It provides a unique snapshot of the Gupta Empire and its neighbors. It is the source of much of what is known of the geopolitical landscape of that era.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– You can reach this place from any part of the city by hiring a cab or a taxi. You can also go to bus facilities to save some money.
- Timing– 7 am- 6 pm
- Entry fees– No entry fees
- The time required– 1-2 hours
Allahabad Fort
Allahabad Fort is a beautiful example of Mughal architecture in India. This famous tourist place in Allahabad was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar, in the year 1583. Situated at the bank of the confluence of three holy rivers, this place is attracting thousands of tourists every year across the world.
The magnificent architecture of the fort is the reason that it is the most visited place to visit Allahabad city. It should be noted that access to this fort is closed for the common public. Visitors are allowed to visit this place only during Kumbh Mela (i.e. in every 12 years).
The fort is top among famous places in Allahabad and is quite popular for its Banyan tree. According to some folk tales, people commit suicide by hanging themselves in a tree to attain salvation. For those who want to witness this tree, they can come through a small gate.
The fort also has a temple called Patalpuri Temple. This temple is said to be a gateway to hell. The best way to explore the Allahabad Fort is from outside from a boat ride. The architecture of the fort is a pleasure to the eye.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– It is close to Triveni Sangam where you can hire a boat to explore places to visit in Allahabad city. The Sangam is connected to every corner of the city. The Railway station is at a distance of 5 km from this fort. You can hire a taxi or cab to reach this place from the railway station.
- Timing– Entry not allowed on a regular day. It opens only during Kumbh Mela.
- Entry fees– Entry not allowed
- The time required– 1 hour
All Saints Cathedral
This church is one of the top tourist places in Allahabad. It was built in the late 19th century. Sir William Emerson is credited with the architecture and basic design for this church, which reflects a confluence of Anglo-Indian style. This place is highly popular among other tourist places to visit in Allahabad city.
This famous church among the tourist places in Allahabad is also known as “Church of Stone”. The church was constructed in gothic style architecture that has beautiful marble sanctuaries along with famous “Jaali work”. This gives the church a beautiful aesthetic appeal. This is popular among Hindus and non-Hindu places to visit Allahabad city.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– This church is located at MG Marg, Civil Lines, and Allahabad. You can easily reach this place by hiring a taxi, a cab, an auto-rickshaw, or e rickshaw to reach this place.
- Timing– 8:30 am- 5:30 pm
- Entry fees– No entry fees
- The time required- 1 hour
Minto Park
This beautiful park and well sought after among tourist places in Allahabad is situated on the bank of the river Yamuna. It is formerly known as Madan Mohan Malviya Park with beautiful green vegetation. It has seating arrangement for visitors who want to sit and relax which makes it a must place to visit in Allahabad. Minto Park is the place where India was declared as a shifted colony from East India Company to British.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– This place is situated within the city. You can reach this location by hiring a can, a taxi, or an auto-rickshaw.
- Timing– 5:00 am- 7:30m pm
- Entry fees– Free
- The time required– 1-2 hours
Alopi Devi Mandir
Situated at Alopibagh, near the holy confluence of three holy rivers, this unconventional temple for Hindus is one of the best tourist places in Allahabad. The temple does not have any deity to worship. But it has a chariot known as “Dollie” which is worshipped by followers of Lord Shiva. It has Goddess Sati’s body. It is among the Shakti Peeths of the country. Every Tuesday is crowded compared to other days. The temple experiences a huge crowd at the time of the Navaratri festival.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– This temple is close to the Railway station. It takes approximately 6 minutes (5km) to reach Alopi Devi Mandir. The best and economical way to reach this temple is through auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw.
- Timing– 6 am- 8 pm
- Entry fees– No entry fees
- The time required– 1-2 hours
Chandrashekhar Azad Park
This is one of the widely known tourist places in Allahabad. This park is commonly known as Alfred Park. It was built during the British era. Chandrashekhar Azad Park is also popularly known as the Company garden. It was built to mark the arrival of Prince Alfred in the year 1870, later he died as a martyr and the park got his name.
The largest local park and top among the famous places in Allahabad offers jogging, walking, and picnicking in its lush green campus due to which it is the most loved place to visit in Allahabad city. The park also has a statue of George V and Victoria in the center of the park.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– This place is almost 3 km away from the Allahabad railway station. If you are taking a bus, you can take it from the Civil Lines Bus stand. While the airport is situated at a distance of 12 km.
- Timing– 6 am- 10 pm
- Entry fees– Rs 5
- The time required– 1- 2 hours
Hanuman Mandir
Popularly known as Bade Hanuman Mandir, this famous place to visit in Allahabad is situated in the Sangam area of Allahabad city. It has an underground construction with a deity of Lord Hanuman 20 feet long and 8 feet wide is a beautiful place to visit in Allahabad city. The shrine is a famous pilgrim location and it is usually busy every day, especially on Tuesday.
Many devotees also call this temple “Lete Hue Hanuman Temple”. One side of the site is always submerged in the water, and the water touches only the feet of Lord Hanuman. It requires a 10-stair path to reach the deity from the ground level.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– The distance from the railway station to Hanuman Mandir is approximately 7-8 km. You can take a bus, taxi, cab or auto-rickshaw to reach this place.
- Timing– 5 am- 2pm
- Entry fees– No entry fees
- The time required– 1-2 hours
Mankameshwar Temple
Situated at the bank of the river Yamuna, the view of the river Yamuna from the temple is glorious. This is one of the famous among Allahabad visiting places. The temple has Lord Shiva and Goddess Man kameshwari Devi (Durga) as their Deities. It is one of the ancient temples devoted to Lord Shiva. There is a presence of Shiva Linga in the temple which is covered with silver. The temple has one Sanctorum surrounded by Lord Shiva’s family.
Behind the Sanctorum, there are many small temples within the temple campus. It is believed that deity was founded by Lord Shiva himself in Dwapar yuga when Lord Krishna was being born in Mathura.
Other Important Details:
- How to reach– The best way to reach this famous temple in Allahabad is by taking a bus. You can find several options for a bus facility in this region.
- Timing– 6:00 am-11:30 am
5:00 pm-9:00 pm
- Entry fees– No entry fees
- The time required– 1-2 hours
Things to do in Allahabad
There are many places to visit in Allahabad. Along with this, there are many activities you can do at this place. Some of them are as follows:
Boating in Ganga River: Hire a boat during sunset or sunrise and enjoy the dreamy view of Allahabad from the boat which makes it the calmest place to visit in Allahabad city. The view from the Ghats and water will surely make you fall for the city. This is one of the famous things to do in Allahabad that tourists should not miss.
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Water parks– Places like Nandan Kanan Water Park will provide you with a variety of water activities which makes it the most happening place to visit in Allahabad. It is a place which can be considered to be enjoyed with family and friends.
Library– For people interested in reading and literature, Allahabad has the largest library in the Uttar Pradesh State. In Fact this is one of the famous allahabad visiting places. You can explore a wide range of bookish content in this city. Those who love reading can also check Allahabad Public Library.
The building is a great example of Scottish and Baronial architecture. Built-in the year 1879 under British rule. This place has thousands of books, manuscripts in different languages which will be heaven for Bibliophiles.
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Street shopping: There are many places for shopping in Allahabad city. Some of the famous places for shopping are MG Marg, Vivekanand Marg, Tulsiyani Plaza, Phaphamau Mall. In fact, street shopping is one of the not to miss things to do in Allahabad.
Eat on: Looking for cheaper options among things to do in Allahabad? Do you know that Allahabad is famous for its North Indian cuisine and Mughlai cuisine? Yes, it has small as well as large outlets to eat. Hira Halwai is one of the best places to visit in Allahabad to enjoy traditional Indian sweets and snacks. You can also try some non-vegetarian dishes like Shammi kebab, roasted chicken, crispy parathas, and chicken biryani.
Pilgrimage at Kumbh Mela: At least once in a lifetime you should try to attend Kumbh Mela. Kumbh Mela is held in four places in India. People came from different parts of the world to witness this grand fair. You can also be part of Ardh Mela which is a smaller version of Kumbh Mela. This is organized in February (which is decided based on the Hindu calendar).
Sight-seeing– You can easily go sight-seeing just by hiring an auto rickshaw or you can walk as well and a lot of places can be visited.
Happy Exploring all these Allahabad visiting places!!