Allahabad
The city of Allahabad is one of the important tourist cities in India. It is the place where the three major rivers of India – the Ganges, the Jamuna and the Saraswati – meet. When you travel to Allahabad, you would be reaching an important place of pilgrimage in India.
History of Allahabad
The history of Allahabad goes back a long way. The city places a prominent role in Indian mythology. Indian epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana have plenty of references to the city of Allahabad, then known as Prayag. Even the Mughal emperor Akbar took a special interest in the city and constructed an enormous fort in 1583. Allahabad also played a significant role during the Indian freedom movement. It was in the city of Allahabad that the Indian National Congress came into being. Mahatma Gandhi started his Non-violence movement from the same city in the year 1920. You are bound to enjoy your trip to the city of Allahabad provided you plan it well.
Go for an early morning aarti or take a boat ride. Visit the ghats at sunrise and witness the splendid view of devotees starting their day in prayer. Allahabad has a rich tradition of classical Indian music and many music concerts are organized in the winter months. The Prayag Sangeet Samiti organises dance and music evenings in the city.
Allahabad Fort
Allahabad Fort at Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India was built by Emperor Ashoka but repaired by Emperor Akbar in 1583. The fort stands on the banks of the Yamuna near its 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. In 1798, the Fort was captured by The East India Company.
Anand Bhavan
The Anand Bhavan is a historic house museum in Allahabad, India focusing on the Nehru-Gandhi Family. It was constructed by Indian political leader Motilal Nehru in the 1930s to serve as the residence of the Nehru family when the original mansion Swaraj Bhavan (previously called Anand Bhavan) was transformed into the local headquarters of the Indian National Congress. Jawahar Planetarium, the famous planetarium is situated here, which has been striving to inculcate scientific temper among masses through its sky shows on astronomy and science.
Ashoka Pillar
The pillars of Ashoka are a series of columns dispersed throughout the northern Indian subcontinent, erected or at least inscribed with edicts by the Mauryan king Ashoka during his reign in the 3rd century BC. Originally, there must have been many pillars but only nineteen survive with inscriptions, and only six with animal capitals, which were a target for Muslim iconoclasm. Many are preserved in a fragmentary state. Averaging between 40 to 50 feet (12 to 15 m) in height, and weighing up to 50 tons each, the pillars were dragged, sometimes hundreds of miles, to where they were erected.
