Prayagraj

The sacred confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, where tens of millions bathe during the Kumbh Mela, with the Nehru family homes and Mughal tombs scattered across the city.

Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) lies in southeastern Uttar Pradesh, India, where the Ganges and Yamuna meet; Hindus believe the legendary Saraswati River, said to flow underground, joins them here too, so the Triveni Sangam is revered as "Tirthraj," the king of pilgrimage sites. The Kumbh Mela, held every 12 years (most recently in 2025), and the Ardh Kumbh every 6 years take place here, turning the riverbanks into a tent city for tens of millions of pilgrims; the annual Magh Mela in Jan–Feb is also impressively large. The city's other side is modern history: the Nehru family's Anand Bhavan and Swaraj Bhavan were key bases of the Indian independence movement, and colonial-era landmarks such as Azad Park, the University of Allahabad and All Saints Cathedral are spread around Civil Lines. Sightseeing falls into three parts: take an early-morning boat to the Sangam, visit the Bade Hanuman Temple with its reclining Hanuman and see the walls of Allahabad Fort; spend the day at Anand Bhavan, the Allahabad Museum and the Mughal tombs of Khusro Bagh; and if you have time, hire a car to the ancient Buddhist city of Kaushambi or to Shringverpur. The best season is Oct–Mar, though winter mornings are often foggy; Apr–Jun is extremely hot, and the rivers rise during the Jul–Sep monsoon. The city has an airport, and trains take about 2–3 hours to Varanasi and 7–10 hours to Delhi. During the Kumbh, book accommodation and transport months in advance, and stay alert in the dense crowds. Plan on 1–2 days, often combined with Varanasi.

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