Best time to visit : October to March
Allahabad is an important tourist destination in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, situated on the confluence of three holy rivers: Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati. The famous Kumbh Mela of Allahabad held every twelve years attracts millions of tourists from across the world to this place.
Facts
Apart from being a tourist destination, Allahabad is also an important pilgrimage site for Hindus due to the sacred Triveni Sangam, point where the three holy rivers meet. This is the time when the famous Kumbh Mela also takes place. Kumbh is the only fair in the world which sees the largest human gathering where not only people from India but from all over the world gather to take dip in the holy waters of Sangam. Stampedes are very common during the fair.
Food of Allahabad has a lot of influence of the Mughlai cuisine. Lot of flavourful and aromatic spices are used in the food. Some of the delicacies which you must enjoy in Allahabad are zamin doz macchli (stuffed whole fish which is slowly cooked in earthenware buried under the ground), dum bhindi (Ladyfinger marinated in curd), and shab deg (spicy dish made with mutton, mince meat, raw papaya and turnips). Sweets that you must enjoy in Allahabad are gujia, gulabjamun, kheer, kulfi, halwa, imarti and petha.
Allahabad is famous for its handicrafts and antiques made of brass. You can also get spiritual curios and religious paraphernalia like incense sticks, camphor and idols of Gods and Goddesses. Allahabad is also a centre for buying various types of books.
Nearby Places:
- Mirzapur (about 90 km.): Surrounded by hills and famous for the holy ghats of Ganga, the city is famous for Vindhyachal Temple, Kaali Khoh, Ashtbhuja Devi Temple, Chunar Fort and many other attractions.
- Varanasi (about 125 km.): A holy city situated on the banks of River Ganga, Varanasi is the most sacred pilgrim place for Hindus. Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Kaal Bhairav Temple, and Sankat Mochan Temple are some of the important tourist attractions in Varanasi.
- Chitrakoot (about 130 km.): Another pilgrimage destination, the town is famous for Kamtanath Temple, Lakshaman Pahari, Sfatik Shila, Gupt Godavari, Ram Ghat and Janki Kund.
- Kanpur (about 200 km.): It is famous for its various temples, gardens and museums. Popular attractions include Sri Radha Krishna Temple, Allen Forest Zoo, Ganga Barrage, Nana Rao Park, Motijheel and Kanpur Sanghralaya.
- Lucknow (about 210 km.): Also known as the city of Nawabs, it is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh and is famous for the attractions like Bara Imambara, Clock Tower, Lucknow Residency Ruins, Qaiserbagh Complex, Botanical Gardens, Crocodile Sanctuary and many more.