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Located in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad (2001
population 1,015,348) sits at the meeting point of both the Ganges and Yamuna
rivers. Also known as Prayag, its ancient name (meaning "place of
sacrifice" in Sanskrit), Allahabad is believed to be the site of where Brahma
offered his first sacrifice after creating the world. Allahabad is
also one of the oldest cities in India. A place of great
importance to Hinduism, Allahabad is a holy site because of its location at the
confluence of the holy rivers-- the Ganges and the Yamuna. In
Hindu belief, the invisible river of Sarasvati joins here also. According to
legend, Allahabad is the spot where the sage Bharadwaj had his ashram-- where
thousands of students lived and studied under him. Lord Rama, the hero of the
epic Ramayana also visited the ashram. Allahabad is a place rich
with history, still being archaeologically excavated in its fields, forests and
settlements. The city of Allahabad was believed to be established
by the Aryans, and seemed to be an important part of their
territory.
Allahabad cannot be visited without seeing the Allahabad Fort,
built by Emperor Akbar in 1583. Standing on the banks of the
Yamuna, it is the largest of Emperor Akbar's forts, and is now used by the army
(inside, a limited area is open to visitors). This impressive structure contains
massive walls, three gateways and high, protected towers. A
popular tourist attraction, the Allahabad Museum is located inside Chandra
Shekhar Azad Park, and contains 18 galleries displaying various stone
sculptures. Some of its sculptures date back to the 2nd Century
BC, and also includes terracotta figurines, coins and paintings.
Another interesting museum is the Anand Bhawan, once an ancestral home of
the Nehru family. The museum contains interesting personal items
from the family's history, and offers many interesting insights into one of the
most popular political families in India. Allahabad is visited by
fellow Indians and international tourists alike as a site for making the holy
pilgrimage. It is believed that a dip in the holy water of the
Yamuna and the Ganges meeting point washes away all sins. The
Kumbha-mela, held every 12 years, is a particularly auspicious day for the holy
bathing, and attracts approximately 15 million visitors.
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