Travel to Allahabad

Allahabad Tourism

Allahabad is one of the renowned cities of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the seventh most populated city in the state. The city's original name was Prayaga or "place of sacrifice", as the city is situated at the sacred union of the holy rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati. The current name was given to the city by the Mughal Emperor Akbar in 1583. As the second oldest city in India, Allahabad plays a vital role in the Hindu scriptures. Interestingly, Allahabad is also known as the "City of Prime Ministers" as post independence 7 out of 13 prime minister of India belonged to Allahabad.

Allahabad is among the oldest and most important pilgrimage centers of India. The place has special sentiments attached for Hindus as well as Muslims. The city is said to be holy, as it is among the four main pilgrimage sites of the Hindus. Thus, the place is mainly famous for its religious tourism.

Allahabad is famous for the Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh Melas held here every twelve and six years, respectively. During this time millions of devotees come to Allahabad and take a bath in Ganges to wash away all their sins. Allahabad is a very traditional city and is also a heritage site. There is an evident increase in the number of visitors visiting this city every year. Although the city's economy was built on tourism, its main revenue nowadays comes from real estate and financial services.

Location

Allahabad is located in the southern part of Uttar Pradesh and stands at the confluence of the rivers - Ganga and Yamuna. Allahabad has many suburbs and stands at a strategic point both geographically and culturally. It is located at around 202 km (125 mi) south-west of the state capital Lucknow.

Best Time to Visit

The city experiences extreme climate, from scorching heat in summers to bone-chilling cold in winters. The most appropriate time to visit Allahabad is from October to March. The climate is ideal and more than perfect for sightseeing here.

Avoid planning a trip to this city during summers, when temperature rises to 45°C and makes the climate extremely dry and hot. The summer duration is from March to June. One must wear cotton clothes during this time to control perspiration.

Popular things

A large number of people come to Allahabad to celebrate the Kumbha Mela. The Kumbha Mela is of two types - Maha Kumbh Mela (celebrated once every 12 years) and Ardh Kumbh Mela (celebrated once every six years). People from around the world take the Holi Ganges water in containers from the Sangam (confluence), which is used during auspicious Hindu occasions.

Apart from that, guavas are among the famous things in Allahabad. The guavas found here are red on the inside. They are a good buy for winter season at a reasonably cheap price. The mangoes found here in summers are also a major attraction. The salty snacks, called as namkeens, are also very famous here, which can be purchased from Loknath Chowk.

In terms of buying show pieces as souvenirs, one has several options. Brass ware, brass idols, antique pieces and artefacts, exquisite jewellery pieces, religious books and ethnic wears are some of Allahabad's specialties. There are different markets to cater to different tourist needs.

How many days are enough to travel?

Allahabad is situated in Uttar Pradesh in North India. This means that most of the prime northern cities are close by. The train journey from Delhi to Allahabad takes around eight to nine hours. Fares are marginally higher than other superfast and express trains. Allahabad is at a difference of one night from Agra. The train takes approximately seven hours to reach.

Make sure you take a week's time off to explore the entire city peacefully, without missing the prime tourist destinations. However, the city can also be explored in three to four days, with a view of covering only the main tourist spots. Within a budget between Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 10,000, one can look forward to enjoying the delights of Allahabad.

Cost to Travel

Most modes of transport, like auto-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, tongas, etc., are not metered. While some auto-rickshaw drivers would take you around on metre, most others would set a fixed price beforehand. Negotiating for setting a price to commute to the desired location is necessary.

One can book a taxi or rent a car (air-conditioned as well as non-air-conditioned) for certain locations. The rental cars and taxis charge about Rs. 7 per km. The starting range of the taxi/rental car fares is around Rs. 700 within the city.

Travelling from Delhi to Allahabad via train is also reasonable. The price ranges between Rs. 300 to Rs. 500 for sleeper class, and between Rs. 600 and Rs. 1,200 for 3 AC. As far as travelling from Varanasi is concerned, the sleeper class charges are between Rs. 200 and Rs. 250, and 3 AC charges are between Rs. 300 and Rs. 500. These price ranges include all the super-fast and regular trains.

Local Transport

In order to commute in Allahabad, one can use auto-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, buses and taxis?. The locals highly prefer commuting by cycle rickshaws because these connect small distances through the narrowest and innermost lanes in Allahabad. Also, they are cheap and available all around the city. However, one may need to negotiate before availing their service.

The three-wheeler auto rickshaw service is also readily available and affordable. Various taxis as well as rental cars can also be booked or hired online. The rental cars are available with chauffeurs too.

Other than these, one can use the city bus service. These buses have connectivity to almost every area and route in Allahabad. However, the bus timings are not fixed and the arrival and departure of these buses are unpredictable.

Tourist Places in Allahabad Allahabad Fort Triveni Sangam Khusrau Bagh Anand Bhavan Allahabad Museum Allahabad Planetarium Allahabad University Alopi Devi Mandir All Saints Cathedral Pratisthan Pur (Jhunsi) Someshwar Mahadev Temple Swaminarayan Mandir

Demographics State Uttar Pradesh District Allahabad Coordinates 25.45°N 81.85°E Elevation 98 meters (322 ft) Area 63.07 sq km Population 1,216,719 (As per Census 2011) Languages Spoken Hindi, English, Urdu Time Zone GMT/UTC + 05:30 Hour Pin Code 211001-18 STD Code +(91) 532

How to Reach Allahabad

By Air

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Allahabad has its own domestic airport called Bamrauli Airport which is located around 12 km away from the city center. The airport is connected to metros like Delhi, Kolkata and Lucknow. Foreign travelers can get connection flights from Delhi or Kolkata. Find Flights to Allahabad

By Train

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Allahabad Junction is the major railway station in the heart of the city and is well connected to all the important cities in India. There are many trains connecting major cities with Allahabad.


By Road

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Allahabad is well connected by road to major cities in India. The National Highway - 2 runs through the middle of the city and connects it with rest of India. The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) operated buses are an important means of public transport available. It connects Allahabad to neighbouring cities and states.

Main bus stands in Allahabad are Leader Road Bus Stand, Zero Road Bus Stand and Civil Lines Bus Stand.

Distance to Allahabad

• From hyderabad : 1092 KM
• From varanasi : 125 KM
• From chennai : 1688 KM
• From mumbai : 1466 KM
• From banglore : 1654 KM
• From ahmedabad : 1119 KM
• From visakhapatnam : 1230 KM
• From lucknow : 238 KM

Allahabad Distance Chart

Hotels and Accommodation in Allahabad

Some of the Budget, Mid-Range and Top End Hotels in Allahabad are:

Budget Hotels

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Mid-Range Hotels

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Top Hotels

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Eating out and Restaurants in Allahabad

Allahabad offers many eating out and restaurants options which provide good, clean and tasty food. The city of Allahabad is also known for its red-spotted Guavas, which are available in plenty and at unbelievably cheap prices.

When in Allahabad, do not miss the chaat-papdi (street food) and jalebis.

There are several restaurants and eating out points in Allahabad which serve delicious cuisines like Mughlai, Indian, Chinese, Continental, etc. Some of the popular restaurants in Allahabad are:

• Shahenshah - MG Marg
• Khana-Khazana Restaurant - Grand Continental, Sardar Patel Marg, Civil Lines
• El Chico - MG Marg, Civil Lines
• Indian Coffee House - MG Marg
• Cafe Chokolade - Elgin Road, Civil Lines
• Juice Lounge - Elgin Road, Civil Lines
• Rasoi Restaurant - Opp Railway Station, Allahabad
• Madras Hotel - near Allahabad High Court, Allahabad
• Sagar Ratna Restaurant - near Anand Bhawan, Allahabad
• Kwality Restaurant - Mahatama Gandhi Marg, Civil Lines
• Domino's Pizza - Sardar Patel Marg, Civil Lines
• Machan Restaurant - C/o The Grand Continental, Sardar Patel Marg, Civil Lines
• Friends Forever Restaurant - Sardar Patel Marg, Civil Lines
• Mc Donald's - M G Marg, Big Bazar Building, Civil Lines
• New Jade Garden - Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Civil Lines
• Connoisseur Restaurant - Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Civil Lines
• Bar & Restaurant - Tourist Bungalow, UPSTDC, Civil Lines
• Kamadhenu Sweets - 37, Palace Cinema Compound, Civil Lines
• The Bhoj - C/O Hotel Yatrik, 33, S.P. Marg, Civil Lines
• Gopal Sweet House - Jawahar Lal Nehru Road, George Town

Allahabad Travel Tips

While traveling to any place, the basic rules of common sense apply - do not accept food from strangers, do not flash your money etc. So these rules apply to Allahabad too. Beside these, women are advised to dress conservatively, avoid traveling alone and avoid strangers. Drink only bottled water as you travel. Beware of pickpockets and touts. Be aware of your luggage and other belongings at all times.

Government of U.P. Regional Tourist Office:

Tourist Bungalow, 35, M.G. Marg, Civil Lines, Allahabad.
Phone: 0532 - 2408873

Tourism information facilitation center:

Platform no.1, Allahabad Junction Railway Station Allahabad.

Tourist Helpline Numbers

Police	100
Railways Enquiry	139
Civil Lines Bus Stand	0532 - 2407257
Zero Road Bus Stand	0532 - 2564009
Fire	101, 0523 - 600453, 0532 - 697222
UPTDC	0562 - 2360517
Regional Tourist Office, Tourist Bungalow, 35, M.G. Marg, Civil Lines	(0532) 2408873
Hospitals
Dufferin Hospital, Chowk	0532 - 2242522
Kamala Nehru Hospital, Tegore Town	0532 - 2408830
Moti Lal Nehru Hospital, Colvin	0532 - 2242141
Nazareth Hospital, Kamla Nehru Marg	0532 - 2407430, 2407796
Tej Bahadur Sapru Hospital, Stainley Road	0532 - 2642687
Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital, M.G. Road	0532 - 2256782
North-Central Railway Hospital	0532 - 2427113

Last Updated on : 17 July 2013