Prayagraj, at the Triveni Sangam, is a city bursting with culture and intellectualism. It is the 13th most populous district in India.
LOCATION
Located at the Ganges – Yamuna confluence, Prayagraj, formerly Allahabad, is a city in the south of Uttar Pradesh, about 100km from Benares. It is called Prayagraj because it is built on the ancient site of Prayag, a holy city according to Hindu mythology.
MYTHOLOGY
According to the Great Epics, Lord Brahma, The Creator, chose Prayag as the land where three rivers would meet. Today, the Ganges and Yamuna form a confluence with a third mythological river known as Saraswati, and this confluence is termed ‘Triveni’.
During the Mughal Empire, Akbar renamed this city ‘Illahabas’ meaning The House of Allah. Allahabad remained its name until 2018, when it was rechristened Prayagraj.
Prayagraj is mentioned in many holy scriptures over the years, meaning that its richness dates back centuries.
SIGNIFICANCE
Prayagraj is now a leading administrative and education centre and has an influential industry also. Tourism is a big asset to its economy because of the countless cultural and religious sites to visit. The University of Allahabad also has several colleges, adding to the place’s educational value. The Indo Gangetic plain ensures that farming thrives here. The ‘Kumbh Mela’, a very holy festival for Hindus, attracts a large number of pilgrims to the ‘Triveni’. The Triveni Sangam is a very holy place, and you can always find Hindu devotees taking a bath in its holy waters to cleanse their mind and soul.
ARCHITECTURE
At Prayagraj you can see diversity in architecture, influenced by the different rulers over the years. The Allahabad fort is an exemplary piece of Mughal architecture. The elegance and strength radiated by the fort is mesmerizing. The Fatehpur Sikri, one of the most leading achievements of Mughal architecture is found here. The Anand Bhavan and Swaraj Bhavan are a time machine back to the Indian Independence struggle and were once the personal abode of the Nehru family. The Thornhill Mayne Memorial Public Library is a gothic masterpiece of the 1800s, made with intricately carved white sandstone.
DURING DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS
In the early 7th century, Prayag was a hub for both Hinduism and Buddhism. During the Mughal rule, Akbar had his eyes set on Prayag for a long time. In 1583 he finally set foot in Prayag and started laying the foundations for the city he wished to make. He built a fort in a very strategic location, which later made the fort desirable for the English East India Company. The Treaty of Allahabad signed by Robert Clive finally gave British troops stationed in the fort. During Independence, Allahabad was a hub of revolution. Post-Independence, Allahabad still is an important city due to prime ministers being born in this city.
ARCHAEOLOGY
50 archaeological sites have been found in Prayagraj, with relics dating back to the Chalcolithic period and Mughal period. Pottery, semi-precious stones, bone and ivory materials as well as stone tools and implements have been found over the years.
DEMOGRAPHY
Prayagraj has a population of 59,54,390 according to the 2011 census, meaning it has a density of 1086 residents per sq.km. It has a 72.3% literacy rate and a sex ratio of 901 females for 1000 males.
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