During the 1857 mutiny, Allahabad had a presence of European troops. Maulvi Liaquat Ali freedom fighter of 1857, unfurled the banner of revolt. After the Mutiny was quelled, the British established the High Court, the Police Headquarters and the Public Service Commission in the city. This transformed Allahabad into an administrative center. The fourth session of the Indian National Congress was held in the city in 1888. By the turn of the century, Allahabad was a nodal point for the revolutionaries. The Karmyogi office of Sundar Lal in Chowk sparked patriotism among youth. Nityanand Chatterji became a household name when he hurled the first bomb at the European club. It was at Alfred Park in Allahabad where, in 1931, the revolutionary Chandrashekhar Azad killed himself when surrounded by the British Police. The Nehru family homes Anand Bhavan and Swaraj Bhavan were at the center of the political activities of the Indian National Congress. In the years of the freedom struggle, Allahabad was home to thousands of satyagrahis, led, inter alii, by Purushottam Das Tandon, Bishambhar Nath Pande and Narayan Dutt Tiwari. The first seeds of the idea of Pakistan were sown in Allahabad. On 29 December 1930, Allama Muhammad Iqbal’s presidential address to the All-India Muslim League proposed a separate Muslim state for the Muslim majority regions of India.
In 1765, the combined forces of the Nawab of Awadh and the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II lost the Battle of Buxar to the British. Although the British did not yet establish direct rule, they realised the strategic position of Allahabad as the gateway to the northwest and established a garrison at the fort. In 1801, the Nawab of Awadh ceded the city to the British East India Company. Gradually the other parts of Doaba and adjoining region in its west (including Delhi and Ajmer-Mewara regions) were won by the British. The north western areas were made into a new Presidency called the “North Western Provinces of Agra”, with their capital at Agra. Allahabad remained an important part of this state. In 1834, Allahabad became the seat of the Government of the Agra Province, and a High Court was established—but a year later both were relocated to Agra. In 1857, Allahabad was active in the Indian Mutiny. After the mutiny, the British truncated the Delhi region of the state, merging it with Punjab, and transferred the capital of North west Provinces to Allahabad, where it remained for 20 years. Later, in 1877 the two provinces of Agra (NWPA) and Awadh were merged to form a new state which was called the United Provinces. Allahabad served as the capital of United Provinces until 1920.
Allahabad is known for its literary and artistic heritage; as the former capital of United Provinces it was the birthplace of holy scriptures- the Vedas and the grand epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, and in the Puranas as Prayag. Allahabad has been called the “literary capital of Uttar Pradesh”. Allahabad’s antiquity attracted curious itinerants from even the ear east. Huen Tsang and Fa Hien, the Chinese travelers, who visited it in the fifth and the seventh centuries respectively, found it a flourishing city. Over the centuries that followed, Allahabad remained on the forefront of national importance-more so during the days of the Indian independence struggle. The city has a tradition of political graffiti depicting everything from outrageous slander to witty banter and limericks, caricatures, and propaganda. Allahabad has many buildings adorned with Indo-Islamic and Indo-Saracenic architectural motifs. Several major buildings from the colonial period have been declared “heritage structures”; however, others are decaying. Established in the 1930s to serve as the residence of the Nehru family, the Swaraj Bhavan was transformed into the local headquarters of the Indian National Congress, that showcase memorabilia of the Gandhi-Nehru family.
Allahabad has some glass- and wire-based industries. The main industrial area of Allahabad is Naini and Phulpur, where several public and private sector companies have their units, offices and factories. Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, India’s largest oil company (which is also state-owned), is setting up a seven million tonnes per annum (MTPA)—capacity refinery at Lohgara, with an estimated investment of 62 billion Rs. Allahabad Bank which began operations in 1865, headquartered in the city. The growth of IT has presented the city with challenges. Ideological clashes sometimes occur between the city’s IT moguls, who demand an improvement in the city’s infrastructure, and the state government, whose electoral base is primarily the people in city. Allahabad is a hub for India’s agricultural industry. Some industries of Allahabad are Triveni Sheet Glass Ltd Naini, Indian Telephone Industries (ITI) Naini, BPCL, Triveni Structurals Ltd, Triveni Engineering Works, SAIL, Vibgyor Laboratories, Raymond Synthetics Karchana, Hindustan Cable Ltd Naini, IFFCO Phulpur, and GEEP Industries. Institutions like Harish Chandra Mehta Atomic Research Center and Civil Aviation Training Center are established in the city.
Allahabad attracts students and learners from all over country. As of 2010, Allahabad has one central university, three deemed universities, and an open university. The colleges are each affiliated with a university or institution based either in Allahabad or elsewhere in India. Allahabad University, founded in 1876, is the oldest modern university in the state. Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology is one of the twenty National Institutes of Technology and an Institute of National Importance of India. Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences is the oldest modern university in South Asia. Nationally renowned professional institutes in Allahabad include the IIIT-A Motilal Nehru Medical College (MNMI), Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University (UPRTOU), Harish-Chandra Research Institute (HRI), Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute (GSSI), Institute of Engineering and Rural Technology (IERT), Ewing Christian College, United College of Engineering & Research and Birla Institute of Technology.
25.45°N 81.84°E, and stands at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. The region was known in antiquity as the Vats (initially Kuru) country. To its south west is the Bundelkhand region, to its east and south east is the Baghelkhand region, to its north and north east is the Awadh region and to its west is the (lower) doab of which it itself is a part. The city is divided by the railway line running through it. South of the railway line is the Old Chowk area, while the British-built Civil lines is situated in north. Allahabad stands at a strategic point both geographically and culturally. A part of the Ganga-Yamuna Doab, it is the last point of the Yamuna river, and culturally, the last point of the Indian west. As with the rest of Doab, the soil and water are predominantly alluvial in origin. The Indian GMT longitude (25.15°N 82.58°E) also passes near Allahabad. According to a United Nations Development Programme report, its wind and cyclone zone is “Low damage risk”.
Allahabad ( (help·info)), also known as Prayag, is a city in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Allahabad District. Allahabad is the seventh most populous city in Uttar Pradesh, with an estimated population of 1.74 million living in the city and district area. In 2011, it was ranked the world’s 130th fastest growing city. Allahabad city is the largest commercial center in the state; it also has the second-highest per capita income and the third greatest GDP in the state (following Kanpur). Allahabad is also known as the “city of prime ministers” because post independence seven out of 13 prime minister of India belonged to Allahabad (Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Gulzarilal Nanda, Vishwanath Pratap Singh and Chandra Shekhar). All these seven leaders were either born in Allahabad, were alumni of Allahabad University, or were elected from a constituency in Allahabad.
Allahabad is subject to a humid subtropical climate common to cities in the plains of North India, that is designated Cwa under the Köppen climate classification. The annual mean temperature is 26.1 °C (79.0 °F); monthly mean temperatures are 18–29 °C (64–84 °F). Allahabad experiences three seasons: hot dry summer, cool dry winter and warm humid monsoon. Summer lasts from April to June with temperatures in the low 30s Celsius; during dry spells, maximum temperatures often exceed 40 °C (104 °F) in May and June. Monsoon begins in early July and lasts till September. Winter lasts from December to February. Temperatures rarely drop to freezing point. Maximum temperatures are around 22 °C (72 °F) and minimum around 9 °C (48 °F). Allahabad also suffers thick fog in January resulting in massive traffic and travel delays. It does not snow in Allahabad. The highest recorded temperature is 48 °C (118.4 °F), and the lowest is -2 °C (28 °F).
During the 19th and 20th centuries, Hindi literature was modernised through the works of authors such as Mahadevi Varma, Sumitranandan Pant, Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’, Harivansh Rai Bachchan. Another noteworthy poet was Raghupati Sahay who was more famous by the name of Firaq Gorakhpuri. Firaq Gorakhpuri and Mahadevi Varma were awarded the Jnanpith Award. Allahabad has also been the biggest centres of publication of Hindi literature for instance Lok Bharti, Rajkamal and Neelabh. Persian and Urdu literature also has a significant respect in city. Akbar Allahabadi is well known poet of modern Urdu Literature. Poets like Nooh Narwi, Tegh Allahabadi, Raaz Allahabadi, Asghar Gondvi, Ibn e Safi,Adil Rasheed, Azam Kuraivi, Dr.Aijaz Husain, Dr.Aqeel Rizwi, Hakeem Asrar Kuraivi also hail from the city. English author and Nobel Laureate Rudyard Kipling (1907) played a role for The Pioneer as an assistant editor and overseas correspondent.
Allahabad is administered by several government agencies. The Allahabad Nagar Nigam (ANN), also called Allahabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), oversees and manages the civic infrastructure of the city. The corporation came into existence in 1864, when Lucknow Municipal Act was passed by the Government of India. City municipal area is divided into 80 wards, and a member (the Corporator) from each ward is elected to form the Municipal Committee. The Corporators elect the Mayor of city. The chief executive is the Commissioner of Allahabad, who is appointed by the state government. Allahabad’s rapid growth has created problems relating to traffic congestion and infrastructural obsolescence that the Allahabad Nagar Nigam has found challenging to address. The unplanned nature of growth in the city has resulted in massive traffic gridlocks, which the municipality attempted to ease by constructing a flyover system and by imposing one-way traffic systems.
Cricket and field hockey are the most popular sports in Allahabad. The most played sports in the rural areas near the city are Kabaddi, Kho-Kho, Gilli Danda and Akhada wrestling. The game of gully cricket also known as street cricket is popular among the youth in the city. Children as well as teenagers play the game of cricket in alleys and lanes. There are several sports complexes that can be used by both amateurs and professionals. These include the Madan Mohan Malviya Cricket stadium, Amitabh Bachchan Sports Complex and the Boys’ High School & College Gymnasium. There is an International level swimming complex at Georgetown. National Sports Academy in Jhalwa (Allahabad west) which produces world class gymnasts, the academy had been chosen as the flagbearer of Indian Gymnastic in Commonwealth games. In Allahabad every year Indira Marathon is organised; it began in 1985–86 in memory of late prime minister Indira Gandhi.
The Doaba region, including Allahabad, was controlled by several empires and dynasties in the ages to come. The area became a part of the Mauryan and Gupta empires of the east and the Kushan empire of the west before becoming part of the local Kannauj empire in 15th century. The city was the scene of Maratha incursions before colonial rule was imposed over India. In 1765, the British established a garrison at Allahabad fort. It is also known as the “Prime minister Capital of the India,” the importance of the government to the city has led seven out of fourteen Prime Ministers of India. Prayag became a part of the Delhi sultanate when the town was annexed by Mohammad Ghori in A.D. 1193. Later, the Mughals took over from the slave rulers of Delhi and under them Prayag rose to prominence. Akbar built a magnificent fort (viz. Allahabad fort), on the banks of the holy sangam and rechristened the town as Illahabad in 1575.
Buses operated by Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) are an important means of public transport available in the city. Besides these, National Highway 2 runs through the middle of the city. India’s primus cable-stayed bridge The New Yamuna Bridge, erected between 2001 and 2004, is located in Allahabad and connects the city of Allahabad to its suburb Naini next to the banks of the Yamuna River. The Old Naini Bridge now accommodates railway and car traffic. Road bridges on the Ganges and Yamuna rivers have been built to connect Allahabad with its suburbs, including Naini and Jhusi. Under centre/state partnership(JNNURM) more than 100 low floor buses are running.Most of them are running on two routes 1.Trivenipuram(Jhunsi) to Manauri Airforce 2.Raymond Gate(Naini) to Shantipuram(Phaphamau).
The Allahabad education system has remained distinct from that of the rest of state’s other cities, with a characteristic emphasis on a broad education. Allahabad’s schools are run by the state government and by private organisations, many of which are religious. English is the medium of instructions in most private schools, while government schools and colleges offer both Hindi and English medium education. Urdu is also used. Schools in Allahabad follow the 10+2+3 plan. After completing their secondary education, students typically enroll in schools that have a higher secondary facility and are affiliated with the Uttar Pradesh Board of High School and Intermediate Education, the ICSE, or the CBSE. They usually choose a focus on liberal arts, business, or science. Vocational programs are also available.
Allahabad Junction is one of the main railway junctions of northern India. It is the headquarters of the North Central Railway Zone. The four prominent railway stations of Allahabad are Prayag Station, City Station at Rambagh, Daraganj Station and Allahabad Station. It is connected to most cities in Uttar Pradesh as well as all major cities of India such as Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Indore, Bhopal, Lucknow and Jaipur. Three-wheeled yellow and black auto-rickshaws, referred to as vikram, are a popular form of transport. They are metered and can accommodate at least six passengers. Taxis, commonly called City Taxis, are usually available only on call. Taxis are metered and are generally more expensive than auto-rickshaws. Tempos are the cheapest mode of travelling in Allahabad.
Allahabad was originally founded as Kaushambi (now a separate district) by the Kuru rulers of Hastinapur, who developed it as their capital. Since then, Allahabad has often being the political/cultural/administrative head of the entire Doab area and beyond. First as Kaushambi, then as Prathisthanpur. Later, the Mughal emperor Akbar renamed Prayag as Allahabad and made it a prominent administrative centre again. As a large and growing city, Allahabad is home to colleges and research institutions. Government offices of both central and state government lie within the city. Allahabad has hosted cultural and sporting events, including Kumbh Mela and Indira Marathon. Although Allahabad’s economy was built on tourism, its main revenue now comes from real estate and financial services.
Among Allahabad’s widely circulated Hindi-language newspapers are Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Dainik Bhaskar, Nai Dunia, Hindustan Dainik, Aj, and Rajasthan Patrika. The Leader and The Pioneer are two major English-language newspapers that are produced and published from Allahabad. Other popular English-language newspapers published and sold in Allahabad include The Times of India, Hindustan Times, The Hindu, The Indian Express, and the Asian Age. Prominent financial dailies like The Economic Times, Financial Express, Business Line, Rashtriya Sahara and Business Standard are widely circulated. Vernacular newspapers, such as those in the Urdu, Gujarati and Punjabi lanuages, are read by minorities.
The Ganga-Jamuna Doab, of which Allahabad is a part, lies on the western part of the Great Indo-Gangetic Plain region. The Doab, including the Terai, is responsible for the city’s unique flora and fauna. Since human arrival, almost half of the country’s vertebrates have become extinct. Others are endangered or have had their range severely reduced. The arrival of humans, with associated changes to habitat and the introduction of reptiles, snakes and other mammals, led to the extinction of bird species, including large birds like eagles. Allahabad Museum, one four national museums in India, has undertaken an exercise to document the existing flora and fauna in the Ganga and Yamuna river belt.
The city’s original name—Prayaga, or “place of sacrifice”, comes from its position at the sacred union of the rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati. It is the second-oldest city in India and plays a central role in the Hindu scriptures. The city contains many temples and palaces. Allahabad is located in the southern part of Uttar Pradesh. It is bounded by Pratapgarh in the north, Bhadohi in the east, Rewa in the south and Kaushambi in the west. Its area is 63.07 km2 (24.35 sq mi). Allahabad contains many suburbs. While the city and surroundings are governed by several municipalities, a large portion of Allahabad District is governed by the Allahabad City Council. The demonym of Allahabad is Allahabadi.
The city was known earlier as Prayaga – a name that is still commonly used. Prayaga existed during the Vedic period, and is mentioned in the Veda as the location where Brahma, the Creator of the Universe according to Hindu mythology, attended a sacrificial ritual. Excavations have revealed Northern Black Polished Ware that dates to 600–700 BCE. The Puranas record that Yayati left Prayag and conquered the region of Saptha Sindhu. His five sons Yadu, Druhyu, Puru, Anu and Turvashu became the main tribes of the Rigveda. Lord Rama, the main protagonist in the Ramayana, spent time at the Ashram of Sage Bharadwaj before proceeding to nearby Chitrakoot.