Allahabad
About
Also known as Prayag and Ilahabad, Allahabad is a city in Uttar Pradesh. Ranked the worlds 130th fastest-growing city, Allahabad is the seventh-most populous city in the state. Its position at the Sangam (confluence) of the Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Sarasvati rivers gave the city its original name Prayag, which literally means a place of offerings. Located in southern Uttar Pradesh, Allahabad is home to several colleges, research institutions, and central and state government offices. Though most of the citys economy is built on tourism, it is now also deriving a substantial part of its income from real estate and financial services.
City infrastructure
The city is mainly served by Allahabad Airport, and some other airports nearby are those in Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur. Allahabad Junction is one of the main railway junctions in northern India and headquarters of the North Central Railway Zone. NH-2 runs through the city centre. The New Yamuna Bridge, Indias longest cable-stayed bridge, is located here and connects the city to the suburb of Naini across the Yamuna. Allahabad is connected to Haldia via the National Waterway-1. A Metro rail project that is underway will cover the entire metropolitan region. And, immense stress is being laid on the citys transportation facilities since the decision to develop Allahabad as a smart city was taken.
Lifestyle
Allahabad boasts a rich literary and artistic heritage, and is often referred to as the literary capital of Uttar Pradesh. It is also noted for historic, cultural, and religious tourism. Alfred Park, the Victoria and Thornhill Mayne memorials, Minto Park, Allahabad Fort, the Ashoka Pillar, and Khusro Bagh, are among the prime historical sites in the city. Allahabad is also famous for hosting the Maha Kumbh Mela, the largest religious gathering in the world. There also are several religious attractions here, such as the Triveni Sangam, All Saints Cathedral, etc.
The city is teeming with numerous cultural attractions, including the Allahabad Musuem, the Jawahar Planetarium, the University of Allahabad (the oldest university in the state), Prayag Sangeet Samiti, besides many others. The city also has several sports complexes that are used by amateur and professional athletes.
