Prayagraj: Holy Rivers, Mughal History, and a Whole Lot of Dust (Probably)
okay, so i’m back from…prayagraj. used to be allahabad, apparently. it’s a mouthful either way. honestly, this trip was…a lot. like, a lot a lot. i’m still trying to process it all. i feel like i need a nap and a strong cup of chai.
first off, the location. it’s in Uttar Pradesh, northern India, right where the ganges, yamuna, and some mythical river called the saraswati all meet. they call it the triveni sangam. apparently, it’s a big deal. like, pilgrimage central. millions of people go there. i just checked and it’s 13.27°c, feels like 12.01°c, pressure is 1018, humidity is 52%, sea level is 1018, and ground level is 1007. hope you like that kind of thing.
so, history. it’s ancient. like, ashoka’s pillar ancient. then the mughals came along and built a city called ilāhābād, “city of god.” akbar, i think? then it got renamed back to prayagraj in 2018. it’s all a bit confusing, honestly. i’m terrible with dates.
apparently, it’s a major hub. road, rail, airport…the works. and it’s surrounded by rivers on three sides. someone told me that makes it prone to flooding during the monsoon. great. just what i needed to know.
and the landmarks! the triveni sangam, obviously. and akbar’s fort, ashoka’s pillar…pratisthanpur and kaushambi - apparently those are ancient sites. there are cathedrals and museums too. it’s a real mishmash of everything. i didn’t get to see everything, obviously. i was mostly just trying to navigate the crowds and not get lost.
apparently, the food is…well, the sources didn’t really say much about the food. which is a shame. i was hoping for some amazing local dishes. i’ll have to do some more research next time.
if you get bored, pratapgarh, bhadohi, mirzapur, rewa, kaushambi, and chitrakoot are just a short drive away. vanarsi and lucknow too. i didn’t make it to any of those, sadly. i was pretty much stuck in prayagraj.
apparently, some famous people are from there, but i didn’t see any statues or anything. the population is around 1.1 million. it’s a big place, apparently, 5,482 sq km. that’s the fifth largest district in uttar pradesh. wow.
overall…it was an experience. a chaotic, dusty, historically rich experience. i’m not sure i’d go back anytime soon, but i’m glad i went. it’s definitely…unique. just be prepared for crowds, heat, and a whole lot of history. and maybe bring some earplugs. and a really good map. and a lot of patience. seriously, a lot of patience. i need a nap now.
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