Pilgrim city at the meeting point of the Ganga and Yamuna, home of the Kumbh and Magh Melas.
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Prayagraj draws pilgrims to the Triveni Sangam for a holy dip and boat rides, and history lovers to Akbar's fort, the Mughal tombs of Khusro Bagh and the Nehru family homes. It suits families, seniors and first-time visitors to north India, and fits easily into a trip with Varanasi.
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Plan from your city
Photos
The Triveni Sangam at PrayagrajPilgrims on a boat at the Triveni Sangam
Photos from Wikimedia Commons. Select a photo for its author and licence.
Best time to go
When
What to expect
October to March
The best time to visit. Days are pleasant; nights in December and January can drop to about 5 to 6 C. The Magh Mela runs at the Sangam from mid-January to early March.
April to June
Very hot, with daytime highs of about 44 to 46 C in May and June. Sightseeing is best kept to early mornings and evenings.
July to September
Monsoon months with highs of about 37 to 40 C. Ghats can be hard to reach and river bathing may be restricted when water levels rise.
Sights and activities
1
Triveni Sangam
The meeting point of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, where pilgrims take a holy dip. Boats take visitors out to the confluence; early morning is quieter.
Distance
About 4 km from the city centre, about 7 km from Civil Lines
Entry
Free; boat rides are charged separately
Timings
Ghats open all day; boats run roughly 5 am to 6 pm
A large fort built by Akbar in 1583 on the Yamuna bank. Most of it is an Army ordnance depot, so only a small part, including the Patalpuri Temple and the Akshayavat tree area, is open to visitors.
Distance
About 2 km from the city centre, beside the Sangam
A large museum with stone sculpture, Kaushambi terracotta, miniature paintings and Bengal School art, set inside the 133-acre Chandrashekhar Azad (Alfred) Park.
Distance
About 2 km from the city centre, on Kamla Nehru Road, Civil Lines
Entry
Museum Rs 50 for Indians, Rs 500 for foreigners
Timings
Museum 10:30 am to 6 pm, Tuesday to Sunday; closed Mondays
UPSRTC buses use the Civil Lines and Zero Road bus stands. Varanasi is about 112 to 124 km away (about 2.5 hours), Lucknow about 183 to 201 km (about 4 to 5 hours) and Delhi about 580 to 670 km (about 11 to 12 hours).
By train
Prayagraj Junction is the main station and the headquarters of North Central Railway, with direct trains to Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Other city stations include Prayagraj Rambagh (City), Prayag and Naini.
By air
Prayagraj Airport (IXD) at Bamrauli is about 12 km from the city, with direct flights to cities including Delhi and Mumbai. Varanasi airport is about 150 km away and Lucknow airport about 200 km.
Where to base yourself
Civil Lines, close to the main bus stand and Prayagraj Junction, with most sights within about 2 to 7 km.
Getting around
Auto-rickshaws and e-rickshaws are easy to find for short hops between sights; agree the fare before you start.
Cycle-rickshaws can take you right down to the Sangam riverbank.
App cabs such as Ola are the most convenient way to cover several sights in a day.
Boats at the Sangam ghats take visitors out to the confluence; rates vary by ghat and season, so settle the price first.
City buses mostly serve residential areas and are not useful for sightseeing.
Often combined with
Places people usually visit on the same trip, and how long it takes to get between them.
Guest houses and simple hotels near the station and Civil Lines
₹500 to ₹1,000
Mid-range
Three-star hotels and UP Tourism's Rahi Ilawart Tourist Bungalow in Civil Lines
₹1,300 to ₹3,200
Luxury
Upscale hotels in Civil Lines
₹6,000 to ₹10,000
Food
The old city, especially Loknath lane in Chowk and the Katra area, is the place for street food: kachori, chaat, halwa and lassi in the morning and evening. Civil Lines has restaurants and street food stalls too. The cooking shows Mughal and Awadhi influence.
Try these
Kachori with sabzi (fried stuffed bread with potato curry)
Khasta and dum aloo
Chaat
Samosa
Jalebi
Lassi
Gari ki barfi (coconut sweet)
Biryani and kebabs
As a pilgrim city, vegetarian food is everywhere, and most street snacks are vegetarian.
Daily costs
Budget level
Stay per room
Food per person
Local transport
Budget
₹900
₹400
₹150 per person
Mid-range
₹2,500
₹900
₹1,500 per vehicle
Luxury
₹7,000
₹2,000
₹2,500 per vehicle
Per day. Travel to and from your city is added in the planner above.
Permits and documents
No permit is needed. Most of Allahabad Fort is an Army area and closed; access to the Akshayavat tree has been restricted at times, so check locally before going.
Safety
By day
Generally safe for visitors. Watch your belongings in crowds at the Sangam, the Hanuman temple and the markets.
At night
Civil Lines and the main roads stay busy into the evening. Avoid empty riverbanks and ghats after dark.
Solo women
Solo women usually travel here without trouble in daytime; dress modestly at temples and ghats and use app cabs at night.
Roads
City traffic can be heavy and slow, especially near the Sangam and during the Magh Mela and Kumbh. Highways to Varanasi and Lucknow are busy main roads.
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