INTRIGUING PRAYAGRAJ

As our car entered the dust-laden, congested lanes of Prayagraj, it felt like any other old city at a first glance. But this is a mirage to the real city. As one explores it further, one sees the remnants and charm of rich history, the intricate designs of the churches, the fort, the old schools, the temples. The enthralling Sangam is a visual treat with its vast expanse of merging waters of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati. This city has a discernible rich past dating back to Ramayana with the ancient Akshayavat tree, the Ashoka Pillar, the Allahabad Fort, Khusro Bagh, Chandrashekhar Azad Park, and the Anand Bhavan. 

 

The ancient Havelis with impressively carved balconies, intricately designed temples, aesthetic churches are fascinating and inspire one to explore further. They speak of the glorious era gone by. These mute structures are emanating a time of yore. History lingers in the old houses like a long twilight, and the houses have aged with grace. Here the past is casually entwined with the present. The old and the new are so linked that they are living harmoniously. The ancient structures speak of the architecture, way of life, and tales of velour of the era gone by. The names of places like Dhobi Chauraha, Paltan Gali, Roshan Bagh, and Chowk speak about life lived a long time ago. 

 

 Khusrau Bagh with its attractive walled gardens, ornate carvings, and the three sandstone mausoleums present an exquisite example of Mughal architecture. All Saints Church (Pathar Girija) built in the gothic style is a major tourist attraction.

 

Majestic Allahabad fort with a medieval architecture built by the Mughal emperor Akbar on the banks of Triveni is a sight to behold. The mesmerizing Yamuna and Ganga shining in the moonlight and the imposing fort standing like a guiding force is spellbinding. The whole atmosphere is gripping as it brings out the ingenuity and makes an ordinary person a poet. The tranquil atmosphere near the indestructible Akshayawat tree within the fort premises is meditative. It is comforting just to sit there and watch the flowing Ganga. The Fort also houses the Saraswati Kund, source of the river Saraswati. The imposing Ashoka Pillar, in the fort complex, is a testimony of the era gone by.

The world’s largest religious congregation, Kumbh Mela at the confluence of the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the Saraswati, is an occurrence in itself. The Mela is a mélange of religious activities. Shahi Snan at sunrise in Sangam is a mystical lifetime escapade with multitudes of people taking a holy dip. Ganga arti at sunset with lights and chanting is a surreal experience. The whole place has a kaleidoscopic magical aura. It is a visual treat to watch birds in the merging waters at Sangam.

 

This sacred city also has an extensive tradition of learning. Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Munshi Premchand, Suryakant Tripathi Nirala, Mahadevi Verma, Akbar Allahabadi, and many more writers, poets belonged to this city. Who can forget the famous Prime Ministers, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, and Chander Shekhar? The ancient magnificent building of the University known as the Oxford of the East was a learning center and continues to so though not on the same scale as earlier. In the early morning, it is common sight to observe people sitting in tea shops relishing the piping hot tea along with the quintessential newspaper and discussing world affairs. One of the first English dailies in India, The Pioneer, was published from this city. Rudyard Kipling, the Nobel Laureate, worked at The Pioneer.

This city may have undergone a name change from Prayag to Allahabad to Prayagraj, but its character has remained the same.

With such rich history, no wonder Prayagraj has been important throughout history and continues to be so till today.