Things to do in Allahabad
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Sangam
This is the point where the shallow, muddy Ganges meets the clearer, deeper Yamuna. Hindu pilgrims come all year to bathe and take a boat out to the auspicious spot where the two rivers meet. A rowing boat should not cost more than Rs 30 per person if you share, but boat-owners are desperate to get foreign tourists on board at inflated prices. A private boat for a half-hour trip is about Rs 200. The number of pilgrims increases during the annual Magh Mela (mid-January to mid-February).
Astrologers calculate the holiest time to enter the water and draw up a 'Holy Dip Schedule'. The most propitious time of all happens only every 12 years when the massive Kumbh Mela takes pl…
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Akbar’s Fort & Patalpuri Temple
Built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar, this 16th-century fort on the northern bank of the Yamuna has massive walls with three gateways flanked by towers. Most of it is occupied by the Indian army and cannot be visited, but a small door in the eastern wall near Sangam leads to one part you can enter, the underground Patalpuri temple. This unique temple is crowded with all sorts of idols – pick up some coins from the change dealers outside so you can leave small offerings as you go. You may be pressured into giving Rs100 at some shrines. A few coins are perfectly acceptable.
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Akbar's Fort
Built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar and completed in 1583 after decades of construction, the fort stands on the northern bank of the Yamuna. It has massive walls with three gateways flanked by towers. Most of the fort is occupied by the Indian army and cannot be visited, but a small door in the fort's eastern wall near Sangam leads to one part that you can visit, the underground Patalpuri temple (admission Rs 21; h07:00-17:00).
This unique temple is crowded with all sorts of idols - pick up some coins from the change dealers outside so you can leave small offerings as you go.
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Anand Bhavan
The picturesque two-storey Anand Bhavan is a shrine to the Nehru family, which has produced five generations of leading politicians from Motilal Nehru to the latest political figure, Rahul Gandhi. This stately home is where Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and others successfully planned the overthrow of the British Raj. It is full of books, personal effects and photos from those stirring times. Indira Gandhi was married here in 1942.
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Shahenshah
Watch young chefs frying up their creations from a couple of stalls set around a half open-air seating area with plastic tables and chairs and a high corrugated iron roof. This is no-nonsense, cheap eating, but it’s popular with the locals so there’s a nice atmosphere. The menu includes uttapam,paratha ( flaky bread made with ghee and cooked on a hotplate), a few Chinese dishes, pizza and some absolutely cracking dosa.
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Khusru Bagh
This intriguing park, surrounded by a high wall, contains three contrasting Mughal tombs. One is that of Prince Khusru, the eldest son of Emperor Jehangir, who tried to assassinate his father but was blinded and imprisoned, finally dying in 1622. If Khusru’s coup had succeeded, his brother, Shah Jahan, would not have become emperor and the Taj Mahal would not exist.
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Khana-Khazana Restaurant
By day this AC hotel restaurant serves up a tempting array of continental snacks such as burgers, pizzas and club sandwiches. In the evening there's an interesting variety of Indian, Chinese and continental veg and nonveg dishes including sizzlers, pasta, tandoori kebabs and Bengali fish curry.
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Allahabad Boat Club
Allahabad Boat Club offers a range of water sports on the Yamuna. There are pedal boats (Rs 40 per hour per boat), kayaks (Rs20 per hour per person), a variety of speed boats (Rs500 to Rs2000 per boat to Sangam and back) and even waterskiing (two hours Rs1000).
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Friends
This bright, slimline cafe-restaurant is very popular with Allahabad’s 20-somethings. An extensive veg and nonveg multicuisine menu includes tandoori, sizzlers, pizza and a range of oh-so tempting desserts. Fresh coffee (from Rs25) is also available.
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El Chico
A swish restaurant with a reliable Indian, Chinese and continental menu, including fish dishes and sizzlers. Next door, El Chico Takeaway (snacks Rs15 to Rs45) tempts diners with ice creams, cakes, cheesecake and savoury snacks.
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Indian Coffee House
This large, airy, 50-year-old coffee hall is a top choice for breakfast with waiters in fan-tailed headgear serving up delicious south Indian fare – dosa, idli,uttapam – as well as eggs, omelettes and toast.
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Undying Banyan Tree
Outside the Patalpuri temple - though its roots can be seen beneath ground - is the Undying Banyan Tree from which pilgrims used to leap to their deaths, believing it would liberate them from the cycle of rebirth.
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Kamdhenu
Downstairs are homemade sweets, cakes, samosas and ice cream, while upstairs the small but busy fast-food-style restaurant offers pizzas, burgers and South Indian dishes.
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Allahabad Museum
This extensive museum in the grounds of a pleasant park has archaeological and Nehru family items, modern paintings, miniatures and ancient sculptures.
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Boat Club
Around the corner from Sangam are the Saraswati and Nehru Ghats, home to a boat club and a nightly ganga aarti (river worship) ceremony.
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Swaraj Bhavan
Swaraj Bhavan was bought by Motilal Nehru in 1900 and is now a run-down museum housing bits of furniture and family portraits.
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Jade Garden
Spotless hotel restaurant with attentive black-tie staff serving Indian, Chinese, non-veg sizzlers, salads and tandoori.
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Kamdhenu Sweets
Very popular snack shop selling delicious homemade sweets, cakes, samosas, sandwiches and ice cream.
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Patiyala Peg Bar
The Patiyala Peg Bar at the Grand Continental has live ghazal music nightly from 19:30.
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Court View Bar
Court View Bar, on the top floor of the Hotel Kahna Shyam is a stylish place for a beer.
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