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Prayagraj (Allahabad)

Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, is believed to have landed on earth in Prayagraj (or Allahabad as it was known until recently), and to have named it the king of all pilgrimage centres. Indeed, Sangam, a river confluence on the outskirts of the city, is the most celebrated of India’s four Kumbh Mela locations. Allahabad was also home to the Nehru clan, whose house served as a headquarters for the independence movement against the colonial British Raj.

Yet for all its importance in Hindu mythology, Indian history and modern politics, Allahabad today is a much humbler place. Though there are a few good places to stay and eat, the main sights are of modest appeal. The commercial heart of the city is Civil Lines, centred on MG Marg, which has the bulk of the shops, restaurants and hotels.

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