Allahabad Holidays

Allahabad is west of Varanasi at the confluence of two of India's most important rivers - the Ganges and the Yamuna. The mythical Saraswati River, the river of Enlightenment, is also believed to join them here. The confluence is thought to have great soul-cleansing powers and all pious Hindus hope to bathe here at least once in their lifetime.

It is an area of broad avenues, Raj-era bungalows, modern shops and small outdoor eating stalls, it has pleasant gardens and sidewalk cafes and is off the tourist track.

The city was a centre of the Indian National Congress and at the conference here in I920, Mahatma Gandhi proposed his programme of nonviolent resistance to achieve independence.