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Name: Allahabad Allahabad is situated at the confluence of the 3 sacred rivers - Ganga, Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati. It is here at the sangam that Hindus converge for a holy dip especially during the Kumbha Mela, held here every 12 years after. According to Hindu mythology, for the 'Prakrishta Yagna', Lord Brahma, the creator - God of the Trinity, chose a piece of land on earth, on which the three rivers - the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati - would flow into a quiet confluence. That land, blessed by the Gods, came to be called 'Prayag' or 'Allahabad', as it is known today. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage centres of India. From the realms of mythology and legends, the history of Allahabad, then moved through time to 1575 A.D., when Emperor Akbar founded a city, of lavish proportions, and named it Allahabad. The monarch realized its strategic importance as a waterway landmark in North India, and also built a magnificent fort, on the banks of the holy 'Sangam'. Allahabad, today, is an important city where history, culture and religion create a magic- al confluence .... much like the sacred rivers that caress this blessed land.Allahabad is one of the sacred cities of Hinduism and also one of the oldest in India. Formerly called Prayag, in commemoration of a sacrifice by Lord Brahma, Allahabad stands at the conflu- ence of two of India's holiest rivers, the Ganga and the Yamuna. The Sangam, as the confluence is called, is the venue of many sacred fairs and rituals, and attracts thousands of pilgrims throughout the year. This number swells to millions during the Kumbh Mela. A third mythical Saraswati river, believed to flow underground towards the Sangam, gives the confluence its other name, Triveni. Akbar visited Prayag in 1575 AD and founded a new city by the Illahabas, which has now become modern Allahabad. The city was an important cantonment during the British and has some beautiful remnants of colonial architecture. In the early 20th century, Allahabad University was the foremost centre of learning in the country