Allahabad Fort (Akbar's Fort)
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh · fort
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry Fee₹0
Rising in warm red sandstone above the point where the Ganga and Yamuna meet, the Allahabad Fort is the grandest of the Mughal river-forts and the single largest structure Emperor Akbar ever raised. He founded it in 1583, choosing the strategic, sacred confluence — the Sangam — as the site for a garrison that would command the river routes of the eastern empire. Its long, battlemented curtain walls, massive gateways and riverside bastions were designed to be seen from the water, and even today the fort's ramparts loom over the pontoon-bridge crossings and the boats that ferry pilgrims to the meeting of the rivers. Akbar is said to have named the surrounding city Ilahabas, "abode of God", a name that later evolved into Allahabad.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-veg kachori-sabzi and jalebi breakfast stalls in the Loknath galis
- ✦Pure-veg thali and chaat kitchens around Katra near Allahabad University
- ✦Pure-veg South Indian dosa houses in Civil Lines
- ✦Traditional pure-veg sweet shops for peda and lassi near Loknath
About
Rising in warm red sandstone above the point where the Ganga and Yamuna meet, the Allahabad Fort is the grandest of the Mughal river-forts and the single largest structure Emperor Akbar ever raised.
- He founded it in 1583, choosing the strategic, sacred confluence — the Sangam — as the site for a garrison that would command the river routes of the eastern empire.
- Its long, battlemented curtain walls, massive gateways and riverside bastions were designed to be seen from the water, and even today the fort's ramparts loom over the pontoon-bridge crossings and the boats that ferry pilgrims to the meeting of the rivers.
- Akbar is said to have named the surrounding city Ilahabas, "abode of God", a name that later evolved into Allahabad.
- Much of the fort remains a working cantonment of the Indian Army, so its Mughal palaces and inner courtyards are not open to general sightseeing; visitors instead come for the celebrated relics clustered near the river gate, usually accessible around the Magh Mela and Kumbh season and at other times by arrangement.
- Chief among them is the Ashokan Pillar, a polished sandstone column dating by tradition to the 3rd century BCE and inscribed with the edicts of Emperor Ashoka, later re-engraved by subsequent rulers — a rare survival that predates the fort by some eighteen centuries.
- Close by, a flight of steps descends into the Patalpuri, an atmospheric underground pillared shrine revered as one of the oldest sacred spaces in the region, and beside it stands the Akshayavat, the "undying banyan" of long-standing pilgrim legend.
- Together they make the fort a layering of Ashokan, ancient-Indic and Mughal history in one riverside enclosure.
- Approach it as heritage: read the architecture, the fortification engineering and the confluence setting, and treat the cantonment's access rules and photography restrictions with care.
- For food, the fort sits within easy reach of Prayagraj's old pure-vegetarian belt around Loknath, Katra and Civil Lines.
- Rather than eat at the riverbank stalls, walk into the Loknath galis for classic pure-veg kachori-sabzi, khasta and jalebi breakfasts, seek out the long-standing pure-veg thali and chaat kitchens of Katra near the university, and cool down with a plain, bhang-free thandai or a lassi.
- Civil Lines adds pure-veg South Indian dosa houses and sweet shops for peda and rich Prayagraj-style guava-season treats — all comfortably vegetarian and alcohol-free.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Allahabad Fort, near Sangam, Kydganj, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211003
How to Reach: About 7 km from Prayagraj Junction railway station; reachable by auto-rickshaw, e-rickshaw or taxi to the Sangam / Kydganj area, then a short walk to the fort's river gate. During Mela season, follow the marked pilgrim routes toward the Sangam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can tourists go inside Allahabad Fort?
The fort is largely an active Indian Army cantonment, so its Mughal palaces and inner areas are generally closed to the public. Visitors can usually see the riverside relics — the Ashokan Pillar, the underground Patalpuri temple and the Akshayavat banyan — near the river gate. Access is most reliable during the Magh Mela and Kumbh season, so it is best to check current rules locally before going.
Who built Allahabad Fort and when?
Emperor Akbar built the fort in 1583, making it the largest structure he ever commissioned. He chose the Sangam, where the Ganga and Yamuna meet, for its strategic command of the river routes. By tradition, he also named the surrounding settlement Ilahabas, which later became Allahabad.
What is inside the fort worth seeing?
The highlights are the Ashokan Pillar, a polished sandstone column carrying edicts traditionally dated to the 3rd century BCE, the Patalpuri, an ancient underground pillared shrine, and the Akshayavat, the legendary 'undying banyan'. Together they layer Ashokan, ancient-Indic and Mughal history within one riverside enclosure.
Is there an entry fee for Allahabad Fort?
There is generally no ticket charge to view the accessible riverside relics, though access depends on Army cantonment rules and the Mela calendar. Photography is restricted in parts of the cantonment, so follow posted signs and staff instructions carefully.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Allahabad Fort?
The fort sits close to Prayagraj's old pure-vegetarian food belt. Head to the Loknath galis for pure-veg kachori-sabzi, khasta and jalebi, or to Katra near the university for pure-veg thali and chaat kitchens. Civil Lines adds pure-veg South Indian dosa houses and sweet shops, and you can cool off with a plain, bhang-free thandai or lassi — all vegetarian and alcohol-free.