Chandra Shekhar Azad Park (Alfred Park)
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh · garden
- Days OpenOpen daily
- Entry Fee₹0
Spread across roughly 130 acres in the heart of Civil Lines, Chandra Shekhar Azad Park is the largest and most storied public garden in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad). Laid out in the 1870s during the colonial era and originally named Alfred Park after Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, whose visit it commemorated, it was conceived as a grand Victorian pleasure ground of sweeping lawns, tree-lined avenues, ornamental beds and open air. Generations of local families have known it simply as "Company Bagh." It remains the city's great green lung — a place for early-morning walkers and joggers, dog-walkers, students revising under old tamarind and neem trees, and evening strollers escaping the bustle of the surrounding town.
Where to Eat Nearby
- ✦Pure-veg thali and South Indian kitchens of Civil Lines, a short walk from the park gates
- ✦Chaat, samosa and kachori-sabzi counters around Civil Lines
- ✦The long-running pure-veg kachori-sabzi and mithai houses of Katra and Loknath lanes (a short auto-ride away)
- ✦Fresh lassi and plain (bhang-free) thandai stalls in the Civil Lines market
About
Spread across roughly 130 acres in the heart of Civil Lines, Chandra Shekhar Azad Park is the largest and most storied public garden in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad).
- Laid out in the 1870s during the colonial era and originally named Alfred Park after Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, whose visit it commemorated, it was conceived as a grand Victorian pleasure ground of sweeping lawns, tree-lined avenues, ornamental beds and open air.
- Generations of local families have known it simply as "Company Bagh." It remains the city's great green lung — a place for early-morning walkers and joggers, dog-walkers, students revising under old tamarind and neem trees, and evening strollers escaping the bustle of the surrounding town.
- The park carries deep significance in India's freedom movement, and today that heritage is presented in a factual, museum-and-memorial spirit.
- It was here, on 27 February 1931, that the young revolutionary Chandra Shekhar Azad died during an encounter with colonial police; the park was renamed in his honour after Independence, and a statue commemorates him near the spot associated with the event.
- Visitors come to reflect on this chapter of history in a calm, dignified setting rather than a sensational one.
- The grounds are best appreciated slowly, letting the scale of the old landscaping and the mix of native and ornamental planting unfold.
- Within the park's boundaries sit two of Prayagraj's cultural landmarks.
- The Allahabad Museum holds a rich collection spanning ancient terracottas, sculpture, miniature paintings, natural-history galleries and freedom-movement artefacts, and is one of the most rewarding museums in the region.
- Nearby stands the handsome Thornhill Mayne Memorial, home to the Allahabad Public Library, an elegant Scottish-Gothic sandstone building that is itself worth pausing to admire.
- Together they make the park a half-day outing that blends open green space with genuine cultural depth.
- Entry to the park is generally free; the museum charges a modest ticket and keeps its own hours (typically closed on Mondays and public holidays), so it is worth checking timings before a dedicated visit.
- For food, the surrounding Civil Lines district is one of the easiest parts of Prayagraj to eat pure-vegetarian.
- Just outside the park you will find the pure-veg thali kitchens, South Indian and chaat counters of Civil Lines, along with the well-loved kachori-sabzi, samosa and mithai institutions of the Katra and Loknath lanes a short auto-ride away — the long-running sweet-and-namkeen houses of Katra are a classic stop for a plate of hot kachori with aloo-sabzi.
- Stick to clearly pure-vegetarian eateries (many in this belt are), cool down with a glass of plain, bhang-free thandai or fresh lassi in summer, and you can pair a morning in the park with a satisfying vegetarian meal without straying far.
Timings & Entry Fee
Verified: August 2026
Location & How to Reach
Address
Chandra Shekhar Azad Park, Civil Lines, Prayagraj, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, 211001
How to Reach: Located in Civil Lines, central Prayagraj, the park is a short auto-rickshaw or e-rickshaw ride from Prayagraj Junction railway station (about 2 km). Cycle-rickshaws and app-based cabs serve the area, and Civil Lines' main bus stand is close by. Parking is available near the park gates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Chandra Shekhar Azad Park?
The park was originally laid out in the colonial era and named Alfred Park after Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. After Independence it was renamed in honour of the revolutionary Chandra Shekhar Azad, who died here on 27 February 1931. A statue in the park commemorates him, and the site is preserved as a place of quiet historical reflection.
Is there an entry fee for the park?
Entry to the park itself is generally free, and it is a popular spot for morning walks and evening strolls. The Allahabad Museum located within the grounds charges a separate, modest ticket and keeps its own timings, so buy that ticket only if you plan to visit the museum galleries.
What is there to see inside the park?
Besides its sweeping 130-acre Victorian lawns and old trees, the park contains the Allahabad Museum, with collections spanning ancient sculpture, paintings and freedom-movement artefacts, and the historic Thornhill Mayne Memorial building housing the Allahabad Public Library. A memorial statue of Chandra Shekhar Azad stands within the grounds. Together they make for an easy half-day of green space and culture.
Where can I eat vegetarian food near Chandra Shekhar Azad Park?
The surrounding Civil Lines district is one of the easiest parts of Prayagraj to eat pure-vegetarian. Just outside the park you will find pure-veg thali kitchens, South Indian counters and chaat stalls, while the Katra and Loknath lanes a short auto-ride away are famous for hot kachori with aloo-sabzi, samosa and mithai. Stick to clearly pure-vegetarian eateries and cool off with fresh lassi or plain, bhang-free thandai.
What is the best time to visit the park?
The cool winter months from October to March are ideal, especially in the early morning or late afternoon when the light is soft and the lawns are quietest. If you want to combine the park with the museum, arrive mid-morning on any day except Monday, when the museum is typically closed.