Prayagraj — the ground guide
The flat city between two rivers: its areas, landmarks, the Sangam at its tip, and how to get around.
Rivers
Ganga & Yamuna
Meeting at the Sangam, with the unseen Saraswati
Elevation
~98 m
Flat Gangetic plain — the lowest of the four cities
State
Uttar Pradesh
Renamed from Allahabad in 2018
The lie of the land
A city on a tongue of land
Prayagraj sits at the end of the Doab, the long strip of land between the Ganga and the Yamuna. The two rivers wrap around the city and meet at its eastern tip.
Of the four Kumbh cities, Prayagraj is the flattest and lowest — about 98 metres above sea level on the open Gangetic plain. There are no hills to shape it; the rivers do that instead. The Yamuna forms the city's southern edge, the Ganga curves down its eastern side, and at the point where they meet stands the fort, looking over the Sangam.
Because the land is so flat, the rivers spread wide. After the monsoon they leave behind broad sandbanks and floodplain, and it is on this ground — not in the city itself — that the Kumbh and the annual Magh Mela are built. See the Mela area guide for how that temporary city is laid out.
Across the rivers are two other places that are part of Prayagraj's Kumbh geography: Jhusi, on the east bank of the Ganga, an ancient settlement often identified with Pratishthanpur, and Naini, across the Yamuna to the south, reached by the long cable-stayed Naini Bridge.
The city by area
Prayagraj's main areas
Daraganj (by the Sangam)
The old riverside quarter on the Ganga, closest to the Sangam and the Mela ground. Ghats, temples, priests' houses and the Prayagraj Sangam railway station.
Chowk & the old city
The dense, historic trading heart of the city, north of the main railway line, with bazaars and old mohallas.
Civil Lines
The planned colonial-era centre near Prayagraj Junction, with wide gridded streets, hotels, restaurants and offices — the most practical base for many visitors.
George Town, Tagore Town & the university area
Leafy residential areas around Allahabad University, Anand Bhawan and Chandrashekhar Azad Park.
Across the rivers
Jhusi (east of the Ganga), Naini (south of the Yamuna) and Phaphamau (north of the Ganga) — each becomes busy at Mela time.
Worth knowing
Which area to stay in
Civil Lines is easiest for transport and hotels. Daraganj is closest to the Sangam. During the Mela, tent camps on the floodplain itself — including in Jhusi and Arail — put you right beside the river.
What's where
Key places, by area
| Place | Area | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Triveni Sangam | East tip, below the fort | The confluence and the heart of the Kumbh |
| Allahabad Fort | Above the Sangam | Fort rebuilt by Akbar in 1583; houses the Akshayavat |
| Bade Hanuman Temple | Beside the fort | Reclining Hanuman image near the Sangam |
| Anand Bhawan | George Town | Former Nehru family home, now a museum |
| Khusro Bagh | Near Prayagraj Junction | Walled Mughal garden with tombs |
| Chandrashekhar Azad Park & Allahabad Museum | Civil Lines | The city's large central park, with the museum inside |
| All Saints Cathedral | Civil Lines | Gothic Revival cathedral at the heart of Civil Lines |
Ghats and river temples: Ghats of Prayagraj.
Getting around
Last-mile distances in Prayagraj
| From | To | Approx. distance | Usual way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prayagraj Junction | Civil Lines | ~1–2 km | Auto or walk |
| Prayagraj Junction | Sangam | ~7 km | Auto, e-rickshaw or cab |
| Prayagraj Sangam station (Daraganj) | Sangam | ~2–3 km | Auto or walk |
| Prayagraj Airport (Bamrauli) | Civil Lines | ~12 km | Cab |
| Prayagraj | Varanasi | ~120–130 km | Train, bus or cab |
| Prayagraj | Lucknow | ~200 km | Train, bus or cab |
Approximate distances. For long-distance routes, see How to Reach.
Climate
Prayagraj through the year
| Season | Months | What it's like on the ground |
|---|---|---|
| Winter | December–February | Cool days and cold nights, with dense morning fog that can delay trains and flights. This is Magh Mela and Kumbh season. |
| Spring | March | Short, pleasant window before the heat. |
| Summer | April–June | Very hot and dry; temperatures can pass 45°C. |
| Monsoon | July–September | Humid, with heavy rain; the rivers rise and the floodplain goes under water. |
| Autumn | October–November | Waters recede, sandbanks reappear, and preparation of the Mela ground begins. |
Deep guides
Go deeper into this city
Dates and stays live on our sister sites
This guide covers the ground itself. For Prayagraj's Kumbh calendar and bathing dates, see Kumbh Mela Dates. For verified tents, cottages and ashram stays, see Kumbh Mela Directory.
The other three
Rest of the rotation
Haridwar
Ganga · Uttarakhand
Nashik–Trimbakeshwar
Godavari · Maharashtra
Ujjain
Shipra · Madhya Pradesh
Questions
Frequently asked
Yes. The city was officially renamed from Allahabad to Prayagraj in 2018.
The Ganga and the Yamuna, which meet at the Triveni Sangam; tradition holds that the unseen Saraswati joins them there.
Civil Lines for convenience and hotels, Daraganj to be closest to the Sangam, or a tent camp on the Mela ground during the Kumbh or Magh Mela.
About 7 km. Prayagraj Sangam station at Daraganj is only 2–3 km away.
The Mela season falls in winter, when dense morning fog often delays trains and flights. Build in extra time.
About 120–130 km by road.
The area on the east bank of the Ganga opposite the Sangam, an ancient settlement and a large part of the Mela ground.