Allahabad

Allahabad is a district in the State of Uttar Pradesh in India. The district is located at 25°45°N 81°84°E. It is bounded in the south and southeast by Bagelkhand region, in the east by middle Ganges valley of North India, or Purvanchal, in the southwest by Bundelkhand region, in the north and northeast by Awadh region and in the west along with Kaushambi it forms the part of Doab i.e the Lower Doab region. The district is surrounded in the North by district Pratapgarh, in the south by Rewa of Madhya Pradesh, in the east by Sant Ravi Das Nagar and in the west by Kaushambhi district.

Geographical Area of the district is 5482 Sq. Km and population 4936000 as per census 2001.

There are 8 Tehsils, 20 Development Blocks, 218 Nyay Panchayats, 1425 Gram Sabhas, 2802 Populated Villages, and 1262 Non-Populated Villages in the district.

History

History of the the district can be traced from time immemorial. The earlier settlements of the Aryans were established in this city, then known as Prayag.

PRAYAG is one of the historic and mythological cities of India with glorious past and present. Presently, the city has mixed culture of Hindus, Muslims, Jains and Christians.

Its sanctity is manifest by references to it in Purans, the Ramayan and the Mahabharata. According to Hindu Mythology, Lord Brahma, the creator God of the Trinity, chose a land on earth (ie Prayag) to perform ‘Prakrista Yag’, at the beginning of the creation and he also refereed to it as Tirth raj or the King of all pilgrimage centres. As per writing of ‘Padam Puran’ – “As the sun is amongst the moon and the moon amongst the stars, likewise ‘Prayag is best amongst all places of pilgrimage”. The bathing at Prayag is mentioned in Brahma Puran “ in the month of Magha at the bank of Ganga Yamuna in Prayag bestows results of millions and millions of Ashvmedha Yagya.

Prayag is birth place of Som, Varuna and Prjapati. Prayag has been associated with mythological personalities in Brahmanical, Vedic and Buddhist Literatures. It was the seat of the great sage Bharadwaj, sage Durvasa and Sage Pannas. It is said that sage Bhardwaj lived here circa 5000BC and taught more than 10000 disciples.

The Present Jhunsi area very close to sangam was the kingdom of Chandrabanshiya (lunar clan) king Pururava. Nearby Kaushambi bloomed to prosperity during Vatsa and Maurya Rule. The earliest monument of antiques Ashok Pillar with inscriptions of third century B.C. clears the inscriptions of his directions to his fellow Rajas and praise of King Samudragupta. The Chinese traveler Huan Tsang in 643 BC found Prayag inhabited by many Hindus who regarded the place very Holy.

In 1575 AD Emperor Akbar founded the city by the name of “ ILLAHABAS” which has now become ALLAHABAD meant “The City of Allaha”. In medieval India the city enjoyed the honour of being the religio-cultural center of India. For a long time it was Provincial capital of the Mughals. Later it was captured by Marathas.

British History of the city begun in 1801 AD, when the Nawab of Oudh ceded it to the British Throne. British army used the fort for their military purposes.

The town was the centre of war of Independence in 1857.

In 1858, the East India Company officially handed over India to British Government here at Minto Park. After the first war of independence the town was named “ALLAHABAD” and was made the capital of United Province of Agra and Oudh.

This city was the heart of the Indian Freedom Movement.

From the days of civilization Allahabad has been seat of learning, wisdom and writing. It is the most vibrant politically and spiritually conscious and awakened city of India.

Politics

Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly) constituencies and their areas after delimitation

254 Phaphamau Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 1-Phaphamau, 3 Holagarh, 5-Kaudihar, 6-Sigraur & Lal Gopalganj Nindaura NP of 1-Soraon Tehsil.

255 Soraon Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - KCs 2-Soraon, 4-Mauaima, Mau Aima NP of 1-Soraon Tehsil; KC 1-Kernaepur, PCs 22-Buwapur, 23-Sarai Dattey, 24-Kusungur, 25-Sarai Liladhar Urf Baranpur, 26-Juganideeh, 27-Balkaranpur, 30-Sisai Sipah, 31-Vaksera, 33-Tikri, 34-Hasanpur Korari, 35-Varji, 37-Bajahi, 38-Raghunathpur, 39-Sikandra & 41-Mathura Urf Parandeeh of 2-Sikandra KC of 2-Phulpur Tehsil.

256 Phulpur Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 4-Babuganj, 5-Jhusi, 6-Bahadurpur, PCs 28-Fajila Urf Kalupur, 29-Ramgarhkothari, 32 Sarai Gani, 36-Chaimalpur, 40-Atanpur of 2-Sikandra KC, Phulpur NP & Jhusi Kohna (CT) of 2-Phulpur Tehsil.

257 Pratappur Vidhan Sabha Constituency in Uttar Pradesh - KCs 1-Motiha, 5-Pratappur, 6-Janghai, PCs 65-Mulnapur, 66-Bhopatpur, 67-Khizirpur, 68-Mohammadabad, 69-Gapalipur, 76-Ranipur, 77-Masari, 78-Makhadoompur of 4-Masadhi KC of 6-Handia Tehsil & KC 3-Malhal of 2-Phulpur Tehsil.

258 Handia Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 2-Saidabad, 3-Handia, 7-Dhanupur, PCs 62-Damgara, 63-Madaripur, 64-Yaseenpur, 70-Revathu, 71-Arajunpatti, 72-Kathhara, 73-Naikipur, 74-Deva, 75-Shahari Bojha of 4-Masadhi KC & Handia NP of 6-Handia Tehsil.

259 Meja Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 1-Sirsa, 2-Chaurasi, 3-Manda, Sirsa NP & Bharatganj NP of 7-Meja Tehsil.

260 Karachhana Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 1-Panasa, 2-Barawan, 4-Naini & Chak Imam Ali (CT) of 5-Karachhana Tehsil.

261 Allahabad West Vidhan Sabha Constituency - KCs 1-North, 2 South, Ward Nos. 1 to 4 in Allahabad (CB), Ward Nos. 1, 4 to 6, 15, 26, 30, 44, 49, 50, 53, 54, 63, 64, 66 to 69 in - Allahabad (M Corp.), Subedarganj Railway Colony (OG) - Ward No. 71, Begum Bazar(OG) - Ward No. 72, Bhagal Purwa (OG) - Ward No. 73, Kodra (OG) - Ward No. 74, IOC Colony, Deoghat, ADA Colony and Jhalwagaon (OG) - Ward No. 75 of 3-Sadar Tehsil.

262 Allahabad North Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Ward Nos. 5 & 6 in Allahabad (CB), Ward Nos. 3, 9, 11, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 34, 38, 43, 45, 47, 60, 61, 62 & 65 in Allahabad (M Corp.) of 3-Sadar Tehsil.

263 Allahabad South Vidhan Sabha Constituency - Ward No. 7 in Allahabad (CB), Ward Nos. 2, 7, 8, 10, 12, 19, 20, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39 to 42, 46, 48, 51, 52, 55 to 59 & 70 in Allahabad (M Corp.), Mahewa West (OG) - Ward No.76, Gangotri Nagar (OG) - Ward No.77, ITI Factory and Res. Colony (OG) - Ward No. 78, Bharat Pump and Compressor. Factory (OG) - Ward No. 79, Mukta Vihar (OG) - Ward No. 80, T.S.L.Factory (OG) - Ward No. 81, Triveni Nagar (N.E.C.S.W.) (OG) - Ward No. 82, Doorbani Nagar (OG) - Ward No. 83, A.D.A. Colony (OG) - Ward No. 84, Gurunanak Nagar (OG) - Ward No. 85, Shiv Nagar (OG) - Ward No. 86 & Gandhi Nagar, Manas Nagar, Industrial Labour Colony (OG) - Ward No. 87 of 3-Sadar Tehsil.

264 Bara Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - 4-Bara Tehsil & KC 3-Madhya of 5-Karachhana Tehsil.

265 Koraon Vidhan Sabha Constituency (SC) - 8-Koraon Tehsil; KCs 4-Kohdar & 5-Dighlo of 7-Meja Tehsil.

Places of interest

Prayag Sangam, Allahabad Fort, Patalpuri Temple and Akshaya Vat, Anand Bhawan, Swaraj Bhawan, Khusrau Bagh, Hanuman Mandir near Allahabad Fort, Allahabad Museum