allahabad

Allahabad (Hindi: इलाहाबाद,Urdu: الله آباد, [ɪlɑhɑbɑd̪]), or Settled by God in Persian, is a name given by the Mughals to the ancient city ofPrayag (Hindi: प्रयाग, Urdu: پریاگ), by some accounts the second oldest city of India. It is in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and is the administrative headquarters of the Allahabad District. Allahabad is one of the fastest growing cities in India at present. It is located 205 kilometres (127 mi) south of the state capital, Lucknow. The ancient name of the city is Prayag (Sanskrit for "place of sacrifice"), as it is believed to be the spot where Brahma offered his first sacrifice after creating the world. It is one of four sites of the mass Hindu pilgrimageKumbh Mela, the others being Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. It has a position of importance in Hindu scriptures for it is situated at Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges and Yamuna, and the ancient Sarasvati River.^[2]

Many government offices of both central and state government are present in the city, such as the Allahabad High Court, the Principal Accountant General Office (AG office), the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission Office, Uttar Pradesh Police Head Quarters (PHQ), headquarters of the North Central Railway, the regional office of the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Uttar Pradesh Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Seva Chayan Board Allahabad,Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) Allahabad, etc.

Allahabad is a home to seven out of fourteen Prime Ministers of India. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi,Gulzarilal Nanda, Vishwanath Pratap Singh and Chandra Shekhar were all either born in Allahabad, were alumni of Allahabad University or got elected from a constituency in Allahabad.^[3]

The Government of India has selected Allahabad as one of the mission cities for the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, with the goals of improving urban infrastructure, efficient governance and basic services to urban citizens.^[4]