Overview
Prayagraj district is an administrative district in the southern part of the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. Its headquarters is the city of Prayagraj, formerly known as Allahabad, which lies at the confluence (Sangam) of the rivers Ganga and Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati. The district is one of the most populous in India and forms part of the Prayagraj division.
Key facts
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Division | Prayagraj division |
| Headquarters | Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) |
| Former name | Allahabad district (renamed in 2018) |
| Major rivers | Ganga, Yamuna |
| Region | Doab / lower Doab |
Geography
The district lies in the southern reaches of the Ganga–Yamuna Doab. The Ganga flows along its northern and eastern margins, while the Yamuna flows along the south, with the two rivers meeting at the Sangam in Prayagraj city. Areas south of the Yamuna fall within the northern fringes of the Bundelkhand and Vindhyan upland tracts, giving the district a varied terrain of alluvial plains and rocky outcrops. The district shares boundaries with Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Bhadohi (Sant Ravidas Nagar), Mirzapur, Chitrakoot and Rewa (in Madhya Pradesh).
Administration
The district is administered by a District Magistrate and is divided into several tehsils, including Sadar (Prayagraj), Soraon, Phulpur, Handia, Karchhana, Bara, Meja and Koraon. It contains a number of community development blocks and is part of the Prayagraj division along with neighbouring districts. For policing, it is headed by a Commissioner of Police under the Police Commissionerate system introduced in Uttar Pradesh.
History
The region around the Sangam has been a centre of religious and cultural activity since ancient times and is associated with the city historically known as Prayag. Emperor Akbar founded the fort and the city of Ilahabas (later Allahabad) at the confluence in 1583. Under the British Raj, Allahabad served as the capital of the North-Western Provinces and later as a major administrative centre of the United Provinces. The district was a focal point of the Indian independence movement, associated with the Nehru family and the Anand Bhavan residence.
In October 2018, the Government of Uttar Pradesh renamed Allahabad district as Prayagraj district, restoring an older Sanskritic name for the area.
Demographics and economy
According to the 2011 Census of India, the then Allahabad district was among the most populous districts in the country, with Hindi as the predominant language and a mixed Hindu and Muslim population, alongside smaller communities of Christians, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists. Agriculture is the principal occupation in rural areas, with wheat, rice, pulses, gram and oilseeds as major crops. The district also supports trade, education, legal services and small-scale industry centred on the city of Prayagraj.
Religion and culture
Prayagraj is one of the four sites of the Kumbh Mela, held in rotation with Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik; the Magh Mela is held annually on the banks of the Sangam, while the Ardh Kumbh and Maha Kumbh are observed at longer intervals. Major religious sites in the district include the Sangam, Akshayavat, Bade Hanuman Mandir, Alopi Devi Mandir and Shankar Viman Mandapam. The Allahabad Fort, built by Akbar, stands beside the confluence.
Education and institutions
The district hosts several institutions of national importance, including the University of Allahabad (established 1887), the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad (IIIT-A), the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT) Allahabad, the Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute, and the Harish-Chandra Research Institute. The Allahabad High Court, one of the oldest high courts in India, is located in Prayagraj city and exercises jurisdiction over Uttar Pradesh.
Transport
Prayagraj district is served by Prayagraj Junction and several other railway stations on the Howrah–Delhi main line and connecting routes of the North Central Railway, headquartered in the city. National highways link it to Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur and Rewa. Prayagraj Airport at Bamrauli provides scheduled civilian flights to major Indian cities.
Significance
The district holds religious, political, judicial and educational significance disproportionate to its size. As the seat of the Allahabad High Court, the home of long-established universities and research institutes, and the venue of the Kumbh and Magh Melas, Prayagraj district is one of the principal civic and pilgrimage centres of north India.
Related topics
- Prayagraj
- Uttar Pradesh
- Prayagraj division
- Kumbh Mela
- Sangam (Prayag)
- Allahabad High Court
- University of Allahabad
- Allahabad Fort
- Anand Bhavan
References
- Wikidata: Q1773426 — Prayagraj district.
- Census of India, 2011 — District handbook for Allahabad (now Prayagraj).
- Government of Uttar Pradesh notifications on the renaming of Allahabad district to Prayagraj district (2018).