One of the oldest cities of India and a pilgrimage centre of utmost importance is also famous for the Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh Melas held every twelve and six years respectively.The Magh Mela is the annual version of the Kumbh and Ardh kumbh mela which starts every year from Makar Sankranti in Jan. and ends at Maha Shivratri in Feb.

Answered by AnkurThukral , an ibibo Specialist, at 12:52 PM on March 08, 2008

Allaha bad is : 643km from Delhi, 220km from Lucknow, 140km from Varanasi

Located on the banks of the rivers Yamuna and Ganga, Allahabad is one of the most famous pilgrim centres in Uttar Pradesh.
Legend has it that the ancient Saraswati River once flowed underground, and joined the Yamuna and the Ganga in Prayag, the ancient name for Allahabad.
The confluence of these holy rivers is known as Sangam, which is considered a very sacred place for Hindus. They firmly believe that after they die and are cremated, they would attain moksha, or freedom from the cycle of birth-death-rebirth, if their ashes are immersed at Sangam.

Allahabad is also the site for the mammoth Maha Kumbh Mela that is held every 12 years, and draws over 2 million people, both from India and abroad. During the Ardh Kumbh Mela that takes place once in six years, thousands of devotees come to Allahabad to bathe in the holy waters of the Ganga and Yamuna.

The Magh Mela is held annually, in January and February, and lasts for 15 days. These melas (fairs) commemorate the struggle between gods and demons over a kumbh (pot) of amrit, the elixir of life. When the amrit surfaced from the bottom of the ocean, Lord Vishnu, the Hindu Preserver of the Universe ran away with the pot of amrit. While he was running, four drops of the elixir fell on the sites that are now the holy towns of Allahabad, Haridwar, Nasik and Ujjain

Answered by RAJESH2705 , an ibibo Advisor, at 2:03 PM on March 06, 2008

Allahabad is situated in UP, at a distance of around 125 km from Varanasi.
Reason for being famous:
The ancient name of the city is Prayāga (Sanskrit for "place of sacrifice", Prayāg in modern Hindi) and is believed to be the spot where Brahma offered his first sacrifice after creating the world. It is one of four sites of the Kumbh Mela, the others being Haridwar, Ujjain and Nasik. It has a position of importance in the Hindu religion and mythology since it is situated at the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and Hindu belief says that the invisible Sarasvati River joins here also.

Source - Wikipedia

Answered by Latika D , an ibibo Specialist, at 11:07 PM on March 05, 2008

128 kms.from Varanasi and located at the confluence (Sangam) of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, Allahabad - one of the oldest cities of India and a pilgrimage centre of utmost importance is also famous for the Kumbh and Ardh Kumbh Melas held every twelve and six years respectively.

Every 12th year during the months of Jan-Feb world famous Kumbh Mela is held here on the banks of the holy sangam. Ardha Kumbh Mela is held every 6th year.

The Magh Mela is the annual version of the Kumbh and Ardh kumbh mela which starts every year from Makar Sankranti in Jan. and ends at Maha Shivratri in Feb.

Answered by Yashpal , an ibibo Advisor, at 9:01 PM on March 05, 2008