Wishesh Magazine August 2016

INDIAN TRAVELOGUE
66
invisible Saraswati conjoins
them, many Tirtha yatris take
boats to bathe from platforms
erected in the Sangam.
Allahabad Fort
Allahabad Fort at Allahabad,
Uttar Pradesh, India was
built by Emperor Akbar in
1583. The fort stands on the
banks of the Yamuna near the
site of confluence with river
Ganges. It is the largest fort
built by Akbar. In its prime,
the fort was unrivaled for
its design, construction and
craftsmanship. This huge fort
has three galleries flanked by
high towers.
The outer wall is intact and
rises above the water’s
edge. Inside the fort there
is the Zenana, Palace of
Mariam-uz-Zamani and
the 3rd century BC Ashoka
pillar and Saraswati Koop as
well, said to be the source
of the Saraswati River. The
Patalpuri temple is also here.
Patalpuri Temple
and Akshaya Vat
Located inside the Allahabad
Fort, this is actually an
underground temple, alluding
to associations with Lord
Rama. The famous Akshaya
Vat one of the most revered
trees of the Hindus is also
sited within the temple. It is
believed that lord Rama has
visited this temple. Famous
Chinese traveler and writer
Huan Tsang also visited the
temple. The undying banyan
tree or ‘Akshayavat’ within the
Patalpuri temple has found
state in the account of several
ancient scriptures, writers
and historians. This place of
worship inside the Fort is an
important place of pilgrimage.
It dates from the epic age.
Huan Tsang, the Chinese
traveler who visited the Fort
in 634 AD during his journey
through India, mentioned its
imprinted stone divinity. It
became an underground holy
place when Akbar construct
his Fort over and around
in 1583. A permit from the
Ordnance Depot or the Tourist
Office is required for visiting
the Patalpuri Temple and
the Akshaya Vat. It is near
the southern wall and is one
among the many trees seen
from outside the southern wall
of the fort.
Hanuman Mandir
Located near the Allahabad
Fort, it is famous for the
image of the reclined position
of Lord Hanuman. The idol
of Shri Bade Hanumanji,
situated in Sangam Kshetra
is very magnificent and
gorgeous. This idol is lying
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