The Triveni Sangam is the spiritual nucleus of Prayagraj. It is the meeting point of three rivers: the Ganges (Ganga), the Yamuna, and the invisible, subterranean Saraswati. For the visitor, the confluence offers a striking visual phenomenon. You can clearly see the pale, muddy yellow waters of the Ganges merging with the deep, clear green/blue waters of the Yamuna. The line of separation remains distinct for a distance before they eventually blend.
Taking a boat ride to the center of the river to witness this union is the quintessential Prayagraj experience. Devotees believe that a dip here, particularly during the Magh month (January-February), washes away the sins of a lifetime and breaks the cycle of rebirth. The water here is believed to turn into 'Amrit' (nectar) during the Kumbh Mela.
Boats can be hired from the banks (Qila Ghat or Saraswati Ghat). As you reach the middle, the water level is surprisingly shallow in parts, allowing people to stand on submerged wooden platforms to bathe. The area is also a major center for dispersing the ashes of the deceased (Asthi Visarjan), including those of Mahatma Gandhi, whose ashes were immersed here in 1948.
The site is also a haven for migratory birds, especially Siberian gulls, during the winter months. Visitors often feed them 'sev' (savory snacks) from the boats, creating a flurry of white wings against the blue water.
It is best visited at sunrise when the mist hangs over the water and the chanting of priests echoes from the banks.
A massive fort built by Emperor Akbar in 1583 on the banks of the confluence. It houses the immortal 'Akshaya Vat' tree and the Patalpuri Temple.
The historic ancestral home of the Nehru-Gandhi family. A pilgrimage site for those interested in India's freedom struggle.
Participate in the purifying ritual of bathing at the confluence. Boats take you to the mid-river shallow points for this sacred act.
