Akbar Fort, Allahabad

Overview

Allahabad Fort was built by the Mughal Emperor Akbar at Prayagraj in 1583. The fort stands on the banks of the Yamuna, near its confluence with the Ganges(akbar-fort-prayagraj). It is classified by the Archaeological Survey of India as a monument of national importance. A stone inscription inside fort describe 1583 as a foundation year but this stone inscription related to Ashok which was early period situated in Kosambi and taken from there to Allahabad Fort.Akbar (akbar-fort-prayagraj) named the fort Illahabas ("blessed by Allah"), which later became "Allahabad". According to Catherine Asher, the construction of the fort was a response to several uprisings that had been taking place in eastern India. Besides the strategic location of Allahabad, Akbar is also thought to have been motivated by the ability to collect taxes from the large number of pilgrims visiting the Triveni Sangam (akbar-fort-prayagraj). However, this seems unlikely, considering the fact that Akbar abolished the existing pilgrim taxes in 1563.Akbar's fort was constructed in such a way that it enclosed the famous Akshayavata tree, where people would commit suicide in order to achieve salvation. According to a local legend, Akbar was a Hindu ascetic named Mukunda Brahmachari in his previous birth. Once, by mistake, he consumed a cow's hair while drinking milk. Horrified at this sin, he had committed suicide. He was then born a mlechchha (non-Hindu) as a result of this sin, and was driven to build a fort at the holy Triveni Sangam akbar-fort-prayagraj.