Triveni Sangam, Prayagraj

The Triveni Sangam at Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) is the confluence of three rivers: the Ganga, the Yamuna, and the mythical underground Saraswati. Hindu tradition holds that bathing at the Sangam — particularly during the Magh Mela in January or the Kumbh Mela cycle — washes away accumulated karma. The convergence is visible from the Prayagraj fort: the Ganga's clearer water and the Yamuna's slightly muddier, greener water flow side by side for several hundred metres before mixing. The Maha Kumbh Mela held at Prayagraj every 12 years is the largest peaceful religious gathering on Earth. The 2025 Maha Kumbh drew an estimated 660 million visitors over 45 days — a logistical event of unprecedented scale, with a 4,000-hectare temporary tent city, 30 pontoon bridges, 150,000 toilets, and a multi-billion-rupee infrastructure budget. The Ardh Kumbh (every 6 years) and Magh Mela (annual) are smaller but still draw millions. Boats from the Sangam ghat take pilgrims to the exact confluence for the bath.