Triveni Sangam
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh
Triveni Sangam is the holy meeting of the Ganga, the Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati at Prayagraj. It is one of the most sacred places for Hindus, and a dip here is believed to wash away sins and help free a person from rebirth. The Kumbh Mela is held at the Sangam, and the Magh Mela is held here every year.
What to see and do
- Take a boat to the exact meeting point, where the two rivers show different colours
- Bathe or sprinkle the water, as pilgrims do
- See the ritual bathing and the priests on the banks
- Visit Bade Hanuman Mandir and Akshayavat nearby
Ideal for
- Pilgrims seeking sacred bathing and ancestral rites
- Families on the Kashi, Prayagraj and Ayodhya circuit
- Photographers who like river life
Good to know
- Sources say the Sangam is open all day, with boat rides best in daylight
- Boat fares are not fixed: agree on the price before boarding (one source mentions about 50 to 200 rupees per person for a shared ride)
- The Magh Mela (January to February) and the Kumbh Mela draw huge crowds and change how the area is reached
- Do not bathe when the river is in flood or very crowded, and keep your belongings safe
- Wear shoes you do not mind getting wet and sandy
Spiritual significance
Prayag is praised in the Puranas as the king of pilgrimage sites. The confluence of three rivers makes it a place of purification and of rites for ancestors.
Why it matters
- The meeting of three rivers: the Ganga, the Yamuna and the invisible Saraswati
- A place of purification: bathing here is believed to cleanse sins
- Home of the Kumbh: one of the four sites of the great Kumbh Mela