Allahabad, or Settled by God in ancient Persian (now called Dari), is a name given by Mughal kings to the ancient Prayag, being the second oldest city of India, in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and administrative headquarters of Allahabad District. Allahabad is one of the fastest growing cities in India at present. It is located south of state capital Lucknow. The ancient name of the city Prayag (Sanskrit rferes to it as a "place of sacrifice") and is believed to be the spot where Brahma offered his first sacrifice after creating the world. It is one of four sites of the mass Hindu pilgrimage Kumbh Mela, the others being Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik. It has a position of importance in Hindu scriptures for it is situated at Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganges and Yamuna, and the ancient Sarasvati River.Many government offices of both central and state government are present in the city, such as the Allahabad High Court, the Principal Accountant General Office (AG office), the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission Office, Uttar Pradesh Police Head Quarters (PHQ), headquarters of the North Central Railway, the regional office of the Central Board of Secondary Education and the Uttar Pradesh Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Seva Chayan Board Allahabad,Principal Controller of Defence Accounts (Pensions) Allahabad, etc.

Provided by Wikipedia