Timeline of Allahabad history

This is a timeline of the history of the city of Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by expanding it with reliably sourced entries.

7th century BC

c. 600

• Excavations have revealed Northern Black Polished Ware dating to Indian Iron Age.

4th century BC

312

• A strong fortification at Prayaga was recorded by Seleucus I Nicator at the junction of Ganga and Yamuna river.

3rd century BC

250

• A sculptured monument (Pillars of Ashoka) was erected in Prayaga by Ashoka the Great for inscribing his edicts.

7th century

612

• Harsha's official coronation and a religious conference took place in the city.

644

The Chinese traveler Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang) described a ritual organized by Emperor Shiladitya (identified with Harsha) at the confluence of two rivers, in the kingdom of Po-lo-ye-kia (identified with Prayaga). He also mentions that many hundreds took a bath at the confluence, to wash away their sins. According to some scholars, this is earliest surviving historical account of the Prayaga Kumbh Mela, which took place in Prayaga in 644 CE. However, Xuanzang's reference is about an event that happened every 5 years (and not 12 years), and might have been a Buddhist celebration (since Harsha was a Buddhist emperor).

10th century

916

• Pratihara Empire including Prayaga and Kannauj was captured and plundered by Indra III under the reign of Mahipala I.

12th century

1194

• The city was invaded by Shihab al-Din, the sultan of Ghurid Empire.

14th century

c. 1300 - c. 1400

• City went under the Khilji dynasty, ruled by Alauddin Khilji.

16th century

c. 1575 - c. 1583

• Akbar, the Mughal Emperor, renovated and reconstructed the damaged walls of Allahabad Fort.

1584

• Akbar renamed the city of Prayag as Allahabad.

17th century

c. 1622

• Prince Khusrau died that year. After his death his father Jahangir built his mausoleum in the city along with his mother and sister at Khusro Bagh.

18th century

1721

• Muhammad Khan Bangash of the Mughal Empire became the subahdar (governor) of Allahabad Province.

1735

• City fell into the hands of Maratha Empire until 1750.

1750

• Pathans of Farrukhabad sacked the city.

1753

• Safdarjung, the Nawab of Awadh seized the city and held it until 1765.

1765

• August 12: Treaty of Allahabad was signed. The Treaty marks the political and constitutional involvement and the beginning of Company rule in India.

19th century

1801

• Annexation of the city by the British East India Company (beginning the Company rule).

1821

• Population: 20,000.

1833

• The city became the seat of Ceded and Conquered Provinces before the capital was shifted to Agra in 1835.

1839

• Holy Trinity Church, the first church in the city, was established.

1856

• Rail transport was introduced to the city; the first railway line between Calcutta and Allahabad was completed.

1857

• Allahabad was a participant in the Rebellion of 1857. The city, with a number of European troops, was the scene of a massacre.
• Civil Lines was built; it was the largest town-planning project carried out in India before the establishment of New Delhi.

1858

• Earl Canning, at Minto Park, read out the declaration of Queen Victoria's Proclamation which resulted in the complete transfer of control over India from The East India Company to the government of Britain (beginning the British Rule).
• The city became the seat of North-Western Provinces.
• It became the capital of India.

1859

• March 3: First passenger train in North India ran between Allahabad and Kanpur.

1861

• Population: 105,900.

1863

• Allahabad Municipal Corporation established as the Municipal Board of Allahabad.

1864

• Allahabad Public Library was established.

1865

• The Pioneer made its first appearance.
• August 15: Construction of the Old Naini Bridge was completed.
• Allahabad Bank was established.

1866

• November 25: The Allahabad High Court was inaugurated. Though it sat in Agra till 1868.

1869

• The High Court was moved back to Allahabad from Agra.

1870

• The building of Thornhill Mayne Memorial was built.
• State Police Headquarters established in the city.
• Alfred Park was built.

1871

• April 10: Foundation stone of All Saints Cathedral was laid.
• Population: 143,700.

1877

• A. H. Wheeler was founded.

1879

• St. Joseph's Cathedral was built.
• Mayo Memorial Hall was built.

1881

• Population: 148,500.

1887

• September 23: University of Allahabad, the fourth oldest University in India, was established.

1888

• The fourth conference of the Indian National Congress addressed in the city by George Yule.

1891

• Population: 175,200.

1892

• The eighth conference of the Indian National Congress addressed in the city by Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee.

1896

• The city was hit by the Famine of 1896. A considerable effect was seen in the decrease of the city population during the Census of 1901.

1899

• The fifteenth conference of the Indian National Congress addressed in the city by Romesh Chunder Dutt.

20th century

1901

• Population: 172,000.

1902

• The city became the capital of United Provinces till 1920.
• Curzon Bridge was built; it linked the city, through rail road, to the northern regions of the state
• Ewing Christian College was established.

1909

• October 24: The Leader was first published. It circulated until 1967.

1910

• Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture, Technology and Sciences was established.

1911

• Population: 171,700.
• Henri Pequet carried the world's first official airmail from Allahabad to Naini.

1919

• Allahabad Airport was built.

1921

• Population: 157,200.

1930

• April 11: Salt March carried out by Jawaharlal Nehru.
• Allahabad Address was made by Muhammad Iqbal.

1931

• February 27: Chandrashekhar Azad died at Alfred Park.
• Allahabad Museum was established.
• Population: 183,900.

1941

• Population: 260,600.

1942

• Allahabad Kumbh Mela banned by the British Government due to fears of Japanese bombing the nearby situated Akbar Fort during the World War II

1951

• Population: 332,300.

1954

• First incident of Kumbh Mela stampede occurred.

1961

• Population: 412,000.

1971

• Population: 513,000.

1980

• Jawahar Planetarium was built.

1981

• Population: 642,200.

1985

• First Indira Marathon was conducted.

1991

• Population: 792,900.

1999

• Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad was established.

21st century

2001

• Population: 990,298.

2004

• New Yamuna Bridge was completed.

2011

• Population: 1,117,094.

2013

• February 10: An estimated 30 million people gathered in the city to bathe on Mauni Amavasya during Kumbh Mela.
• Second incident of Kumbh Mela stampede occurred.

2015

• January 25: MoU signed between the United States Trade and Development Agency and the Government of Uttar Pradesh for developing the city as a smart city.
• June 23: Civil Lines Bus Depot became the first public spot in the city to be equipped with free Wi-Fi.

See also

• History of Allahabad
• Allahabad Smart City Project