Akshayavat

Akshayavat is a sacred immortal banyan tree located inside the Prayagraj Fort (Akbar Fort) at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, near the Triveni Sangam of the Ganga and Yamuna rivers. Revered in Hindu scriptures as the imperishable tree, it is housed in an underground chamber within the Patalpuri Temple complex inside the fort. Built in 1583 by Emperor Akbar, the fort encloses the tree, which is accessible to visitors and pilgrims under army administration.

Visitors can expect to enter the Prayagraj Fort through a secured army-controlled gate and descend via stairs to the underground Patalpuri Temple complex where the Akshayavat is enshrined. The sacred banyan tree is viewed from behind a protective enclosure and railing. The setting is inside the historic fort walls near the Yamuna river, with temple idols, priests, and pilgrims performing darshan in a compact, dimly lit chamber.

Akshayavat is described in ancient Hindu texts and noted by the 7th-century Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang. The present enclosure is inside Prayagraj Fort, constructed in 1583 by Mughal Emperor Akbar at the confluence of the Ganga and Yamuna. The fort has been under military administration and the tree has remained a protected pilgrimage site within its walls for centuries.

In Hindu tradition, Akshayavat is regarded as the imperishable banyan tree symbolizing immortality and is central to Prayagraj's identity as Tirthraj, the king of pilgrimage centres. Pilgrims believe darshan of the tree confers blessings and continuity. It is closely associated with the Triveni Sangam pilgrimage and rituals performed during Magh Mela and Kumbh Mela.