Akshayavat, Allahabad

Akshayavat, also known as the “indestructible Banyan tree”, is a holy tree located near the Patalpuri Temple at the Allahabad fort. According to a famous legend, when a sage asked Lord Narayana to show him divine power, the Lord flooded the world just for an instant and then made the water disappear again. 

However, during the floods while everything else drowned, only the top of the ‘Akshayavat” could be seen. The banyan tree is therefore considered to be an immortal tree. The fort is today occupied by the Indian army. However, people can visit the temple and the tree after seeking permission from the army centre there. During the Kumbh Mela though, the site is open to all pilgrims.