Allahabad Pillar
The Allahabad pillar is a stambha, containing one of the pillar edicts of Ashoka, erected by Ashoka, emperor of the Maurya dynasty, who reigned in the 3rd century BCE, . While it is one of the few extant pillars that carry Ashokan edicts, it is particularly notable for containing later inscriptions attributed to the Gupta emperor Samudragupta (4th century CE). Also engraved on the stone are inscriptions by the Mughal emperor Jahangir, from the 17th century.
The Allahabad pillar. | |
| 25°25′52″N 81°52′30″E | |
| Location | Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India |
|---|---|
| Type | Pillar |
| Material | Sandstone |
| Width | 35 inches (0.9 m) |
| Height | 35 feet (10.7 m) |
| Completion date | c. 3rd century BCE |
According to some scholars, the pillar was moved from its original location and installed within Akbar's Allahabad Fort in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh by Emperor Akbar himself, but this theory is disputed by other scholars who point out the absence of any confirmatory evidence that the pillar was moved, and pre-Mughal inscriptions that indicate that it was already present in its current location. As the fort is now occupied by the Indian Army, the public are only allowed limited access to the premises and special permission is required to view the pillar.