Prayagraj, also known as Allahabad or Illahabad, is a metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It lies close to Triveni Sangam, the "three-river confluence" of the Ganges, Yamuna, and the mythical Sarasvat, playing a central role in Hindu scriptures. The city finds its earliest reference as one of the world's oldest known cities in Hindu texts and has been venerated as the holy city of Prayaga in the ancient Vedas. Prayagraj was also known as Kosambi in the late Vedic period, named by the Kuru rulers of Hastinapur, who developed it as their capital. Kosambi was one of the greatest cities in India from the late Vedic period until the end of the Maurya Empire, with its occupation continuing until the Gupta Empire. Since then, the city has been a political, cultural and administrative center of the Doab region. Although tourism built the city, today most of its tourism stems from the city hosting cultural and sporting events, including the Prayag Kumbh Mela and the Indira Marathon.