Places to visit in India ... Lucknow - The City of Nawabs

Fast Fact

Temperature: Summer: 43- 30C  Winter: 25- 5C

Best Season : November to February

Clothing : Summer- Cotton,  Winter - Woollens

Languages spoken : Hindi, Urdu and English

Retaining a feast of British Raj architecture as well as home to two grandiose tombs, Lucknow was the administrative and cultural hub of the Nawabs of Avadh (Oudh). During the period of the weakening of the Mughal Empire, the city rose into prominence as a centre for poetry, music, dance and courtly diction.

Modern Lucknow, extending along the banks of the Gomti River, is a seamless blend of the medieval and the modern, as new shopping complexes and ultra-modern mall are popping up all over the city. Today capital of the most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, it is a fabulous place to sample its elaborate cuisine for which the city is widely known.

Getting There
How would you like to travel?
AIR
The city’s airport, Amausi Airport, is connected by flights from major cities of India.

RAIL
A major railway junction, Lucknow is conveniently linked with prominent cities and places in India.

ROAD
Lucknow is connected by good motorable roads to all major places and cities in India.
Lucknow is:
210 km from Allahabad
135 km from Ayodhya
497 km from Delhi
238 km Dudhwa National Park
400 km from Corbett National Park
79  km from Kanpur
320 km from Khajuraho
305 km from Varanasi

Sights to See
Rumi Darwaza 
Built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784, this colossal, ornate gateway is said to be a copy of an entrance gate in Constantinople. The Nawab embarked upon the construction of this gate to create employment during the terrible famine of 1784.

Hussainabad (Chota) Imambara 
Hussainabad Imambara – Located near the Rumi Darwaza, this structure, constructed by Mohammed Ali Shah in 1832 houses his tomb and that of his mother. Also known as the Chhota Imambara, it has a white dome and several turrets and minarets. The walls of the mausoleum are decorated with verses in Arabic. Chandeliers, gilded mirrors, colorful stucco, the King's throne and ornate tazia or replicas of the tombs at Karbala adorn the interior.

Asafi Imambara 
Also known as the Bara Imambara, this colossal tomb was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784 and is one of the architectural delights in Lucknow. Within the complex is an imposing Asafi mosque.

Residency 
A collection of terraced lawns and gardens, the ruins of Residency reminds us of the dramatic events during the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 also hailed as First War of Independence. Built for the British Resident in 1800, the building is known for the Siege of Lucknow involving besieging of the British community by the rebels.

Shah Najaf Imambara 
Located on the bank of Gomti River, the striking Shah Najaf Imambara houses the tombs of Nawab Ghazi-ud-din Haidar and his wives including Mubarak Mahal who was a European. The silver tomb of Ghazi-ud-din Haidar is located in the centre of the building and is flanked by the more imposing silver and gold tomb of Mubarak Mahal on one side, and another tomb on the other.

State Museum / Zoo 
A favorite spot for recreation, the State Museum houses a large collection of artifacts and memorabilia as well as sculptural masterpieces dating back to the 3rd century AD. Located at Banarasi Bagh, within the zoo premises, the museum remains closed on Mondays.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Sthal
One of the major attractions of modern Lucknow, the park occupies an area of 107 acres in Gomti Nagar. Dedicated to the memory of great freedom fighter and social reformer Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the memorial is comes alive at night when the sprawling campus is illuminated with beautiful lighting.

LA Martiniere
Designed and built by the Frenchman Major General Claude Martin , this fort-like building is a fine specimen of the seamless blend of European and Mughal architectural styles. Today it is a prestigious boarding school.