Lucknow Travel Guide
The legacy
of the imperial splendour of Lucknow, formerly known as Avadh or Oudh,
has always fascinated people, all over the world. The ambience of Avadh,
has commonly been associated with leisurely habits, etiquette, fine
architecture, delicious food and refinement - the residue of Nawabi
culture. Over the years, the city has preserved this spirit of the
bygone days. Lucknow, took almost two centuries to grow to the size of a
metropolis. The first hundred years of success, belonged to the Nawab
Wazirs who, in different degrees contributed to its growth and
transformed it into, what has been metaphorically called, the "Shiraz
of Avadh", and the "Constantinople of India". The Nawabs
were responsible for imparting a distinct image to the city, which
indeed, is unique. They worked meticulously to dress Lucknow, with
religious and secular edifices of unsurpassed excellence. The city of
Lucknow, spread evenly on both sides of the river Gomti, offers the
tourist plenty of places of historical interest.
Getting There
Air:
Indian Airlines connects Lucknow with Delhi, Patna, Calcutta and
Mumbai.
Rail :
Lucknow is an important junction of the Northern and North Eastern
Railways of India.
Road :
Lucknow is well connected with some major cities like Agra (363 km),
Allahabad (225 km), Calcutta (985 km), Delhi (497 km), Kanpur (79 km)
and Varanasi (305 km)
Tourist Attractions
Rumi Darwaza
Asaf-ud-Daula built a number of historical monuments during his time.
The Rumi Darwaza was also built as a relief work during the famine of
1783. Said to be a facsimile of one of the gates of Constantinople, this
soaring edifice, which is 60 feet high, can match any similar structure
in point of beauty and splendour
Bara Imambara
The Bada Imambada was built by Asaf-ud-Daula in the year 1784 as a part
of the famine relief project where a number of labourers were appointed
to build this Imambada. It is a big vaulted hall with a length of 50 m
and a height of 15 m. There is also the bhul bhulaiya-an amazing maze
that might need a tourist guide to get through. There's also a mosque,
but non-Muslims are not allowed to enter. The mosque has two tall
minarets in the courtyard complex, which lies on the left side of the
well.
Husainabad Imambada
Also known as Chhota Imambada, this imambada was the brainchild of
Mohammed Ali Shah, who built it in 1837. It is believed to be the
mausoleum of Mohammed Ali Shah himself. The main imambada is topped by a
golden dome, which is supposed to be the tomb of Ali Shah and his
mother. There also lies the incomplete watchtower called the satkhanda
just opposite the tomb. There is also the tallest clock tower estimated
to be 67 m high overlooking the Husainabad tank.
Residency
The ruins of Lucknow Residency give a clear picture of the British rule
in India. It was the Mansion of East India Company's agent in Avadh
during the Sepoy Mutiny. This historical monument lies just near to the
Hazratganj area which is the centre of the city.
Jami Masjid :
Jami Masjid is the largest mosque of Lucknow. The construction of this
Masjid was started by Mohammed Shah and was completed by his wife after
his death in the 1840s. You can see the wonderful paintings on the
ceilings with the leaf and fruit bowl patterns. To the right side of the
Bada Imambada lies another mosque named after Asaf-ud-Daula.
