City of Nawabs- Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh and has always been a multicultural capital. The Persian-loving Shia Nawabs of the city are well-known among Indians and scholars of South Asian culture and history for their courtly manners, gorgeous gardens, poetry, music, and good cuisine. It is dubbed “The City of Nawabs” by locals. It’s also known as the East’s Golden City, Shiraz-i-Hind, and India’s Constantinople.
This is at the crossroads of many roads and rail lines, and Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport is about 6 miles (10 kilometers) southwest of the city center. Food processing, manufacturing, handicrafts, and railroad shops are among the city’s industries, as are agricultural products (mangoes, melons, and other grains are farmed locally). Its population, which has increased every year, exceeded Kanpur’s population in the early twenty-first century to become Uttar Pradesh’s most populated city.
Exploring City of Nawabs
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh’s capital, has many things to offer. Any traveler can experience a tryst with history, culture, shopping, fun, spirituality, food, leisure, and a lot more in the City of Nawabs. There are many beautiful sites to visit once you have checked into one of the best hotels, from centuries-old British and Mughal edifices to fun-filled amusement parks, gardens, street bazaars, museums, and temples, has to offer.
Lucknow Places For Visit
Bara Imambara
Lucknow’s Bara Imambara is one of the city’s most fascinating landmarks. The Imambara is well known for its magnificent maze, which is also referred to as Bhool Bhulaiya and is located on the monument’s top floor. The interesting fact is there are 1024 ways to enter the maze but only two ways to exit.
Asfi Imambara is the other name for this iconic monument after the name of the Nawab who had it built. It is a significant place of worship for Muslims who visit every year to commemorate the religious festival of Muharram. Bara Imambara is a marvel of engineering and a fine example of Mughal architecture. It is said to be the world’s largest structure that is not supported by beams.
Timings : 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Entry Fee : Indians: INR 25, Foreigners: INR 500
Chhota Imambara
The Chhota Imambara, also known as the Hussainabad Imambara, is one of the most magnificent and appealing structures in Lucknow’s old city. This magnificent monument, located west of Bara Imambara, is a sight to definitely visit. The Chhota Imambara was anciently a Shia Muslim meeting hall established by Muhammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of Awadh, in 1838.
During significant celebrations, like as Muharram, the Imambara is beautifully decorated with ornaments and chandeliers. In fact, European visitors and journalists have dubbed this 19th-century structure the ‘Palace of Lights’ due to the monument’s lavish decorations during special events.
Timings: 6:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Time Required: 2-3 hrs
Entry Fee: Indians: INR 25, Foreign Nationals: INR 300
British Residency
The British Residency of Lucknow, which is additionally a Residential Complex, at a time functioned as the British East India Company’s commanders’ base camp. During the 1857 uprising, notwithstanding, this once-formed building was changed into a British evacuee camp.
The Residency is currently an incredible site to visit, and each of the colonizers who died during the attack is covered close by in a British graveyard. Each evening, the Residency leads a light and sound show recognizing the 1857 revolt.
Timings to visit the site- Throughout the week (10:00 AM to 5:00 PM)
Entry Fee: INR 5
Rumi Darwaza
The famous Rumi Darwaza, which stands twenty meters high in the old town of Lucknow, is a spectacular entrance. This spectacular tourist site is found between Bara and Chota Imambaras and features ancient Awadhi architecture. It’s also known as the Turkish Gate because it’s modelled after Nawab Asaf-Ud-Bab-i-Humayun Daula’s entry in Turkey.
Rumi Darwaza was created with a charity motive in mind. When famine devastated North India in 1748, the then-Nawab devised a scheme to feed his people while also providing him with something to enjoy and be proud of. In exchange for a daily meal, the Awadhi workmen erected the huge Rumi Darwaza for him, according to the plan.
Timings: 24 hours
Time Required: Less than 1 hour
Entry Fee: No entry fee
Ambedkar Memorial Park
Also referred to as Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal, the Ambedkar Memorial Park is located on Vipul Khand in Gomti Nagar. It was built by the state government, which was led by Chief Minister Mayawati.
This public park, named after Dr. BR Ambedkar, also honors Jyotiba Phule, Birsa Munda, Kanshi Ram, and Sree Narayana Guru, among other independence warriors. Despite its lack of greenery, the park is home to a number of historic statues and structures.
Timings: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
The Lucknow Zoo
The Lucknow Zoo, which is located near the River Bank Colony, is a popular tourist attraction in the city. It was previously known as The Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens and is now known as Nawab Wazid Ali Shah Prani Udyan. The royal Bengal tiger, white Bengal tiger, Himalayan black bear, and Asiatic lion are among the many mammals, birds, and reptiles that call the Lucknow Zoo home.
This 71.6-acre zoo was founded in 1921 by Nawab Nasiruddin Haider to commemorate the arrival of the Prince of Wales to Lucknow. The Lucknow Zoo, which houses over a thousand animals from over a hundred different species, also offers a few attractions, such as a toy train trip through the zoo. The Lucknow Zoo also has Awadh artefacts on display from the State Museum. Several other events, such as Wildlife Week and Children’s Day, are also held here.
Time Required to visit the site- 3 to 4 hours
Timings to visit the site- From February to April – 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
From May to July- 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
From August to October – 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM
From to January – 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
The zoo is closed Every Monday
Ramakrishna Math
The Ramakrishna Math, a monastery and shrine devoted to Sri Ramakrishna and located in Nirala Nagar, is an all-monk institution. This structure contains a shrine adjacent to the institute with the motto “For one’s own salvation and the wellbeing of the world.”
The Ramakrishna Math, which is entirely made of marble, was founded by a Bengali saint named Ramakrishna in the 19th century. It also has Ramakrishna, Mother Sarada Devi, and Swami Vivekananda idols.
Timings: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
4:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Best Hotels at Lucknow
- Hilton Garden Inn Lucknow
- Golden Tulip
- Radisson Lucknow City Center
- Hotel Nexus
- Cygnett Park Di Arch
WebStory: Lucknow Places To Visit
Frequently Asked Question
Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh and is popularly known as the "City of Nawabs" .
Lucknow is a paradise for any enthusiastic traveler can enjoy a rendezvous with history, culture, shopping, fun, spirituality, food and more. From British monuments to Mughal edifices and fun-filled amusement parks to gardens, street bazaars, museums, and temples there is a lot to explore in the crowded streets of Lucknow.
There are six districts in Lucknow mandal, namely
- Unnav
- Seetapur
- Lakhimpur Kheri
- Rai Bareli
- Hardoi
- Lucknow
Lucknow city is located in plains and hence the best time to visit Lucknow is from September to March.
Lucknow is known to be a foodie's heaven. Dishes ranging from biryani to kulche nihaari to poori kachori and a wide range of kebabs are already mouth watering enough. If that's not enough, sweet dishes like Sheermal, Shahi tukda, Kulfi Faluda will leave you wanting for more!!
By Air: One can easily reach via flights. The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport is connected with domestic and international flights
By Train: Lucknow is well-connected to other major cities across the length and breadth of the country via an integrated rail network. The main railway station serving the city is Lucknow Junction.
By Road: Travelers who prefer to take the bus can deboard at Alambagh Bus Stand or Charbagh Bus Station, which are the major bus stations in Lucknow. Major highways connecting the city to neighboring regions are NH 30 and NH 27.
Explore the beautiful City of Nawabs and plan a trip soon!!
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