Places to See
The legacy of the imperial splendor of Lucknow has always fascinated people all over the world. The ambience of Awadh has commonly been associated with the leisurely habits, etiquette, architecture, food and refinement, the residues 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 which, in different degrees contributed to its growth and made it, what has been metaphorically called, the "Shiraz of Awadh" 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 uncomparable excellence. |
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The 60 ft high Rumi Darwaza was constructed during the reign of Asaf-ud-Daula when he was constructing the Bara Imambara. It has often been compared to the ancient Portal of Constantinople and is said to be very similar in design to it.The uppermost part consists of an eight faceted Chhatri, approachable by a staircase. Also known as the Turkish Gateway, the Rumi Darwaza leads into the outer ward of the Bara Imambara. Widely believed to be a facsimile of one of the gates of Constantinople it expresses the heart and soul of Avadh architecture.Its uppermost part consists of an eight faceted chhatri, approachable by a staircase. |
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Baradari |
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Built by Nawab Mohd. Ali Shah, it is also known as the "Baradari" - literally meaning hall having 12 doorways. It is now used as the office of the Husainabad Trust and the main hall is a picture gallery housing life-size portraits of ten Nawab of Avadh. |
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Chhatar Manzil |
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The 60 ft high Rumi Darwaza was constructed during the reign of Asaf-ud-Daula when he was constructing the Bara Imambara. It has often been compared to the ancient Portal of Constantinople and is said to be very similar in design to it. |
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Residency |
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Though the air is silent but travelling down the lanes of memories, one can still hear the resounding war cries from all directions, the canon balls shelling the walls and the snipers firing with perfect aim at the high flying Union Jack. The piece-de-resistance this is The Lucknow Residency - ready for the siege.The sun had set for the British Empire, there was an all out siege of the Residency, that continued for nearly five months, taking the life of 2197 defenders including British and Indian. What was left of this majestic building built by Nawab Asif-ud-Daula in the year 1775, were the broken walls with marks of bullets and cannon balls. |
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King George's Medical University |
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The King George's Medical university, Lucknow, India is one of the oldest and reputed medical university in the country. Situated in the old city on the bank of River Gomti, the college serves the role of integrating modern medicine into the resource deficient environment of a developing country. |
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Husainabad Imambara |
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Also known as the Chota Imambara, it stands to the west of the Bara Imambara. Built by Nawab Mohd. Ali Shah around 1837-1840, it is more ornate in design with exquisite chandeliers, gilt-edged mirrors, silver Mimbar and colourful stucco work which adorns the interiors. A golden dome and fine calligraphy on the exteriors of the building makes it a truly exceptional monument of Mughal architecture. The entire complex consists of the main hall, the tombs of the Nawabs daughter which is built in the shape of the Taj Mahal and a mosque. In the centre of the complex is a lotus pond with colourful fish. |
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Asafi Imambara |
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In the year 1773 the to-be Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula decided to shift his capital from Faizabad to Lucknow on a whim. He didn't get along with his mother and so decided to move out. At the time a famine had broken out in and around the city of Lucknow because of a severe drought. It is said that the people of Lucknow were very friendly but also very proud and would not acceptalms.So the Nawab began the construction of an Imambara which would provideemployment to the masses and they could work for a living. |
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The Clock Tower |
It is located very near to the Rumi Darwaza. Built in 1881 by the British, this 67 meter high clock tower on the river Gomti is said to the tallest clock tower in India. The tower has European style artwork. The parts of the clock is built of pure gunmetal and the pendulum hangs 14 feet. The dial of this clock is shaped like a 12-petalled flower and has bells around it. Hussainabad Clock Tower, the tallest Clock Tower in India, is one of the finest examples of British Architecture in India. The 221 feet tall structure was erected by Nawab Nasir-ud-din Haider to mark the arrival of Sir George Couper, Ist Lieutenant Governor of United province of Avadh in the year 1887 with a cost of Rs. 1.75 lakhs.
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