Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most papulour state of India with a population of 2,541,101. Lucknow is also the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division.
Located in what was historically known as the Awadh region, Lucknow has always been a multicultural city. Courtly manners, beautiful gardens, poetry, music, and fine cuisine patronized by the Persian-loving Shia Nawabs of the city are well known amongst Indians and students of South Asian culture and history. Lucknow is popularly known as the The City of Nawabs. It is also known as the Golden City of the Fast, Shiraz-i-Hind and The Constantinople of India.
Today, Lucknow is a vibrant city that is witnessing an economic boom and is among the top ten fastest irowing non-major-metropolitan cities of India. It is the second largest city in Uttar Pradesh state. The unique combination of its cultured grace and newly acquired pace is its most promising feature that augurs well for the future.
The ancient history of Lucknow is believed to begin after the Suryawanshi king Lord Rama ordered his younger brother Lakshman to establish a town at the present site of Lakshman THa. Lucknow was named Lakslimanpuri or Lakhanpuri or Laknamau after him. Slowly the name Lakhanpuri became 'Lakhnau' and then named 'Lucknow' by the British. After 1350 AD the Lucknow and parts of Awadh region have been under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughat Empire, the Nawabs of Awadh, the East India Company and the British Raj. Lucknow has been one of the major centers of First War of Independence, participated actively in India's Independence movement, and after Independence has emerged as an important city of North India.
Until 1719, subah of Awadh was a province of the Mughal Empire administered by a Governor appointed by the Emperor. Saadat Khan also calied Burhan-ul Mulk a Persian adventurer was appointed the Nazim of Awadh in 1722 and he established his CQUrt in Faizabad near Lucknow.
Awadh was known as the granary of India and was important strategically for the control of the Doab, the fertile ptain between the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers. It was a wealthy kingdom, able to maintain its independence against threats from the Marathas, the British and the Afghans. The third Nawab, Shuja-ud-Daula fell out with the British after aiding Mir Qasim, the fugitive Nawab of Bengal. He was comprehensively defeated in the Battle of Buxar by the East India Company, after which he was forced to pay heavy penalties and cede parts of his territory. The British appointed a resident in 1773, and over time gained control of more territory and authority in the state. They were disinclined to capture Awadh outright, because that would bring them face to face with the Marathas and the remnants of the Mughal Empire.
Lucknow's rise to growth and fame begins with its elevation as capital of Awadh by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah. He was a great philanthropist and gave Lucknow a unique and enduring legacy. The architectural contributions of these Awadh rulers include several imposing monuments. Of the monuments standing today, the Bara Imambara, the Chhota Imambara, and the Roomi Darwaza are
contributions by the Nawabs is the syncretic composite culture that has corne to be known as the Gansa-Jamuni tph7eeb.
In 1798, the fifth Nawab Wazir All Khan alienated both his people and the British, and was forced to abdicate. The British then helped Saadat Ali Khan to the throne. Saadat Ali Khan was a puppet king, who in the treaty of 1B01 ceded half of Awadh to the British East India Company and also agreed to disband his troops in favor of a hugely expensive, British-run army. This treaty effectively made the state of Awadh a vassal to the British East India Company, though it notlonally continued to be part of the Mughal Empire in name until 1819.
The treaty of 1801 formed an arrangement that was very beneficial to the Company. They were able to use Awadh's vast treasuries, repeatedly digging into them for loans at reduced rates. In addition, the revenues from running Awadh's armed forces brought them useful revenues while it acted as a buffer state. The Nawabs were ceremonial kings, busy with pomp and show but with little influence over matters of state. By the mid-nineteenth century, however, the British had grown impatient with the arrangement and wanted direct control of Awadh.
In 1856 the East India Company first moved its troops to the border, then annexed the state, which was placed under a chief commissioner - Sir Henry Lawrence. Wajid Ali Shah, the then Nawab, was imprisoned, and then exiled by the Company to Calcutta. In the subsequent Revolt of 1857 his 14-year old son Birjis Qadr son of Begum Hazrat Mahal was crowned ruler, and Sir Henry Lawrence killed in the hostilities. Following the rebellion's defeat, Begum Hazrat Mahal and other rebel leaders obtained asylum in Nepal.
Transport
Local
Auto Rickshaws
he available multiple modes of public transport in the cty are taxis, city buses, cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws, and Vik rain-Tempos. The fares are affordable. Compressed natural gas (CNG) has been introduced recently as an auto fuel to keep the air pollution in control. The city bus service is run by Lucknow Mahanagar Parivahan Sewa a division of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation fUPSRTC).
Inter-city/inter-state travel
Lucknow has good road, rail and air links with the rest of the country.
Road
From Hazratganj intersection in Lutknow city Four Indian National Highways originate, viz, NH-24 to Delhi, NH-25 to Raksa, Jhansi (M.P. Border), NH-56 to Varanasi and NH-28 to Mokama (Bihar).
There
are two bus stations. The major bus
terminus is Dr. Bhimrao Ambadkar bus station at alambagh. lt has all modern facilities and is the main inter and intra-state terminal.Anothei important bus station is at kaiserbagh which is currently unoperational due to renovation
work. Earlier, another bus terminus operated at charbagh, directly in front of the main railway station, but has now been reestablished as a city bus depot. The move was taken to remove congestion in front of the railway station. Now inter-city travel in private cars is also becoming very common.
Railways
Lucknow railway station
The main railway station is Lucknow Railway Station at Charbagh station code: LKO. It has an imposing structure built in 1923. The main terminal belongs to Northern Railway(NR) division of Indian Railways and the second terminal is run by the North Eastern Railway (NER). Lucknow is a major junction with links to all major cities of the state and country. Lucknow has a further twelwe railway stations viz. Alambagh, Malhaur, Utretia, Dilkhusha, Gomtinagar, Badshahnagar, Manak Nagar, Amausi, Aishbagh, Lucknow City, Daliganj and Mohibullapur. The first eight stations cater for broad gauge only whereas the others have meter gauge as well except for Mohibullahpur which has only meter gauge. All the
connected with each other via road networks and public road transport.Other suburban stations include Bakshi Ka Talab and Kakori, which had Witnessed a famous national independence act (see kakori train dacoity). The Barabanki-Lucknow-Kanpur track (101 km) is electrified. Its electrification was done in 2002-03 when Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister of India and he was MP from Lucknow.
Air
Lucknow is directly connected by air with New Delhi, Patna, Kolkata, and Mumbai and other major Indian cities. The Amausi Airport at Amausi is located around 20 krn from the city centre. It is an international airport and is the 13th online station for Air India. International destinations include Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat and Shaijah. Flights to London, Bangkok and Hong Kong may also commence soon. During Haj special flights are also operated from Lucknow.
Oman Air and Cosmo Air are a few international airlines that are successfully operating direct international flights from Lucknow to international destinatinns & vice-versa.
Cityscape Places to see
Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, a state in Northern India, which also happens to be the largest and the most populated state in the country. The city has been known as one of the major cultural centers of North India, for more than two centuries. Literature, music and dance have flourished here, under the patronage of the rulers of the region in the 18th and 19th centuries. Like all the major cities of that period, a lot of buildings have been built in Lucknow over the past three centuries, some of which still stand proudly as the tourist attractions in Lucknow. Tourism in Lucknow is a wonderful experience, the city being full of excellent buildings, gardens and vibrant bazaars. This city is undoubtedly one of the major contributors towards the growth of Uttar Pradesh tourism.
Bada Imambara 
The Bada Imambada or Asafi Imambada was built by Nawab Asaf-ul-Daula in 1784 as a relief work during the terrible famine that year. Apart from the galleries in the interior, there is no woodwork anywhere. The interior vaulted hall, measuring 162 feet in length, 53 feet in width and 50 feet in height, is said to be one of the largest apartments of its kind in the world. From the outside, a staircase leads to a series of artfully designed labyrinths (bhoolbhulaiyan) where it is very easy to get lost. You can wander through the zigzag narrow galleries for hours without finding your way out! It/’s a very eerie sensation, moving towards the sunlit corridors that seem to be going out, only to find that you are actually deeper in the labyrinth. Most visitors therefore are only allowed inside with guides who are familiar with the maze.
Hussainabad Imambara
Also known as Chhota Imambada, the Hussainabad Imambada was built between 1837 and 1842 by Mohammed Ali Shah. The structure houses the tombs of Mohammed Ali Shah and his mother. The Imambada has a white dome and numerous turrets and minarets. Verses in Arabic decorate the walls of the mausoleum. The interiors are adorned with chandeliers, gilded mirrors, colourful stucco, the King/’s throne and ornate tazia or replicas of the tombs at Karbala. The Imambada also encloses a tank with small imitations of the Taj Mahal on each side. A clock tower estimated to be 67 metres high overlooks the Hussainabad tank. During Muharram, the Imambada is illuminated giving it a wonderful look.
Shah Najaf Imambara
This mausoleum situated on the right bank of the Gomti houses the remains of Ghazi-ud-din Haider and his wives. In the centre of the building lies the silver tomb of Ghazi-ud-din Haider flanked by the more imposing silver and gold tomb of Mubarak Mahal, his European wife, on one side and another tomb on the other. The Imambada derives its name from Najaf, a town situated about 200 km south of Baghdad where the saint Hazrat Ali was buried.
Residency
Lying in ruins near Hazratganj area, which is the centre of the city, the Lucknow Residency reminds one of the British presence in this city of Nawabs some two centuries ago. The Residency was built in 1780-1800 for the British Resident in Avadh. During the Mutiny of 1857, the Residency was besieged by the rebels and it became the centre of the conflict in this area. The compound inside the Residency/’s walls is now a historic monument. The Treasury served as an arsenal during the Mutiny. The residency, to the northeast has tykhanas or underground rooms used in summers.
RUMI DARWAZA - Lucknow
Apart from the Bada Imambada, Asaf-ud-Daula also built the 60-feet-high Rumi Darwaza to create employment during the famine of 1784. The ornate gateway is said to be a replica of one of the gates of Constantinople.
Kaiserbagh Palace Complex
Nawab Wajid Ali Shah started the construction of this palace complex in 1848 and it was completed in 1850. The yellow buildings on three sides of the quadrangle were supposed to be the living quarters for the ladies of the harem. A picturesque white stone edifice, Baradari, stands in the centre. The edifice was paved with silver earlier.
National Botanical Research Institute
The botanical gardens, which form the home of National Botanical Research Institute, are located at Sikandarbagh. It was at Sikandarbagh that pitched battles took place during the Mutiny of 1857.
State Museum & Zoo
The Lucknow Zoo in the Banarsi Bagh has a large collection of animals. Located within the zoo premises is the Lucknow Museum. The museum houses a large collection of artefacts and memorabilia. A splendid collection of stone sculptures brought from Mathura forms the highlight of the museum. There are also a statues of Queen Victoria and some of her court men kept in the garden area of the museum complex.
Shopping
Aminabad a quaint bazaar like Delhi's Chandni Chowk, is situated in the heart of the city. It is a large shopping centre that caters to a wide variety
Chowk and Nakhhas are markets in the old Lucknow area where you can get a feel of traditional Lucknow. Some other important shopping centres areAlambagh, Kapoorthala, Indiranagar, Mahanagar, and Nishatganj.
The Hazratganj area is an upscale shopping market with colonial- style buildings. Interestingly, a popular pastime among the locals is window-shopping in the Hazratganj market. It is popularly referred to in Hinglish as Canjing. The Janpath market, Rovers, Lovers Lane, Mayfair building, Kwality, and Universal book store are some popular landmarks of the area.
Lucknowites are also experiencing the new waves of shopping malls and multiplex culture in India. The first shopping mall-cum-multiplex to open in Lucknow was the East End Mall in Gomti Nagar. Now Lucknow has 3 other operational Mall-cum-multiplex, viz., Saharaganj (With PVR Cinemas), Fun Republic (Fun Cinemas) & Riverside (Inox theatre)
Hotels
Five Star
The Taj Residency, Gomti Nagar
Hotel Clarks Avadh, 8 Mahatma Gandhi Road
The Piccadily, Sector B Bara Birwa, Kanpur Road
Four Star
Hotel Sagar International, 14-A, Jopling Road
Hotel Gemini Continental, 10, Rani Laxmi Bai Marg
Hotel Deep Palace, Cantt Road
Three Star
Rani Hotel Gomti, Sapru Marg
La Place Park Inn, Shahnajaf Road
Hotel Shimla Palace, Latouche Road
Hotel Presidency Inn, 3 Sapru Marg
Hotel Mera Mann, Station Road
Mohan Hotel, Charbagh
Hotel Arif Castle, 4 Rana Pratap Marg
Hotel Charans International, 16, Vldhan Sabha Marg
Two Star
Hotel Europe Palace, Charbagh
Hotel Manglam, Latouche Road
Cuisine
When it comes to dining, Lucknow is a culinary delight as the Awadh region has its own distinct Nawabi style cuisine, with various kinds of biryanis, kebabs and breads like 'sheermal' / 'roomali roti' all very popular delicacies.
Seekh Kababs
Lucknow has also pioneered the slow-fire cooking called Dum Pukht. The world-famous chef Imtiaz Qureishi hails from Lucknow.
With several bakeries in town, the sweet-toothed are never go unsatisfied. The delicious cakes, pastries and the traditional Keiser-pista biscuits are sure to make you come back for more.
The city has a range of fine restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets.
'Falaknuma' 'Dastarkhwan1 'Daal Mein Kaala' 'Naushi-Jaan' to fastfood joints like Pizza Hut, McDonalds to traditional eateries like Tundey's and Rahim's in the Akbari Gate area the choice is wide.
Makkhan Malai, 'Malai Gilori' of Chowk , the famous Tundey Kebabs, named after the one-armed chef Haji Murad AUand 'Kakori kebabs' are very popular with food lovers.
A street food court with a number of street-side restaurants and eating joints are also present in China Bazaar (near Tulsi theatre) serving affordable Avad hi-Mughlai-Punjabi remix cuisine.
The Chaat in Lucknow is on a par with the best you will get anywhere in the country. There are quite a few places serving outstanding chaat, like Shukta Chaat in Ganeshsanj, Moti Mahal, Radhey Lal in Aliganj Chhappon Bhog in Sadar and Mahesh Sweets in Nirala Nagar . Actually, you can pretty much have Chaat in any corner of Lucknow and never be disappointed.
Paan Shop
After a delicious dinner, one can have Paan from the shops Malhotra Pan Bhandar near K.D. Singh Babu Stadium and the State Bank of India.
