Places To Visit In Lucknow
1. Bada (Big) Imambara
Housing, the largest hall in the world with an arched ceiling with entirely no supporting structures, and spanning 800 square meters, this piece of pure Mughal architecture dating back to 1784, is sure awe-inspiring!
2. Chota (Small) Imambara
Built in 1838, the Imambara design is based on the traditional Charbagh (Four-Garden) layout – influenced by Persian and Indo-Islamic architectural and structural elements, including water bodies and walkways.
3. Rumi Darwaza
Rumi Darwaza is still open to two-way vehicular traffic but slowly being weakened by exposure to vibrations triggered by heavy use of roadways over the years. Interestingly this elaborate arched monument dating back to 1748 has been built using just bricks and washed with a coat of lime.
4. The Lucknow Zoo
This zoological park established in 1921 to mark the visit of the Prince of Wales to Lucknow was first named after him.
5. Lucknow Chowk
A shopaholic’s paradise, this ancient marketplace in the heart of Lucknow has indeed survived the British rule and continues to draw both locals and travellers in large numbers.
6. British Residency
The Residency serves as a grim reminder of how devastating wars can be. This complex built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula houses the tomb of the first Nawab ruler of Awadh, Sadat Ali Khan. An observatory for the renowned British Astronomer Colonel Wilcox was also constructed at this site.
7. Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary, Unnao
Accessible from the Kanpur-Lucknow highway, the lush marshy terrain is home turf to an array of migratory birds, notably the Siberian Crane, Flamingos, Painted Stork and 250 other species that arrive from far North, braving the mighty Himalayas to spend the winters here.
8. Ambedkar Memorial Park
The Ambedkar Memorial Park was the vision of Ms Mayawati, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. Located at the main entrance of the memorial are sculptures of 62 elephants that are believed to guard the place.
9. Jama Masjid
The majestic Jama Masjid built during the 18th century by Mohammad Ali Shah Bahadur, the 3rd ruler of Awadh is not only an architectural landmark but an important place of gathering and worship for Shia Muslims in the country.
10. Chattar Manzil
There’s no dearth of palaces in the this City of Nawabs, but this one better known as the Umbrella (Chatri /Chattar) Palace for its large domes, has a significant part intact and still very much in use.
11. Hasratganj
While shopping at the Lucknow Chowk is entirely practical experience, brushing shoulders with the locals, spending time at Hasratganj offers visitors an excellent opportunity for some upscale shopping in a rich historical setting.
12. La Martiniere
La Martiniere is a famed educational institution now active at Constantia in Lucknow- a building which is a unique mix of architectural styles – Italian, Mughal, Hindu and probably others as well. Though imposing from a common man’s perspective, architecture buffs are bound to find the structure quite odd, which is how most noted historians describe its design.
