Location: Lucknow
Top Things to do in Lucknow
Top 10 Architectural Buildings in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Lucknow (/ˈlʌknaʊ/ ( listen) Lakhna'ū) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and is also the administrative headquarters of the eponymous District and Division. It is the eleventh most populous city and the twelfth most populous urban agglomeration of India. Lucknow has always been known as a multicultural city that flourished as a North Indian cultural and artistic hub, and the seat of power of Nawabs in the 18th and 19th centuries. It continues to be an important centre of governance, administration, education, commerce, aerospace, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, culture, tourism, music and poetry.
Restaurants in Lucknow
1. Constantia House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By pilgrim_gsa - New Delhi, India
A must when one visits this iconic educational institute of historical importance too . Very well kept go and visit and appreciate glories of the days gone by and how heritage must be preserved for succeeding generations . Free entrance one does not need a guide to visit .
2. Vidhan Sabha Bhawan Council House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 90 reviews
Reviewed By SandeepV503
Vidhan Bhawan (Hindi: विधान भवन) is located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. The state is one of the few in the country which has a bicameral legislature also called Vidhan Bhavan with two houses -the lower and the upper. The lower house is the Vidhan Sabhaor the State Legislative Assembly and the upper house is called the Vidhan Parishad or the State Legislative council. The Vidhan Sabha had 431 members till 1967, but now the Vidhan Sabha consists of 403 directly elected members and one nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community. The Vidhan Parishad has 100 members.
3. Aurangzeb's Mosque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7 reviews
4. Bara Imambara
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,502 reviews
Reviewed By bkapil - Chandigarh, India
Visited the architectural marvel along with both kids and better half on 16th fm 08:00 hrs to 11:00 hrs . Its indeed a building which signifies best of architectural design and beauty , but the way it's being managed by the board/ management (if there is any) it's far below standard . Few DOs : carry ur own water steel bottle , as the plastic bottle sold is local made and drinking water cooler is neither clean not marked in which year it was . Juices and snacks prices are jacked up , if hungry carry own snacks - it's permissible . Carry good pixel - dslr (nominal fee) / mobile (permitted) and no other visible restriction . Local guide is required if you intend to know the history of the building , can be negotiated at rs.30-35 per person , for 4 persons we paid rs.125 Handicapped person cannot visit due to no supportive infrastructure . Wear thick cotton socks as walking without shoes only is permitted in labyrinth (bhool bhuliya) , prefer October to March cooler months . During summer months the building roof galleries and terraces are not covered with carpet (dari) , causing severe sun burns on ur feet (socks++) - which are best locations to take snaps thru telephoto lenses or high mm lenses , with entire old Lucknow as background . While purchasing ticket , purchase combined ticket for seeing five buildings , it's nominal as low as rs.50 per person ( kids above 3/5 it's considered adult , tentatively). The local guide for "bouli" charges rs.25-30 for group of 4 persons - pl hire to understand the significance of the building.The sacred masjid is not permitted for visit as it's a worship place . Shoes are kept in open (no shade / locker room) with tokens issued @ nominal rs.2 a pair - carry small denomination equivalent coins. Hiring local guide for seeing for all monuments thru combined ticket - roomi darwaja + clock tower + picture gallery + chikan factory (it's no factory but cluster of private owned shops charging exhorbitant ) , along with visits in e-rickshaw costs rs.100 , but there is NO guide per se , rather e-rick guy speaks and we believe :) - no other option . The picture gallery guy (no picture taking permitted) starts moving along and expects to be paid rs.100 or 50 or whatever comfortable . In case of crowd inside the labyrinth , walking in 2.5 ft corridor becomes difficult and smell of substantially old carpet in the pathway is bad - carry handkerchief (with perfume) /masks /ginger water and stamina to wait to get passage , rather feeling pukey. Overall entire cluster of beautifully made buildings require : professional management by an agency which is monitored , uniform clothes , helpline numbers (aren't any , neither displayed - so called tourist police A4 size mobile number displayed on white page at enterance and two stationary sleuths sitting at main gate ) . Proper shoe cabinet rack availability , Que management , automatic room freshners , fire extinguishers , infirmary , digital display boards in the respective languages giving authentic information of the respective buildings and knowledgeable recognised (government board approved) , educated local guides . To know the significance of old Lucknow and its rich history , visit must be made .
5. Moti Mahal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 132 reviews
Reviewed By JitendraS840
Visit to Moti Mahal is a nostalgic experience where where aloo tikki nad makhan malai are the unmatched combination and mouth watering delights
6. Chattar Manzil
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 12 reviews
Reviewed By Anuradha777
A beautiful Awadhi style building used by the Nawab of Awadh as his residence. Adjoining this place is another kothi which was owned by a French general Martin Cloud, later purchased by the Nawab. It has excellent French architecture. Both the buildings are in sheer neglect. High time to start protecting our heritage before it goes !
7. Chhota Imambara
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 309 reviews
Reviewed By Somaseshu - Bengaluru, India
Just two kms away from Bada Imambara on the west side, Chota Imambara is seen which is admired for its artistic beauty as Palace of Lights. It is located on Husanabad Road in Daulatganj in Lucknow. This was built by Mohd.Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh in 1838 as a congregation hall for Shia Muslims to celebrate Muharram and other festivals. Azim-ullah-Khan, Superintendent of ordnance and Buildings, supervised the construction of this gold-plated building with many large and smaller domes with ribbed design. The Nawab in order to provide employment to workers during the severe drought period undertook the construction of this monument. The significance of the holy five is symbolized here by five main doorways. There are two halls and a platform (Shehnasheen) on which the Zarih(the replica of the protective grill that is kept over the grave of Imam Hussain at Karbala, Iraq) is seen. The main hall or Azhakhana is a large green and white bordered hall with a gilded dome decorated with chandeliers imported from Belgium, golden edged mirrors and crystal glass lamp stands. On the south of the main hall is the main platform with arches where the banners and flags of the small army of Imam Hussain are seen. A number of Tazias made of silver, ivory and sandalwood are kept on the main platform or Shahnasheen. There is also a big Tazia that is made of wax and tinsel paper kept in the main hall. The tombs of Nawab Mohd. Alishah and his mother are seen in the central hall. Their bodies are buried below the floor in the basement of the central hall. In the central hall the royal throne, the red crown of the king and the silver Mimbar or pulpit on which the orator is seated when he addresses audience are also seen. On the walls and pillars of the hall, Quran verses are written in Islamic calligraphy in the shape of a tiger, a horse and a bird, fixed in wooden frames. An antique Persian clock and a glass fish tank from Japan are other curious objects found in this spacious hall. The way to this Imambara is embellished with a flowing stream flowing through the center of the garden. Water for fountains and other water bodies is channelized from Gomti River. This building constructed in Indo-Islamic and Persian style has a Charbagh pattern—a single stream running through the center of the garden. There are two triple-arched gateways on the east and west as entrances. In between them is the main gate with a heavy door. . The three-storied main entrance gate is seen with a bronze fish fixed at the top of the arched gateway. This bronze fish works as a weather vane one finds the sacred five emblems mounted atop the main gate to signify the holy five members of Prophet Mohammad’s family. Opposite the main gate is Naubat Khana where large drums were beaten to announce the hours of the day. Two metal Grecian figures in bronze connected to spikes on the top of the gate act as lightning conductors. On the left side of the main building is seen a mosque with two minarets , a replica of Taj Mahal, where the tombs of Nawab’s daughter, Zinat Asiya, his son and her husband along with the tomb of Nawab’s consort are found. Non-Muslims are not allowed inside the mosque. On the other side a similar structure facing the mausoleum was built to maintain architectural symmetry and balance. This building was used as treasury. Outside the Imambara is a watchtower called Satkhanda or tower of seven stories. But only four stories were seen as the king passed away and the construction work was stopped. This tower was built between 1837 and 1842. On the model of Qutub Minar and the tower of Pisa this tower was constructed in Indo-Islamic style and was meant for lunar observation. Mohd.Ali Shah and his queen Malka Afaq Jahan deposited 26 lakhs with East India Company to form Hussianabad Endowment Trust to look after the religious buildings they had built and for observance of Muharrum and other connected functions. To the left of the main gate, Shahi Imam (Royal bath) with a complicated system of drainage is seen which supplies hot water to the gigantic bath tub. This building has been renovated in later times. Tickets purchased at Bada Imambara gives one access to Chota Imambara and Picture Gallery. Alexis Soltykoff, the Russian prince, who visited this place in 1841, described this monument as the “Kremlin of India.”Really as someone said, this monument is “ small in name, but big in wonder.” There are many worth seeing monuments nearby such as Jama Masjid, Clock Tower and Rumi Dawaja. The opening hours of this Imambara are from 8.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
