Places to visit in the city Lucknow
BADA IMAMBADA - Lucknow 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 IMAMBADA - Lucknow 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 IMAMBADA - Lucknow 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 - Lucknow 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 - Lucknow 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 - Lucknow 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 AND ZOO - Lucknow 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.
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