BEST OF LUCKNOW

At a distance of 6 km from Lucknow Junction, Bara Imambara is a historical monument located in the old Hussainabad neighborhood of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Also known as Asafi Imambara, it is one of the places of heritage in Uttar Pradesh, and among the prime places to visit in Lucknow.

Bara Imambara was built by Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Awadh in 1784 to employ people in the region during the 11-year famine. This imambara is the second largest after the Nizamat Imambara and is considered to be one of the architectural wonders of that era. Kifayatullah was the architect and designer of the monument. Around 20,000 people were employed to construct the building, and it took eleven years to complete the building. Bara means big, and an Imambara is a shrine built by Shia Muslims for Azadari.

The Bara Imambara is said to be the largest structure in the world that is unsupported by beams and among the .....

At a distance of 5 km from Lucknow Junction, Rumi Darwaza is an imposing gateway located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Also known as Turkish Gate, it is one of the famous places of heritage that one must visit as part of Lucknow packages.

Rumi Darwaza was built by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula in 1784 to employ people in the region during the 11-year famine. The Rumi Darwaza is also referred to as Turkish Gate as it was modeled after the Bab-i-Humayun gateway in Constantinople, present-day Istanbul, Turkey. Rumi refers to Rome, the historical name used by the Islamic world to denote the region roughly corresponding to Anatolia, or the dominion of the former Eastern Roman Empire. It used to mark the entrance to Old Lucknow City, but as the City of Nawabs grew and expanded, it was later used as an entrance to a palace which was later demolished by the British Raj following the Indian Mutiny. Lies between the Bara Imambara and Chota Imambara, it .....

At a distance of 7 km from Lucknow Junction, Chhota Imambara, also known as Imambara Hussainabad Mubarak is an imposing monument located in the Hussainabad locality of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It is one of the well-known heritage places in Lucknow that one must visit as part of Uttar Pradesh packages.

One of the most attractive buildings in the old city of Lucknow, Chota Imambara was built as an imambara or a congregation hall for Shia Muslims, by Muhammad Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh in 1838. Situated near the Bara Imambara, it was to serve as a mausoleum for himself and his mother, who is buried beside him. The building is also known as the Palace of Lights because of its decorations and chandeliers during special festivals, like Muharram.

The Chota Imambara has been inspired by the design of the Charbagh pattern, an amalgamation of the elements of Persian and Indo-Islamic styles of architecture. The exterior of the .....

At a distance of 6 km from Lucknow Junction, Jama Masjid is a mosque located in the Tahseenganj area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Also called Jami Masjid, it is one of the most beautiful mosques in India, and among the must-visit attractions in Lucknow.

The construction of this mosque was started in the year 1839 AD by King Mohammad Ali Shah, the 3rd Nawab of Awadh with the intention to surpass the Jama Masjid at Delhi in size. However, his dream was left unfulfilled because of his sudden demise. Later, his wife, Malika Jahan Begum, took the charge and completed the construction in 1845 AD. But because of the shortage of funds, the original ambition was curtailed. Despite being constructed on a low budget, Jama Masjid has an unrivaled charm.

Known for its intricate style of design and architecture, it is built entirely with Lakhuri bricks and lime. The mosque complex is erected on a square terrace .....

At a distance of 7 km from Lucknow Junction, Hussainabad Picture Gallery is an art gallery located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Situated near Chhota Imambara and the Hussainabad Clock Tower, it is one of the famous tourist places in Lucknow.

The Hussainabad Picture Gallery is a major landmark in the city of Nawabs. This magnificent building was constructed in the year 1838 as a summer house by Nawab Mohammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of erstwhile Awadh. The building used to be named 'Baradari', which literally means 'having 12 doorways'. The majestic building overlooking a pond also had a mosque. During the Nawabi era, the front of the building had a market by the name of ''Mina Bazaar'', an inn and stables for elephants and horses. The distinguishing feature of this imposing terracotta edifice is the presence of iron pillars in the upper storey pavilion used for the first time in the construction of the .....

At a distance of 3 km from Lucknow Junction, Hazratganj is an old market situated in the heart of Lucknow city. It is one of the oldest markets in Uttar Pradesh, and among the must-visit places in Lucknow for shopping lovers.

Along with Aminabad, Hazratganj is also one of the major shopping areas in Lucknow. The new name of Hazratganj is 'Atal Chowk' after the late prime minister of India, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. It is the most famous market in Lucknow and is located in the downtown of Lucknow. Back in 1842, the place was known as 'Ganj'. When Britishers took over the city, they re-modeled the place after Queen Street in London. The stone pavements, lamp posts, benches, colorful fountains, uniform pink and cream color with Victorian-style touches enhanced the architecture of the place.

Hazratganj is famous for shopping complexes, theatres, offices, restaurants, books, cafes, and other extravagant little shops. From car dealers to jewellery stores to antiques, one can shop for .....

At a distance of 6 km from Lucknow Junction, Indira Gandhi Planetarium is a planetarium situated at the Surajkund Park neighborhood of Lucknow. Located on the banks of the River Gomti, it is one of the interesting places to visit in Lucknow.

The foundation stone of the Indira Gandhi Planetarium was laid in the year 1988 and has been opened to the public since 2003. The design of this planetarium is in the shape of Saturn with its five rings. Known worldwide for its uniqueness, the outstanding structure and design of the building attract a large number of tourists. Surrounded by a water pool with fountains, this 21-meter spherical building of the planetarium is specially designed to give an idea of crater formation on celestial bodies.

Indira Gandhi Planetarium is also popularly known for the Taramandal Show that starts with the description of the Chandrayaan mission to the moon. The Taramandal .....

At a distance of 3.5 km from Lucknow Junction, the Maqbara Saadat Ali Khan is a mausoleum located in the Qaiser Bagh locality of Lucknow. Situated near Begum Hazrat Mahal Park, it is one of the popular heritage places to visit as part of Lucknow holiday packages.

Maqbara Saadat Ali Khan is the tomb of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan, who was the fifth nawab wazir of Oudh. It was built by Saadat Ali Khan's son Nawab Ghazi-ud-Din Haider in the year 1814 after demolishing his own residence in Khas Bazar, now known as Qaiserbagh to gift his father a grand edifice. Ghazi-ud-Din Haidar proclaimed that since he had succeeded his father and took his place, his father should take his place and rest in a mausoleum where his home once stood. Thus, Ghaziuddin Haidar moved to Chhattar Manzil Palace, where his father had lived, and ruled from there.

Renowned for its brilliant artistry, Nawab Saadat Ali Khan's Maqbara is built in the Indo-Islamic .....

At a distance of 4 km from Lucknow Junction, Lucknow Zoo or Nawab Wazid Ali Shah Prani Udyan is a zoological garden located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Earlier known as Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens, it is one of the famous zoological parks in Uttar Pradesh, and among the most interesting Lucknow sightseeing places.

The Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens was established in the year 1921 to commemorate the visit of the Prince of Wales to Lucknow and was named after him. The idea of establishing Zoological gardens at Lucknow emanated from Sir Harcourt Butler, the then Governor of the State. The complex was established in the 18th century by Nawab Nasiruddin Haider, the then Nawab of Awadh as a mango orchard. At that time it was known as Banarasi Bagh. In the year 2001, the zoological park was changed from Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens to Lucknow Zoological Garden and again renamed as Nawab Wajid .....

At a distance of 8 km from Lucknow Junction, Ambedkar Memorial Park is a beautiful public park located in the Gomti Nagar area of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Initially known as Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal, it is one of the popular places to visit as part of Lucknow holiday packages.

Founded in 1995, the Ambedkar Memorial Park was formerly known as the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Udyan. It was constructed by the state government under the leadership of the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Mayawati. However, with further renovations in 2002, the Udyan came to be known as the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial. In 2007, the park underwent further renovation and was opened finally a full-fledged public space only in 2008.

Covering an area of 107 acres, the memorial is dedicated to B. R. Ambedkar, the 20th-century Indian polymath and the major author of the Indian Constitution. The park also houses memorials of Jyotirao Phule, Narayana Guru, Birsa Munda, Shahuji Maharaj, .....

At a distance of 7 km from Lucknow Junction, Gomti Riverfront is a newly constructed park on the banks of River Gomti in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Situated near Ambedkar Park, it is one of the wonderful places to visit as part of Lucknow tour packages.

Inaugurated in 2016, Gomti Riverfront Park was constructed with the concern of preservation and development of River Gomti which is considered as the lifeline of Uttar Pradesh. The river originates from Madhav Tanda in Pilibhit, crosses Lucknow, and eventually merges with the River Ganga at Jaunpur. Stretches over an area of 2 km, the major attraction of the park is the musical fountain that is very huge and can be seen from both sides of the river that lures hundreds of tourists.

Besides, the other facilities include a huge Amphitheater(around 20,000 seats), cycling and jogging tracks, boating, a play area for children, etc. The place allows the visitors to experience the beauty .....