THE OLD CITY OF LUCKNOW

Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. The earliest

settlements of Lucknow were on the southern bank of River

Gomti. During the Mughal period many localities were

founded further south. These localities or mohallas formed

the core of the city which continued to grow in the coming

centuries. Some of these mohallas continue to bear their

original names, Banjara Tola, Khatri Tola. Ahiri Tola. This city

grew in importance during the rule of Akbar. During Akbar’s

reign the Mughal Empire was divided into twelve provinces

and Lucknow became the headquarters of a sarkar in the

suba of Awadh. In the later years, the Nawabs of Awadh

established the capital at Lucknow. After the establishment

of the capital new mohallas were created in which havelis

(houses of noblemen), madarsas, mosques, imambaras,

karbalas and khanqas were built.

Today Lucknow is a major metropolitan city of India. It is the

tenth populous city of India. It is also known as the ‘City of

Nawabs’.

DID YOU KNOW?

Lucknow was

India’s first CCTV

CITY with 4000

CCTV cameras

installed all over

the city.

Lucknow has magnificent heritage. A few of the most glorious

monuments of Lucknow are:

NADAN MAHAL COMPLEX

NADAN MAHAL: This tomb belongs to Shaikh Abdur Rahim

who was the subedar of Awadh during the reign of Akbar.

This tomb was constructed in the Mughal style of

Architecture. It is built of red

sandstone. It is a square

structure and has a domed

chamber. The central

chamber has two graves

which are adorned by

Quranic verses.

TOMB OF SHAIKH IBRAHIM CHISHTI: This tomb is situated in

the enclosure of Nadan Mahal. The outer walls of this tomb

were covered with painted plaster. There is only one

masonry grave in the centre of the chamber and it is of

Shaikh Ibrahim Chishti.

SOLAH KHAMBA: This

structure is situated some 4

meters west Ibrahim Chishti’s

tomb. This sixteenth pillared

pavilion stands on a raised

terrace of red sandstone. It

contains five graves of

different size.

RESIDENCY

This is a residential complex also known as the Lucknow

Residency. Originally the site of the Residency belonged to

the Sheikhzadas. It was first laid by the King Nawab Asaf-ud-

Daula in 1775 for providing residence to the British visitors. It

was completed by Naawab Saadat Ali Khan in 1800. New

buildings were added with the growimg requirements. Later

on it was used by the Commissioner of Awadh. The Residency

complex today consists of ruins of many buildings. These

buildings suffered severe damage during the 5 month siege

by the freedom fighters. Each building has its own story to

tell. During the siege these buildings and the fortified posts

were usually named after the person who lived there. Some

of them were named as Banquet Hall, Gubbin’s House,

Treasury, Sheep House, Slaughter House etc. A ‘1857

Memorial Museum’ has been set up here to give a detailed

account of the First War of Independence of 1857.

AKBARI DARWAZA

This structure belongs to the time of the Mughal emperor

Akbar. It is situated at the

southern end of the

Chowk. Chowk of old

Lucknow was a centre of

commerce, art and

culture. The Akbari

Darwaza was built in

Mughal lakhauri bricks. It

is now in ruins and shops have come up in and around it.

JAMA MASJID

The construction of the Jama Masjid was started by King

Mohammad Ali Shah. It is built with lakhauri bricks and is

plastered with lime. It has a rectangular prayer hall. On the

west it has eleven arches with central one being the highest.

King Mohammand’s intention was to build a Masjid larger in

size than the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.

BARA IMAMBARA

Bara Imambara is an Imbabara complex in Lucknow. This

monument was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula and designed

by Kifayatullah, a famous architect of that period. It consists

of the main Imambara building, the mosque also known as

Asafi mosque, Shahi Baoli, the Nakkar Khana or the Naubat

Khana. The main hall of the Imambara building has a vaulted

roof and is one of the largest halls of its kind without a pillar

or any support. Above the hall there is a complicated maze of

corridors and gallaries called the Bhul Bhulaiya. Inside the

hall are buried the Nawab of Awadh Asaf-ud-Daula, his wife

Shahsunnisa Begum and Kifayatullah, the architect.

SHAHI BAOLI

ASAFI MOSQUE

DID YOU KNOW??

RUMI DARWAZA

IS ALSO CALLED

THE TURKISH

GATE. IT WAS

NAMED THE

RUMI GATE SINCE

IT WAS MADE BY

THE WORKERS OF

ROME.

RUMI DARWAZA

The gateway of the Bara Imambara complex is called the

Rumi Darwaza. This was

constructed by Nawab

Asaf-ud-Daula. It is a 60

feet tall structure. This

gateway is further

divided into three

medium sized arched

gateways. It is a three storey building and from the top one

can view the Gomti River and the surrounding areas.

CHHOTA IMAMBARA

Chahot Imambara was

built by Muhammmad Ali

Shah. The Imambara

Complex has a hammam,

a mosque and a tomb.

Opposite the main

entrance is the Naubat Khana. The roof of the

structure has a dome in the centre. In front of the

Naubat Khana is a large courtyard with a

rectangular raised tank in the centre. The inner

hall of the Imambara has the graves of King

Muhammad Ali Shah and his mother.

BIBIAPUR KOTHI

It is located on the right bank of River Gomti, south east of

the city. This is a royal building which was built by Nawab

Asaf-ud-Daula (A.D 1775-97). The building has many spacious

halls, high ceilings and spiral staircases. The large hall was

decorated with white and blue European tiles. This place was

used by Nawabs to

entertain their European

guests. And after the

death of Nawab Asaf-ud-

Daula a Darbar was held

here and Sir John Shore

declared Saadat Ali Khan

as the successor to the throne.

DILKUSHA KOTHI

Dilkusha Kothi was built

during the reign of Nawab

Saadat Ali Khan. This was

originally a hunting lodge for

the Nawabs of Awadh and

later was also used as a

summer resort. It was built in

the European style of architecture. It is a double storeyed

structure made of lakhauri bricks and lime mortar. The

corners of the palace were adorned with towers which had

circular staircases in them. The building was destroyed at the

time of the First War of Independence.

TOMB OF SAADAT ALI KHAN

This tomb was built by Saadat Ali Khan’s son and successor

Ghazi-ud-din Haider. It

is square tomb made

of lakhauri bricks and

lime mortar. It has a

fluted dome. The main

hall is octagonal in plan

and has a black and

white marble floor.

The Nawab is buried in an underground vault. This structure

also has the graves of his three wives and three daughters.

LA MARTINIERE

La Martiniere was constructed by Claude Martin. This house

has a great block in the centre

which rises through a series of

terraced blocks to five floors.

Claude Martin died in 1800 A.D

and was buried in a vault in the

basement of this building. It is

one of the most remarkable

European style buildings in

India. It is now used as a school.

MARKETS OF LUCKNOW

CHOWK: Chowk is one of the oldest markets in Lucknow.

Chowk is called the treasure house of historical and cultural

heritage of Lucknow city. Chowk still has its old Nawabi

glamour and harmony. It has now emerged as a centre of

handicrafts. The main commercial areas are Kamla Nehru

Road, Kasturba Market, Gold Darwaja, Chowk Road.

HAZRATGANJ: Hazratganj is a shopping area where most of

the bazaars of Lucknow are located. It is called the Park

Avenue of Lucknow. Hazratganj also has many shops selling

the most famous Lucknow chikan material.

LUCKNOW’S LIVING TRADITION

CHIKANKARI: Chikankari is an ancient form of white

embroidery. Chikan is used for the white floral embroidery

embroidery that was brought by Mehrunnissa from Persia

and it became very popular

with the kings and the

nobles. Chikankari remains

Lucknow’s largest successful

enterprise. Behind the

success of this industry are

hardworking women artisans.

FOOD SPECIALITIES OF LUCKNOW

NIHARI KULCHA: Nihari is cooked

using a number of masalas and

kulcha which is made up of ghee,

milk, maida is cooked in tandoor.

Rahim’s nihari kulcha is the most

famous in Lucknow.

KEBABS: There a variety of kebabs available in the city of

Lucknow. The most famous of them is the tunday kebab.

Others are: Boti Kebab, Galouti

Kebab etc.

MALAI GILORI: It is a sweet dish

made of malai. The best Malai Gilori

is available at one of the oldest

sweetshops of Lucknow, Ram Asrey.

ACTIVITY

Which one of these is the Tomb of Saadat Ali Khan?

ACTIVITY

Fill in the blanks

1. Lucknow is also called the City of _______

2. This city is situated on the banks of River ______

3. Rumi Darwaza is also called the ______

4. Ancient form of white embroidery work is called ______

5. Successor of Saadat Ali Khan was ______

References: Lucknow the Historic City – W.H Siddiqui https://sites.google.com/site/lucknowtravelguide/bibiapur-kothi-lucknow-india A glimpse of monumental heritage of Lucknow – Archaeological survey of India, Lucknow circle

ACTIVITY

Which of these belong to Lucknow? Name the embroidery work.