Lucknow

The heart of the art, cuisine, dance, culture and music in India, Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh and thrives along the banks of Gomti river.

Lucknow derives its name from Lakshman Teela where Lord Rama’s brother is believed to have stayed after having returned from exile giving the city one of its earliest names — Lakhanpur. From 1350 AD to Independence, the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, the Nawabs of Awadh, the East India Company and the British have ruled Lucknow. People of Lucknow participated actively in India’s Independence movement. The pact of 1916 between the Congress and the Muslim League was negotiated in Lucknow to increase pressure on British for greater autonomy.

One of the major cultural hubs of the country, Lucknow is affectionately known as the City of Nawabs, the Golden City of the East and The Constantinople of India. As the capital of Awadh, the city was ruled by the Nawabs during the 17th and 18th centuries.  Lucknow is home to some commendable and renowned buildings, including the Bada Imambara, Chattar Manzil, The Residency and Rumi Darwaza, among others.

Today, this vibrant city is witnessing an economic boom and recently became the country’s first ‘CCTV City’, with 4000 CCTV cameras installed all over its territory. A perfect amalgamation of Indian aesthetics and colonial charisma, Lucknow has maintained its old world charm.

A visit to Lucknow is incomplete without a visit to Tundey ke Kebab to savor the eponymous beef kebabs. Indeed, kebabs of all types — Kakori, Shami, Galawati — are Lucknow’s specialty and can be sampled near the Chowk area. Besides kebabs, biriyani, dal gosth, salans and kulfi are famous Lucknow delicacies as is the Lucknowi chaat.

The best time to visit the city is between October to March.