Lucknow, the city of Nawab isn’t just another city—it’s an experience. The city is known for its tehzeeb, i.e., its rich culture. The people are friendly and welcoming, and their town has a sense of pride from knowing it was once the seat of power for some great kings such as Akbar and Birbal.
When you visit the Lucknow city centre for the first time by catching a Lucknow Taxi Service, you will be overwhelmed by how much beauty is packed into such a small area. The city is full of historic buildings, from palaces to mosques to old temples. And there are also all kinds of gardens and parks where you can escape from the crowds and find some peace and quiet.
But what will strike you will be how much beauty there is in every part of life here: not just in architecture but also in people’s personalities and ways of life.
The bazaars are bustling with activity and vendors selling everything from fruit to clothes to spices to jewellery. You’ll find yourself surrounded by beautiful colours, delicious smells, and lots of good deals!
Planning a visit to Lucknow
You knew you had to go to Lucknow, but didn’t know what to expect. You knew it was the capital of Uttar Pradesh, but that’s about it.
If you’re planning a trip to Lucknow, here’s what you need to know:
- Getting there: If you’re coming from outside the country and want to fly into Lucknow airport, be aware that it’s an international airport with direct flights from major cities like London and New York City. You can also take a train or rent a car in Lucknow to reach quickly.
- Staying there: There are two main areas to stay in Lucknow: Hazratganj and Asafi Imambara. Hazratganj is right downtown and offers plenty of shopping and dining options as well as proximity to the main attractions. Asafi Imambara is farther away but quieter and more serene than Hazratganj. It’s also home to the Hazratganj market, which offers great shopping opportunities.
- Visiting the best sights: You should definitely see Chhota Imambara (the world’s largest palace), Moti Mahal palace (where British Viceroys stayed ), Bara Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, British Residency, Chandrika Devi Temple and many more.
- The city of kebabs: Speaking about food, the unique-Nawabi style cuisine known as the Awadhi cuisine is famous for kebabs (Tunde ke Kebabs and Kakori Kebabs), biryanis, nahari-kulchas, parathas, etc.
Exploring the city
When you visit Lucknow for a few days, you will be so excited to visit all the tourist places in just one day. The first place you would want to go is Bara Imambara, a vast building made of wood. It was built by Asaf-Ud-Dowla, the Nawab of Awadh, in the 18th century. You would enjoy seeing how they built it with wood while having less technology back in their time. Next, you should visit Rumi Darwaza, also made with wood, but it has been renovated to keep up with our modern times.
The next stop should be the British Residency, where the British lived during their rule in India. Then you should have a tour of Chandrika Devi Temple, a temple dedicated to goddess Chandrika Devi who is considered an incarnation of Goddess Durga. Finally, have a visit to HazratGanj, a market area where all the tourists shop for cheap clothes and other things!
