Travel definitely makes me happy , in fact for me its a kind of stress relief system now. It was another weekend ,I was just wondering where should i go now? I Just wanted to take a quick break form my routine life and wanted to explore some new places ,finally i decided that this time it should be Lucknow , I was excited as there was so much to see and explore , so finally i began my maiden tip to " City of Nawabs".
Muskuraiye ki aap Lucknow mein hain… Wouldn’t you smile after reading these welcoming lines written on the entrance of Charbagh Railway Station of Lucknow?Well i did , days spent in this The city of Nawabs will be the best memories you are going to have in your life time , let me give you some reasons why you should visit Lucknow Fondly also known as the ‘City of Nawabs’ or the ‘City of Tehzeeb’ at least once in your life time :-
1. Tehzeeb :- The first thing you will notice is their culture or tehzeeb, Lakhnawi people have always been identified by the respect that they give each other. The people are generally very polite and well-mannered,The people of Lucknow are the most courteous people you would ever meet!! Their heart-warming hospitality will make you fall in love with the city. I found life here is pretty simple and easy. People does not tend to be show offs.
Now after my maiden trip to Lucknow , today I have 6 slangs to share which you will hear only in Lucknow. They are very much integral part of Lakhnawi people:-
I. "Hum "- Its most common word ,trust me in Lucknow "hum " is not related to "WE" at all , Instead of “main” people address themselves as " hum". As Tehzeeb of Lucknow it’s a symbol of class, they don’t prefer the words like "Tum" , "Tu" & "Main".
"Hum Lucknow sey hai".
2. "Amma Yaar"-In lucknnow its popular to use "Amma Yaar " in the beginning of almost every sentence, I think it works in same context as "Arey Yaar" in Delhi .
"Amaa yaar ab chalo bhi yaha se".
3. "Toota"- Means smaller denomination of money.
"100Rs ka toota na hai humare paas".
4. "Bhaukal/Bhaukali":- literal meaning is Impressive or influential, in a certain field, normally in off hand fields.
"Police pakad k le gayi usko, bhaukal hai bhai ka! "
5. "Shukriya ":- instead of the usual Thank You and Thanks, Shukriya is a sweet way of expressing gratitude in Lucknow.
"Aap Ka Shukriya".
6. "Kantaap":-Among all the slangs this one is my favorite, heard this while I was taking a walk on busy Aminabad Road, initially i thought its related to bullets but actually its Lucknow own version of a slap????.
"Aisa kantaap marenge ki utth nahi payoge beta"
2.Bara Imambara:-The Bara Imambara of Lucknow is one of the most famous monuments of the city. A must visit if you are in Lucknow, in every manner It's an architectural master piece, However I must say Bara Imambara is really huge , All the structures in the premises are so grand that not advisable for old aged, you have to climb endless stairs , that’s really a difficult part.
Major attractions:- Well these are the few major attractions located inside the huge Bara Imambara premises:-
# Central hall of Bara Imambara:- Perhaps it’s one of the largest hall of the world about 50 meter long with no supporting pillars in between, it’s one of the kind of architectural wonder.
#Asfi mosque:- Another beautiful structure located inside Bara Imambara premises,however let me tell you one thing that Non Muslim is strictly prohibited to enter the mosque.
#The famous Bhoolbhulaiya:- This place is simply amazing, as its name suggest You can get lost here easly ,It is said that there are more than 1,000 ways to reach the terrace but only one to come back. you need to have a professional guide once inside.
#Shahi Bauli( Stepwell ):- It is said that this Shahi Bauli was first part to be built in Bara Imambara structure.
Entry Fee:- Now once inside there is a facility of combo ticket that cover all four beautiful structures in the same ticket:- Bada Imambada, Shahi Bauli, Chota Imambada and Picture Gallery.
•50.00 Rs per person for Indian Citizens
• 500.00 Rs per person for Foreigners
•For DSLR you have to pay 25.00 Rs extra.
• A Guide for the Bhool bhulaiya is highly recommended due to its confusing structure .
Timing :- Sunrise to Sunset every day .
I visited this magnificent place in the early morning and I think that’s the best time to go because at that time it wasn’t crowded at all also you have to take off your shoes to enter the Imambara and walking barefoot at least 2 hours specially in summer is not going to be an easy task so its better to plan early morning visit, It's takes about 2 hours to complete sightseeing including Sahi Bauli and Asfi mosque.
The only drawback what I felt, the property should have been better preserved, the place has so much to offer ,Its symbol of our glorious history.
3.Picture Gallery :- This place is just next to the iconic Clock Tower, However you'll end up really disappointed if you are an art lover because this place has nothing much to offer except some display of life size portraits of the erstwhile Nawabs with some illusion.
The problems I encountered with at Picture Gallery:-
Unprofessional Guides-They will force you to hire them.No sufficient details are available along with paintings, so if you want to know the story behind those paintings you have to hire them at unreasonable price.
No Photography Zone -You can't take any pictures inside ,Its strictly prohibited.
4.Rumi Darwaza:- It is one of the extremely beautiful architectural structure ,Lucknow is known for .It is very close to Bara Imambara, the structure is maintained very well, good place to take photos.A must visit place.
If you are visiting Lucknow and want to witness the greatness of Awadh architecture, then this place should be on your bucket list, however as its standing on one of the busiest road of the city ,there is always heavy traffic- so just take extra care while doing your photography .
5.The Unfinished Satkhanda:- Initially It was supposed to have 7 stories building ,infact ‘Satkhanda’ means Seven-Storeyed, but unfortunately only four level of it could be completed. As per legend construction started during the time of Nawab Mohammad Ali Shah-However his untimely demise interrupted the construction.
6.Chota Imambara:-It is located adjacent to the Bara Imambara , Chota Imambara is not as big as Bara Imambara, however It has its own charm, exterior is just amazing , but the inside is the real attraction, well decorated, beautiful chandeliers in many shapes, designs and colors are everywhere, and it has been preserved really beautifully. You can see "Taziya" of different era. I found The Shahi Hamam is quite an attractive place but poorly kept.
7.Clock Tower :- Also known as Husainabad Clock Tower ,It is located adjacent to the Rumi Darwaza and Picture Gallery. It is a major landmark of Lucknow, built in 1881, It is said to be the tallest clock tower in India and only second clock tower of the world after the Big Ben London, interesting isn't it?
8.Hazratganj:- What a place ,its like the heart of the city, truly this is the most happening place in Lucknow. Here you will find almost everything from good restaurant and countless street food joints, cafe houses to high end branded show rooms.The only problem I faced was heavy traffic jam because of ongoing Metro construction in the area.
I had some of the best food While wandering around the streets of Hazratganj. As per my recommendation if you are a foodie, and if you haven't tried already , Here are a couple of places that you must try out if you happen to go to Hazratganj, Lucknow:-
1.Moti Mahal ki Kulfi:- located at one of the busiest street of the Hazratganj, they serve some amazing kulfi falooda,Halwas, and various Indian & Chinese cuisine however my recommendations would be- go for kulfi falooda first thing.
2. Royal Cafe ki Basket Chat:-I Loved everything about this place, It's most famous for its basket chat and kulfi falooda, I tried that and it was really delicious. Must visit!
9.Aminabad:- It is one of the biggest shopping market in Lucknow. fully crowded with fun loving people's, If you want to feel the real Lucknow, just take a walk around the Aminabad, Here you will find everything you need at the best price,its hub for world famous Lakhnawi chicken dresses .
For food lovers Aminabad is the place where you will find famous Tundai Kebabs and Prakash Kulfi. Must visit location in Lucknow to experience the real charm of Lucknow.
10.British Residency:- Its a famous landmark of Lucknow , the place has important connection with the Indian independence struggle , This was the place where we fought and won our first battle of independence in 1857. Worth a visit.
Entry Fee:-
• 25.00 Rs per person for Indian Citizens
• 300.00 Rs per person for Foreigners
Timing :- Sunrise to Sunset every day .
11.Chowk:- One of the oldest market in the state, uncountable small and big shops,I visited it in the evening,so it was over crowded,at Gol dawaza you will find many tiny stalls selling “makhan”- famous in lucknow.
12.Ambedkar Park:- First thing first ,let me admit this was the biggest park I have ever seen or let me correct myself here i would love to say its not a park actually,its massive Memorial structure ,dedicated to all those great men who dedicated their lives for the humanity.
I just loved this place , calm and peaceful, if you are in Lucknow, go and visit this park at least once to witness some of the finest modern piece of architect. its just impressive.It is just impressive .
Entry Fee:-
• 15.00 Rs per person for Indian Citizens
Timing :- 11 A.M to 9P.M Everyday
Did you find this blog post helpful? let me know in the comment section.Now its time to end my story here , Travel as much as you can,life’s really not meant to be lived in one place, let me know for your dream of travelling what’s the biggest thing you’re struggling with right now that I can help you with?
With Love !!
Ashu...
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