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| LUCKNOW TRAVEL GUIDE Located in what was historically known as the Awadh region, Lucknow has always been a multicultural city. Courtly manners, beautiful gardens, poetry, music, and fine cuisine patronized by the Nawabs are well known among Indians and students of South Asian culture and history. Lucknow is popularly known as the The City of Nawabs. It is also known as the Golden City of the East, Shiraz-i-Hind and The Constantinople of India. Today, Lucknow is a vibrant city that is witnessing an economic boom and is among the top ten fastest growing non-metropolitan cities of India. The unique combination of its cultured grace and newly acquired pace is its most promising feature that augurs well for the future. The ancient history of Lucknow is believed to begin after the Suryawanshi king Lord Rama ordered his younger brother Lakshman to establish a town at the present site of Lakshman Tila. Lucknow was named Lakshmanpuri or Lakhanpuri after him. Slowly the name Lakhanpuri became 'Lakhnau' and then named 'Lucknow' by the British. After 1350 AD the Lucknow and parts of Awadh region have been under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate ,the Mughal Empire, the Nawabs of Awadh, the East India Company and the British Raj. Lucknow has been one of the major centers of First War of Independence, participated actively in Indias Independence movement, and after Independence has emerged as an important city of North India. Until 1819, subah of Awadh was a province of the Mughal Empire administered by a Governor appointed by the Emperor. Saadat Khan also called Burhan-ul-Mulk a Persian adventurer was appointed the Nazim of Awadh in 1722 and he established his court in Faizabad [1] near Lucknow. Awadh was known as the granary of India and was important strategically for the control of the Doba, the fertile plain between the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers. It was a wealthy kingdom, able to maintain its independence against threats from the Marathas, the British and the Afghans. The third Nawab, Shuja-ud-Daula fell out with the British after aiding Mir Qasim, the fugitive Nawab of Bengal. He was comprehensively defeated in the Battle of Buxar by the East India Company, after which he was forced to pay heavy penalties and cede parts of his territory. The British appointed a resident in 1773, and over time gained control of more territory and authority in the state. They were disinclined to capture Awadh outright, because that would bring them face to face with the Marathas and the remnants of the Mughal Empire. Lucknow's rise to growth and fame begins with its elevation as capital of Awadh by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah. He was a great philanthropist and gave Lucknow a unique and enduring legacy. The architectural contributions of these Awadh rulers include several imposing monuments. Of the monuments standing today, the Bara Imambara, the Chhota Imambara, and the Roomi Darwaza are notable examples. One of the more lasting contributions by the Nawabs is the syncretic composite culture that has come to be known as the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb.. GENERAL INFORMATION Time zone IST (UTC+5:30) Area 3,204 kmē (1,237 sq mi) Elevation 123 m (404 ft) District(s) Lucknow Population 2,800,000 (2006) Density 331/kmē (857/sq mi) Language(s) Hindi, Urdu PLACE TO VISIT The Asafi Imambara (popularly known as Bara Imambara), the Chhota Imambara, Residency, and Shah Najaf are monuments of architectural importance at Lucknow. The famous 'Bhul Bhulaiyan' (Labyrinth) is part of Asafi Imambara complex. Some other places of interest are the Picture Gallery, Chattar Manzil, State Museum/Lucknow Zoo, Shaheed Smarak, Dilkusha, Ambedkar Memorial, Planetarium, and Ram Krishna Math. The British-built architectural sights in Lucknow include the Vidhan Sabha (State Legislative Assembly ), the Clock Tower and the Charbagh Railway Station, with its distinctive domes, arches and pillars. Some of the oldest schools in India are also situated in Lucknow: La Martiniere Lucknow, St. Francis' College, Lucknow and the Colvin Taluqdar's College. Both of these schools have produced many eminent personalities. Lucknow has several well-kept parks that attract the citizenry in large numbers on evenings, holidays and weekends. The bigger parks are Ambedkar Memorial and Lohia park in Gomtinagar, Swarn Jayanti park and Aurobindo Park in Indiranagar, Dilkusha Park, Begum Hazrat Mahal Park, Globe Park, Mukherjee Phuhaar, Haathi Park, Buddha park, and Neebu Park. The sprawling National Botanical Garden at Sikandarbagh on the banks of Gomti river is also worth visiting. The city also has the Kukrail Reserve Forest(a picnic spot and Gharial rehablitaion centre).Moosa Bagh and Utretia are other popular picnic spots. Natural attractions accessible from Lucknow are Katarnia Ghat, Dudhwa National Park, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary and Samaspur Bird Sanctuary HOW TO REACH By plane - There are daily flights from Delhi, Bombay and Kolkata. Amausi Airport, Lucknow is directly connected with Delhi, Patna, Kolkata, Bombay and Varanasi by direct flights. Indian Airlines, Reservation Enquiry, Ph : (0522)220927 Flight Information - Amausi Airport, Enquiry - Ph : (0522)435401, 436188 (pre recorded - 142) Air India-Janata Travels, (General Sale Agent) Hotel Clarks Awadh, 8, M.g. Road, Ph: (0522)226171 Sahara India Airlines, Sahara India Tower, 7, Kapoorthala Complex, Ph : (0522)377675, 372742 By train - Lucknow is on the New Delhi - Varanasi railway route. Connections can be made to Agra and Allahabad. A major railway junction, Lucknow is conveniently connected to many cities. Some of the important trains are : 5307/5308 Shatabadi Ex. : 5063/5064; Nainital Ex; : 9165/9166; Sabarmati Exp : 2553/2554; Vaishali Exp : 5609/5610; Awadh-Assam Exp : 8475/8476; Neelanchal Exp : 4283/4284; Ganga- Yamuna Exp : 4229/4230 Lucknow Mail : 2419/2420; Gomti Exp : 4057/4058; Kashi- Vishwanath Exp : 4011/4012; Nauchandi Exp : 1015/1016; Bombay-Gorakhpur Exp : 5011/5012; Cochin-Gorakhpur Exp. By road - Lucknow is connected by road with all the major cities of the country. Some of the major road distances are : Agra - 363 km, Allahabad - 210 km, Ayodhya - 135 km, Kolkata - 985 km, Corbett National Park - 400 km, Delhi - 497 km, Dudhwa National Park - 238 km, Kanpur - 79 km, Khajuraho - 320 km, Varanasi - 650 km. |