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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 India’s 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.