This north Indian city along the Gomti River has grand 18th-century buildings like the Bara Imambara, authentic Awadhi kebab stalls, and artisans crafting traditional chikan embroidery.
Lucknow sits along the Gomti River in Uttar Pradesh, where you can walk through the 18th-century Bara Imambara's maze-like corridors, eat kebabs at the century-old Tunday Kababi, and watch artisans create chikan embroidery in Aminabad Market. The city's architecture includes the 60-foot-tall Rumi Darwaza gate and the intricate Chota Imambara, while its streets contain both colonial-era buildings and modern shopping districts.
Exploring Bara Imambara Complex
The Bara Imambara's main hall spans 50 meters without pillars or beams supporting its ceiling. You can climb to the Bhool Bhulaiya, a maze of 489 identical doorways spread across three stories. The complex opens daily from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with an entrance fee of ₹50 for Indian citizens and ₹500 for international visitors. Hire a guide at the entrance to understand the architecture and navigate the maze safely.
Awadhi Food
Lucknow's cooks prepare meat dishes over slow fires and layer biryanis in sealed pots. At Hazratganj and Chowk areas, you'll smell kebabs cooking on charcoal grills and see bakers pulling fresh bread from clay ovens. Try Makhan Malai, a whipped cream dessert with saffron and pistachios, sold by street vendors from sunrise until 9:00 AM. In winter, stop for pink Kashmiri tea served in clay cups throughout the old city.
Shopping in Aminabad
Aminabad Market's shops sell chikan embroidery - white threadwork on cotton and muslin clothing. Visit between 10:00 AM and noon to avoid crowds and get better prices. The market's lanes contain spice sellers, jewelry shops, and textile stores. Look for the signature six-point chikan stitch on garments to verify authentic local work.
Getting Around Lucknow
Buses run on 35 routes across the city from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Auto-rickshaws work well for 2-3 kilometer trips, while cycle rickshaws can navigate the narrow lanes of old Lucknow. The metro connects Charbagh Railway Station to Hazratganj with trains every 6 minutes during peak hours. Download the Lucknow Metro app for real-time schedules.
Science and Nature Stops
The Saturn-shaped Indira Gandhi Planetarium runs 40-minute astronomy shows in Hindi and English at 1:00 PM, 3:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. At Nawab Wahid Ali Shah Zoological Park, you can see Bengal tigers, Indian rhinoceros, and white peacocks. The park's mini-train circles the 71-acre grounds every 30 minutes. Visit the Kukrail Forest Reserve's crocodile center to see gharials and mugger crocodiles in their breeding pools.
