I have arrived in Lucknow - the capital city of the populous North-Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on my way to Dudhwa National Park. A visual treat to land at 6.30 am at the imposing Charbagh Railway Station built in 1914 that blends the best in Mughal & Rajput architecture. The city lies on the banks of the River Gomti that lends it an additional charm that only a water-body can add to the landscape. With just a day in hand, I check out some of the the well known monuments of the old city. Truly an interesting insight into the grandeur of days gone by.
Lucknow is best experienced through the medium of cycle rickshaws. First on the itinerary is the Shah Najaf Imambara built by Nawab Ghazi-ud-din Haider as a burial ground for himself & his 3 wives. It is a replica of Hazrat Ali's burial in Najaf in Iraq
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| entrance to the Shah Najaf Imambara |
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| the interior corridors |
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| an ornate door |
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| the mausoleums |
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| An interesting old building used as an office |
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| An old Church probably the St. Joseph's Cathedral |
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| More old structures |
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| above & below: Mausoleum of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan & his Begum Khurshid zadi near the begum Hazrat Mahal Park |
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| And amidst all the old structures, a swanky new building! |
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| A Sunni Mosque close to the Bada Imambara |
And finally, after winding my way through structures old & new, I get my sighting of the Asafi (Bada) Imambara. I
t was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784 and
is one of the architectural wonders of that era. Its central hall is said to be
the largest vaulted chamber in the world. Except for the galleries in the
interior, there is no woodwork in the entire structure. It has large
underground passages which have been blocked up. A staircase from outside leads
to a series of labyrinths known as Bhool-Bhulaiyan which is a complicated
entanglement of zig-zag pass.
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| View of the bada Imambara |
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| Above & below: Before entering the gate of the Bada Imambara, I am enchanted by this beautiful view of the imposing Rumi Darwaza 50 ft high (Turkish gate) |
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| Above & following pictures :The magnificent Bada Imambara |
Below: The construction of Jama Masjid, to the north-west of Bada Imambara, was started in 1832 AD during the reign
of Mohammad Ali Shah but was completed after his death by his begum, Nawab
Malika Janah. It is entirely free from the pseudo-Italian art then in vogue in
Lucknow and reflects the Mughal style of architecture.
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| Above & below: interior views of the Bara Iambara including the ornate Tazias |
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| View from the Bara Imambara |
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| Bhoo Bulaya is part of the Bara Imambara consisting a series of narrow passages that are intertwined so well that it can confuse anyone & hence the name of Bhool Bulaya. very Interesting architecture! You need a guide if you do not wish to get lost!!! |
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| More views from the bada Imambara - view of the King George's Hospital |
