Lucknow
Lucknow is a city in
India, the capital of
Uttar Pradesh. It is known for its role in the
Indian Mutiny - several hundred British were besieged there. Lucknow was the city of Nawabs of Oudh or
Awadh. During their regime (even though they were just nominal rulers), they built architecturally magnificent
palaces and
mosques. Bada (big) Imambara and Chota (small) Imamabara are two of the famous buildings in Lucknow. Roomi Darwaza, a huge
gate of the likes of India Gate and Gateway of India stands jus outside the Imambara. But due to lack of
tourists and resources, these buildings are turning into ruins with bill posters adorning the walls of these important heritage sites. The Art Gallery near Imambara contains the paintings of the Nawabs which look almost alive with the Nawabs following you with their eyes. The Vidhan Sabha (State Parlaiment) is another building to look at. One of the most beautiful buldings is, funnily enough, the Railway Station in Charbagh with its domes and pillars painted in yellow. No other railway station quite measures upto the architectural details of this station. One of the oldest schools in the world is also situated in Lucknow: La Martinaire founded in 1800s by Claude Martin. Important places around Lucknow are Kukrail, Malihabad(the home of indian Mangoes),
Kanpur,
Allahabad,
Varanasi, Mirzapur. Other good places to visit in Lucknow are CIMAP, NBRI (National Botanical Research Institute), ITRC.