Tourist attractions in Lucknow

It is a big vaulted hall with a length of 50 m and a height of 15 m. There is also the bhul bhulaiya-an amazing maze that might need a tourist guide to get through.

There's also a mosque, but non-Muslims are not allowed to enter. The mosque has two tall minarets in the courtyard complex, which lies on the left side of the well.

Rumi Darwaza:
Asaf-ud-Daula built a number of historical monuments during his time. The Rumi Darwaza was also built as a relief work during the famine of 1783. Said to be a facsimile of one of the gates of Constantinople, this soaring edifice, which is 60 feet high, can match any similar structure in point of beauty and splendour.

Husainabad Imambada:
The Husainabad Imambada is also known as Chhota Imambada. This imambada was the brainchild of Mohammed Ali Shah, who built it in 1837. It is believed to be the mausoleum of Mohammed Ali Shah himself. The imambada also encloses a tank with small imitations of the Taj Mahal on each side. One of those imitations is the tomb of Mohammed's daughter and the other one is of her husband. The main imambada is topped by a golden dome, which is supposed to be the tomb of Ali Shah and his mother. There also lies the incomplete watchtower called the satkhanda just opposite the tomb. The construction of this tower was withdrawn when Ali Shah died in 1840 and only the four storeys were made. There is also the tallest clock tower estimated to be 67 m high overlooking the Husainabad tank. The Imambada is illuminated during the Muharram giving it a wonderful look.

Residency:
The ruins of Lucknow Residency give a clear picture of the British rule in India. It was the Mansion of East India Company's agent in Avadh during the Sepoy Mutiny. This historical monument lies just near to the Hazratganj area which is the centre of the city.

Jami Masjid:
To the western side of the Husainabad Imambada lies the Jami Masjid. The construction of the Masjid was started by Mohammed Shah and was completed by his wife after his death in the 1840s. Jami Masjid is the largest mosque of Lucknow. Though non-Muslims are not allowed to worship here, one can see the wonderful paintings on the ceilings with the leaf and fruit bowl patterns. To the right side of the Bada Imambada lies another mosque named after Asaf-ud-Daula.

Picture Gallery:
The picture gallery was built in the 19th century near the clock tower of Husainabad Imambada. The picture gallery has a number of portraits of almost all the Nawabs of Lucknow. This picture gallery gives a good insight of the past when the Nawabs used to be the sole authority of the entire area.

Banarsi Bagh:
There is also a zoo with a big gate where one can get a good view of the green surroundings and the tiny cages of some of the animal species. The zoo is locally known as the Banarsi Bagh. Within the zoo ground is the state museum where a number of impressive historical items are kept. The splendid collection of stone sculptures that have been brought from Mathura is a must see. Besides all other collected items there is also an Egyptian mummy, which attracts a lot of attention. There's also a statue of queen Victoria and some of Her highness's court men, which is kept in the garden area of the museum complex.

Weekend Trips/Excursions:

There are several places to see and visit near Lucknow too.

Faizabad:
Faizabad, situated 124 km from Lucknow, was once the capital of Avadh. Easily accessible by both trains and buses, this place houses the Fort Calcutta built by the third Nawab of Avadh, Suja-ud-Daula. Besides this, one can also visit the mausoleum of Bahu Begum and Gulab Bari.

Ayodhya:
Just 6 km away from Faizabad is the holy town Ayodhya where one of the most popular incarnations of Lord Vishnu and the hero of the epic Ramayana, Lord Ram, was born. It has a large number of temples all over the town. The atmosphere of the town is filled with religious fervour and piety.

Ayodhya is easily accessible by buses and taxis that run from the Lucknow city. Tourists can approach state government buses or private tour operators who rent out taxis as well as buses on request.

Sravasti:
Situated 150 km northwest of Lucknow is Sravasti. The Buddhist monastery Jetavana is an important site to visit here, as it is believed that Lord Gautama Buddha preached here after he got his enlightenment. After the death of Buddha, this monastery got royal patronage. This place is also accessible by the available modes of road transport.

Kanpur:
Kanpur, at a distance of 77 km from Lucknow, is a modern industrial city of Uttar Pradesh. One of the first cotton mills of the country was set up here. Besides, this city also has some historical monuments to visit. Kanpur is accessible by almost all the modes of transport from Lucknow of which trains and buses are the preferred ones.

Events and Festivals:
Lucknow has been famous for its Muharram celebration since the time of the Nawabs. Due to the majority population of the city belonging to the Shia Muslim community, almost every Muslim festival is celebrated here with great enthusiasm.

Lucknow Mahotsav is a major event today, which is celebrated in the months of November/December. In this festive event, the rich cultural heritage of the city is showcased. In this 10-day festival, events like plays, classical and semi classical music and dance recitals, kite flying and Tonga races take place.