Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, India.

Understand

Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, thrives along the banks of Gomti river. The city, Awadh and Uttar Pradesh fell to the British during imperialistic era . Today, Lucknow is dotted with remnants of its rich cultural past.

Lucknow is also known for its elaborate cuisine and 'Chikankaari' or exquisite shadow-work embroidery on fine muslin cloth.

Lucknow is a historically important city and for many centuries was at the heart of North Indian culture. In particular, the city was famous for its ''Adab'' and ''Tehzeeb'' (manners and hospitality), intricate embroidery, beautiful gardens and dance forms such as ''Kathak''. It was also one of the sites of the 1857 Indian Mutiny (or First War of Indian Independence). The Hindi spoken in Lucknow is considered the most beautiful and gentle in the country. Currently the city has a population of around 2.5 million.

Lucknow is the heart of the art, cuisine, dance, culture and music of Northern India. It was the cradle of the Hindu-Muslim-Sikh symbioses that made India great. it brought in the best of various cultures and accepted Western institutions like La Martiniere in her womb. It was made famous by the soft-spoken, and sweet tongued, Awadh-Lucknowai culture that was based on "civilized behaviour" toward fellow human beings. Lucknow is the home of Urdu, Hindustani and Hindi languages. The city became known as a centre for Urdu poetry and courtly presence and diction, being the birthplace and city of residence for many poets. The Mushaira, an event of poetry recitation forms the heart of Lucknow's nightlife where Mushairas go on into the wee hours of the night. Lucknow's only rival in Northern India was Delhi, though Lucknowies were always embroiled in a healthy rivalry with Delhi, home of the famous poet Ghalib and others. Lucknow is also famous for its sweetmeat - the sweet shops in the old city dates to 1850s. Awadhi and mughlai food is the delight of the visitors to Lucknow.

Get in

By plane

There are daily flights from Delhi, Bombay, Kolkata and Patna. 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.

The Important Contact for Lucknow Railways are as below:-

Railways Manual Enquiry 131, 135, 2636132 Pre Recorded 1331, 1332 Reservation 1330, 1350, 0522-2635841 Badshahnagar 0522-2385182

0522 is Lucknow STD code.

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 - 300 km.

By bus

The Bus Stations are situated at Charbagh, Alambagh, and Kaisar Bagh.

The telephone number for Roadways Inter State Bus Terminal Alambagh is: 0522-2458096

Buses from Sunauli-Bhairawa on the India/Nepal border stop on their way to Varanasi.

Get around

From Lucknow to New Delhi: There is a luxury air-conditioned bus from Quaiser Bagh Bus station. Route for this bus is Lucknow - Sitapur - Bareilly - Muradabad - Gaziabad - New Delhi [Anand Vihar ISBT]

Taxi and riksha drivers in Lucknow are of the more insistent type, although few of them will speak enough English to go to locations that are out of the way.

By Car (Local)

You can easily visit Lucknow with a car, as there are many car rental companies available. One should hire cars with local drivers as traffic is dangerous for anybody not used to local traffic conditions.

  • '''Enterprises Car Rental'''
  • '''Savaari Car Rental''
  • '''Hertz Car Rental'''
  • '''Green Cabs (Call +91-9305670357)'''
  • By Bus

    See

    The sights are spread out over a large distance and will require the use of taxis or rickshaws.

  • '''Bara Imambara and Bhool Bhulaiya'''. A large and imposing complex built in 1783.
  • '''Rumi Darwaza'''
  • '''Chhota Imambara'''. An imposing mausoleum built by the third Nawab of Avadh in 1837.
  • '''La Martiniere College''' (boys) Building also known as 'Constantia' - La Martiniere College is one of the oldest schools in the country. [http://www.lamartinierelucknow.org/] It was built in 1840 and started as a school in 1845. The school building is still well mantained. Best time to visit is either in the morning 8AM when one can see the assembly or after the school gets over at 1:30PM. The building has featured in several Bollywood movies also.
  • '''Husainabad Clock Tower''' British landmark
  • '''Ruins of the Lucknow Residency''' and Museum
  • '''Dilkusha ruins'''
  • '''Qaiserbagh complex'''
  • '''Crocodile sanctuary at Kukrail'''
  • '''The Ram Krishna Math''' (Nirala Nagar)
  • '''The Zoo/Museum'''
  • '''Botanical Gardens''' open to the public 6-8.30 am
  • '''Buddha Park'''
  • '''Shahid Smarak'''
  • '''Cathedral School''' in Hazaratganj
  • '''Farangi Mahal'''. (The Oxford and Cambride of our India--Author/poet Shibli Naumani). For more details see book by Dr. Francis Robinson on the "Ulema of Farangi Mahal"
  • '''Colvin Taluqdars College''' Also a must see place it has great architecture built in 1869 named after Sir Auckland Colvin
  • Do

  • '''Sahara Ganj Shopping Mall & PVR Cinemas''', Shahnajaf Road
  • '''East End Mall & Wave Cinemas''', Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar
  • '''Fun Republic Mall & Fun Cinemas''', Adjacent Eldeco Greens, Gomti Nagar
  • '''Hazaratganj''', the center of the city
  • '''Nadiya Ke Paar''' Near Laxman Mela Maidan
  • '''Aminabad Market'''
  • '''NBRI (National Botanical research institute)
  • '''Deva Shariff, around 30 km from the city, A place of worship and faith where people from all the religions gather, a symbol of unity and love.
  • '''Amrapali water park
  • '''Chowk for shopping
  • '''Ambedkar Park
  • '''Ram manohar Lohiya park.
  • Buy

  • '''Nishatganj"
  • '''Aminabad'''
  • '''Hazratganj Market'''
  • '''Chowk'''
  • '''Kapoorthala'''
  • Kapoorthla" "Sahara Ganj" "FUN Republic" "Inox"

    '''Chikan dress''' - a cotton dress with hand-made embroidery, is a must-buy in Lucknow. These garments are both for men and women. The cost is any where between Rs 250-2500 depending on the chikan work (hand embroidery work on cloth is of various types, "Murri" is the traditional handwork and is therefore a little more expensive). In old Chowk and Aminabad it is a small scale industry so it is cheaper to buy from there. Bhartiya Chikan Centre and Manoj Chikan, on Nadan Mahal Road are reasonably priced. In Hajratganj ("Ganj") the same piece will cost some 200 rupees more. Beware of the touts who will take you to shops near the Civil Hospital and Hussain Ganj where the prices are 500% higher!

    Eat

    Everyone in Lucknow knows about the famous tikkas and kebabs. They are Mughal delicacies. Dastharkwan near Tulsi theatre, Alzaiqa near Novelty theatre, Lalbagh, many roadside hotels near Aminabad and old Chowk offer cheap and unique type of dishes. If you are looking in the "splurge" range, Royal Cafe, Aryan's etc in Hazratganj will cater to your needs.The Food Court at Sahara Ganj, near Hazrat Ganj is the recent hot favourite with a number of fast food joints including McDonald's.

  • The famous '''Tundey's Kebabs''' are available at Aminabad & now at much convenient location of Food Court, Sharaganj Mall. Apart from the roadside hotels in Aminabad, Tundae which has been serving kebabs for more than 50 years is a place of must visit.
  • A lesser-known but distinctly better joint for connoisseurs is '''Sakhawat''' which is located in a narrow lane next to Gymkhana Club, near Gemini Hotel, Hazratgunj. It is open only evenings [5am-10pm]. Operating since 1911, it has a limited stock and little seating space, with a select clientele.
  • For those who want to be a little adventurous, you can go to Akbari Gate (any public transportation will take you there). This is in the heart of Old Lucknow. Here you can to Haji Sahib's shop for the juiciest Nihari (Lamb shanks in gravy) and Kulchha (a traditional bread). This is the best in the city and is only available between 7-10am.
  • In the same area, during winters one can also enjoy Kashmiri Tea (a red coloured hot tea), with cream and Makhan Malai (a local variant of ice cream - saffron flavoured, made by hanging unsalted butter overnight in dew and then aerating it by beating it)

    For some lounge action head towards Mint at Arif Castle and Ultra Violet in Mall Avenue. These places offer non-alcoholic beverages and great food. Food festivals are common at these places.

    If coffee and tea is something you like you will find a huge variety at Capuccino Blast at Mall Avenue. Sharma Tea House, Lalbagh and Kewal's, Outside Maqbara Compound, Hazratganj are famous for their tea and mouth watering samosas (Potato stuffed pancake)

  • '''McDonalds''' available at Saharganj Shopping Mall, Fun Republic & East End Mall.
  • '''Pizza Hut''' available at East End Mall & Opposite Raj Bhawan
  • '''Dominos''' available at Hazratganj & Faizabad Road
  • Try out the street next to Tulsi thatre in Hazratganj for some exotic non-vegetarian delicacies, specially the '''Dastarkhwan''' with its special chicken masala, shaami kebabs and mughlai parathaas
  • '''Paani Batashe and basket Chat
  • ''' Moti mahal, Royal Cafe, Nawab's, Prakash kulfi etc
  • ''' Ram Aasre, Chhappan Bhog are among the best sweet shops in the city.
  • '''Kachori shop near leela cinema hall
  • '''KFC is also available at Saharaganj a famous mall/multiplex
  • '''Cheap and delicious non-veg food is also available at Dainik Jagaran chauk.
  • Drink

    Finding alcohol is not a problem, but most bars are seedy and are to be avoided, except for those in five-star restaurants.

  • A safer drink alternative is the famous local lassi yogurt drink.
  • shikanji.
  • not all retail shops of wine/liquor are authorised to serve so it's always suggested to drink in a bar or at your home or hotel.
  • Sleep

    Budget

  • '''Hotel APSARA'''
  • '''Hotel D D International'''
  • '''Hotel Ganpati'''
  • '''Hotel Asha'''
  • '''Hotel Basant Vihar'''
  • '''Hotel Park Avadh'''
  • '''Hotel Raj'''
  • '''Hotel Mera Mann'''
  • '''Hotel Ganga Maiya'''
  • '''Hotel Sunrise'''
  • '''Deep Hotel'''
  • '''Hotel Diamond'''
  • '''Hotel Naznin Palace'''
  • '''Hotel Dileep'''
  • '''Hotel Ankit Yadav from NIEC'''
  • '''Hotel Ashirwad'''
  • '''Hotel Mansi Ganga''' near charbagh railway station ph 0522-2630513,2637841
  • Hotel Manglam. 915224047797. ttp://www.hotelmanglamlucknow.com. ates start at India Rupees 1,290.00">Hotel Manglam is a three star hotel in Lucknow City. It is close to some of the tourist spots in India namely Aminabad, Husainabad Clock Tower, and Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary. All of their rooms are air-conditioned and is equipped with 100-channel cable TV, broadband Internet connection, and direct-dial phone. 92, Gautam Budh Marg, Opp Old R.T.O. Office, Latouche Road, Lucknow, 226001 India. </sleep>

    Mid range

  • Hotel Simla Palace. Gautam Budh Marg, Latouche Road, Lucknow 226001, Uttar Pradesh, India. 915224003887. ttp://www.hotelsimlapalace.com. Hotel Simla Palace is strategically located 1 km from the railway station and 13 km from Lucknow Airport. It is near to some of the famous tourist spots in India namely Bara Imambara, Husainabad Clock Tower, and Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens. Its accommodations come in Suite, Executive Class, and Superior types. All lodgings boast a television with 100 cable channels, private bath with hot & cold water, direct-dial phone, broadband Internet connection, and individual temperature control.

  • '''Hotel Gomati''' near Hazratgunj and Sharagunj mall is run by Uttar Pradesh Tourism and offers decent rooms at moderate cost.
  • '''''Hotel Gemini Continental'''''' Hazaratganj, Lucknow 0522-4011111
  • '''Hotel Sagar International''' Opposite Butler Palace
  • '''Comfort Inn''' Vibhuti Khand, Gomti Nagar
  • '''Park Inn''' Laplace
  • '''Arif Castles''' Rana Pratap Marg
  • '''Carlton''' Rana Pratap Marg
  • Splurge

  • '''Hotel Taj Residency''' Gomti Nagar. ''+91 522'' 239 3939( ''fax:''+91 522'' 239 2282 ''''+91 522'' 239 2465''), [http://www.tajhotels.com]. One of the landmark hotels of Lucknow
  • '''Clarks Avadh''' Parivartan Chowk, Mahatma Gandhi Marg is one of the more centrally located hotels in Lucknow. The restaurant named "Falaknuma" at the ninth floor has the right ambience to enjoy a Mughlai dinner with awesome views of the city. The Murg Malai Tikka is recommended.
  • '''Piccadily Hotel''' Airport Road. It is new addition to the luxury hoetls of Lucknow. Just 3 Kms from Lucknow Airport.
  • Get out