By Ashish Arora on October 30, 2016
Lucknow tour and old city
Those old historical architectures and after a few steps ahead that new infrastructural brilliance, together provide an amazing sense of fusion between old and new. There is something unique in this place, you can feel it only if you are here physically. Weather was rainy and mind was full of excitement, when I was in the city of Nawabs.
It’s not that I visited Lucknow for the first time. I had been the state capital of Uttar Pradesh for many times. Earlier, I had spent a few days to months here on different occasions. Even I had to be here during my internship last time. However, this time I was there just to visit some of the worth see places in Lucknow as a traveler. There are many destinations to visit in Lucknow. I wanted to take a round of a few most important spots of old Lucknow.
Lucknow tour and old city
It’s strong, chilling wind in the morning and a few children are flying kites at the bank of river Yamuna. I just took a walk around the bank and took enchanting experience of the marvelous sight. Let’s move now to the city and check the best of the old Lucknow. As I entered the Residency, there were already feelings of so many unheard voices of British Raj. The voices seem coming out from the ruins of those old structures. The ruins of Raj era are half revealed and half hidden by greenery. It’s probably to keep you from seeing and hearing the cruelty of that time.
Let’s move towards other spots. Charbagh Railway Station is the architecture of worth visit in itself. While you cross the gate of the Quiser Bagh, you can feel the old times of the city in live mode. Lal Baradari and Safed Baradari are some other important historical monuments to visit in Lucknow. And as it is evening now, it’s the best time to be in Husainabad. Here, you feel like time-machine has taken to hundreds of years back in the history. Husainabad clock tower, Rumi Darwaza, Bada Imambara and Chota Imambara are the best places to visit in and around Husainabad, Lucknow.
Old Lucknow connects to history
The best experience of being at Bara Imambara is to be at the roof of the Bhul-Bhulaiya (the labyrinth), and standing by the railing to take a look of the entire compound. Other must see spot here is the Bowli, a step well with running water. Further, as you walk from Bara Imambara towards Rumi Darwaza, you cannot miss out the high rise Husainabad Clock Tower beside the road. After sunset, the beautiful lights on the clock tower give the whole area a mesmerising view.
Walking ahead, you see Rumi Darwaza or Turkish Gate in front you, standing as a logo of Lucknow. Once you cross it, you cannot resist from taking a look of the gate from this side too. You are just a few steps away from the Chota Imambara. The look of Chota Imambara compound becomes more engrossing with glittering of decorative electric lights. Therefore, it is also called the Palace of Lights. The calm water-bodies and fountains give the area more engrossing touch.
When you are in the city of Nawabs, don’t forget to have a visit to the gardens and parks. And also, never miss out a walk to the markets of Lucknow. The nature and crowd of these places can give you an unforgettable experience during your travel in the city. There are many more historical and natural places to visit in Lucknow that you can visit if you have enough time to be in the city. However, I wanted to share only a few most important landmarks of old Lucknow in this write-up.
