At a glance Located 516 km east of New Delhi on the southern bank of River Gomti, this city of Nawabs is spread over an area of 79 km. About the city Lucknow is courtesy, culture and chivalry epitomised. Capital of Uttar Pradesh situated on the bank of River Gomti, Lucknow is a perfect blend of the traditional, modern and the ultra-modern. The city's glorious yesterday is evident in its art, architecture, craft, literature, dance and music. The brave sentinels of yesterday, though crumbling and dilapidated, give a glimpse of the aura of the mighty Nawabs. However, modern Lucknow is very much akin to any other city with typical traits of unplanned development, pollution and crowded streets. But that not deter you, come take a plunge! 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. How to reach By Air Lucknow is well connected with the other important towns and cities of the country by air. Most of the domestic flight operators have regular scheduled flights to the Lucknow airport Amausi, which is about 15 km away from the main city area. By Rail Lucknow Roadways Almost all the major train routes touch this city. With the two major railway junctions namely Charbagh and Lucknow that lie side by side, one has a variety of choices for travelling to and from the city. By Road Lucknow is very well connected by a network of roads and road transport to all major towns of Uttar Pradesh and surrounding areas. Delhi is 497 km from Lucknow, Agra is 363 km away, Allahabad is 238 km, Dehradun is 582 km, Kanpur is 77 km, and Varanasi is 300 km. Getting Around: The city has commendable bus service in terms of connectivity and one can reach any part of the city very economically. A word of caution is in terms of reckless driving. Cycle rickshaws and tempos are best options for short distances. There are also Vikrams, which are like mini-buses and ply on various routes at a fixed price. Chauffeur-driven cars can be hired, but self-driven ones are not available. Distances Best Seasons Lucknow is situated in the upper Gangetic plains of the country. Therefore, the climate of this region is characterized by hot and humid summers but cold and chilly winters. Summers generally start by the end of March and remains till June. Immediately monsoon takes over and gives the people of Lucknow a much-needed relief from the heat. October is the time when winter starts and it remains for almost five months, i.e., till February end. The best time to visit Lucknow would be winter, i.e., between October and February, when the climate is pleasant and comfortable, making it easy to travel. Places in and around Bada Imambada Bada Imambada The Bada Imambada was built by Asaf-ud-Daula in the year 1784 as a part of the famine relief project where a number of labourers were appointed to build this Imambada. 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 Hussainabad Imambada 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 Clock Tower 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. 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.