Exactly 250 years ago, Asaf-ud-Daula — the fourth nawab of Awadh – made a bold move. Claiming the throne soon after his father’s demise, he moved to Lucknow and made it the power centre. When he set up his court, Lucknow – which was an important economic centre in those days – also became the…
When Asaf-ud-Daula decided to make Lucknow the capital of Awadh, he had rather made a choice. Lucknow was an economic centre in the times of his great grandfather Saadat Khan Buhran-ul-Mulk. In fact many of the older mohallas of Lucknow were established by the founder Nawab, Buhran-ul-Mulk.Author Rosie Llewellyn Jones in her book ‘A Fatal…
In the narrow, bustling lanes of Akbari Gate, where the air is thick with the aroma of kebabs, biryani and spices, stands a century-old eatery — Raheem’s — the city’s go-to address for one dish that defines Lucknow like no other: the legendary Kulcha-Nahari.Tucked along the road from Akbari Gate towards Gol Darwaza, the eatery…
Many cities and towns around the world share the name of Lucknow or its localities, often due to historical influence, colonisation, or migration of people.Tucked away in Bruce County, Canada, lies a quaint town that’s steeped in history and vibrant community life. What’s fascinating about this town in Ontario is that it the namesake of…
In the heart of Uttar Pradesh’s capital, a majestic emblem has been silently narrating the tale of Lucknow’s rich heritage – the iconic twin fish symbol, an architectural marvel that has captivated the imagination of residents, visitors, and travellers alike. This distinctive motif, intricately woven into the fabric of the city’s historical monuments, traditional buildings,…
They were feisty, talented & resilient. the over-a-century-long rule of awadh is incomplete without their untold storyBranching out from the Mughals, the Nawabs ruled over the heartland of India nestled in Awadh for over 125 years (1732-1857). The dynastic history begins with the appointment of Mir Muhammad Amin Saadat Khan Bahadur Buhran-ul-Mulk as the governor…
After being deposed and exiled by the British in 1856, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah spent three decades of his life in Metiabruz where he created a miniature Lucknow and transported the city’s culture thereOver the years, the meandering street named after Nawab Wajid Ali Shah in Kolkata’s Metiabruz, a distortion of the original Matiya Burj…
Stone, steel and struggle; iconic bridges on Gomti By Venkatesh DuttaA city of grace and grandeur, Lucknow lives on as a symbol of India’s layered history and timeless charm. Bridges on the Gomti river are not just engineering feats but reflections of the Awadh capital’s changing times — its wealth, fears, rebellions, and resilience.Lucknow’s historic…
‘Paan kahta hai ki main sookh ke mar jaoonga. Ai lab-e-yaar agar tu ne na chooma mujhko’. (The betel leaf says it would wither away, unfulfilled, if not kissed by its lover’s lips.) This evocative verse of historian Nadeem Hasnain captures the essence of Lucknow’s iconic paan, an integral part of the city’s renowned mehman…
Lucknow’s architecture showcases a rich tapestry of global influences, from Mughal grandeur and Nawabi elegance to French Gothic and British colonial styles From the Far East to Europe and Australia, there is a stamp of world’s finest architecture in the proud monuments of Lucknow. On a whistle stop tour of the buildings, Vivek Singh Chauhan…
