LUCKNOW HISTORY

The origin & history of Lucknow is truly intriguing not just to the historians but also to the common man. The history of Lucknow can be traced back to the ancient times of the Suryavanshi Dynasty. It is said that Lakshmana, who was the brother of Lord Rama, laid the foundation of the ancient city. This was near the Gomti River on an elevated piece of land. It was then called Lakshmanpur. However, the city came into notice only during the 18th Century. To know more about Lucknow history, read further the information given below. 

It was during the year 1720 when the great Mughal emperors began to appoint Nawabs in order to ensure smooth administration in the province. In the year 1732, Mohammad Amir Saadat Khan was appointed as the viceroyal of Awadh, in which Lucknow was a major province. It was then that the powerful dynasty of the Nawabs, which changed the history of this unknown place. Under the rule of the Nawabs, Lucknow flourished like never before. After 1755, Lucknow grew by leaps and bounds under the rule of the fourth Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula. Lucknow flourished in each and every aspect, which includes poetry, dance, music and the other finer aspects of the lifestyle of Lucknow. 

It was when the British came to India that Lucknow was made into an administrative capital. There were many uprisings during the British rule by Indian radicals and many ghastly incidents left Lucknow with bad memories. However, after independence Lucknow was declared the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh by the Government of India. Since then it has progressed beautifully, merging skillfully the past with the present.

Lucknow is a historic city, which is located on the banks of river Gomti. Hindi is the official language of the city, however, here the language finds its origin from Urdu. Traditionally, it was the capital of Awadh Pradesh and was administered by the Delhi Sultanate during Mughal rule. In the later stages, it was given to the Nawabs of Awadh.
After Lord Clive defeated the armies of the Nawab of Bengal, Nawab of Awadh as well as the Mughals, it went under the rule of the East India Company. In the year 1857, it went into the hands of the British Empire.

With the support of Maulana Abdul Bari of Firangi Mahal Lucknow, the Khilafat movement gained a lot of momentum and formed a solid footing in the city. In the year 1920, Lucknow was declared the provincial capital of the United Provinces, later known as Uttar Pradesh.

Culture and Cuisine:

Lucknow, which is considered to be The Golden City Of The East, has still kept its old -world charm absolutely intact, which is an appealing feature for the tourists. It is no exaggeration to call the capital of Uttar Pradesh, one of the finest cities of  the country in terms of mannerisms and culture.

The culture of Lucknow has a great feel and is an amalgamation of complete sophistication, warmth, manners (etiquette), courtesy and a fine taste in standard of living. Many cultural traits of the city have become the landmarks of ‘Tehzeeb’.

A lot of importance here is given to dance, music, literature, Urdu poetry and drama. The Nawabs of Awadh are the ones who should be given a credit of this as they had an interest in every walk of life. They appreciated perfection in everything.

Lucknow’s cuisine, also known as Awadhi cuisine has a unique- Nawabi style. The major highlights are biryanis, kebabs and some breads (nahari-kulchas, roomali rotis and warqi parathas).

Kebabs actually a specialty, are of various types such as Tunde ke Kebabs, Kakori Kebabs, Shami Kebabs, Galawati Kebabs, Boti Kababs, Patili-ke-Kababs, Seekh Kebabs and Ghutwa Kababs. Lucknow can be called a paradise for food lovers.

Handicrafts:

Lucknow is extremely popular for Chikan and Lucknavi Zardozi. Both of these are two kinds of stylish and delicate Indian embroideries. The export of these rich materials, forms a significant part of the revenue to the city. There is a huge demand of both these handcrafted embroideries, not only in India but in overseas markets as well.

Along with this, the other famous industry is small scale kite-making industry. Other famous products of Lucknow are its ‘Ittars’ (perfumes) and ‘Kivam’ (a tobacco product). The markets of Lucknow are filled with other handicrafts such as silver and gold foil work, bone carving products and pottery.

Tourist Attractions:

Lucknow boasts of being home to various tourist attractions. Roomi gate, Bada Imambada, Shah Mina Shah, Tare Wali Kothi, Dilkusha, Khursheed Manzil, Satkhanda, Shahi Baoli, Nadan Mahal, Banarsi Bagh, Chattar Manzil are some of well-known attractions for tourists.

Best Time to Visit:

Although the city is flocked by a large number of tourists all round the year but the best time to visit Lucknow is between the months of October to March. This is the peak season in terms of tourism. The other months witness either scorching summers or extremely chilly winters.

How to Reach Lucknow:

Lucknow is well-connected by all three modes of transport and reaching here is quite easy:

a.    By Air

Lucknow has its own independent airport. Flights to Lucknow operate from various important cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi etc.

b.    By Rail

There are two main railway junctions, one is at Lucknow city center  and the other one is at Charbagh (around 3 kms from the city center). Trains from all major cities halt at these stations.

c.    By Road

The major highways that pass through Lucknow are Lucknow N.H. – 56., N.H. – 28  and N.H. – 25. It is well-connected to important cities like Allahabad, Delhi, Agra, Kanpur etc.