Lucknow Introduction Walking Tour (Self Guided), Lucknow

The capital city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations. It owes its popularity largely to the rich architectural, cultural and historic heritage.

In the 14th century, Lucknow was the capital of the Awadh region. Starting from 1350, both the city and some parts of the region were controlled consecutively by the Delhi Sultanate, the Sharqi Sultanate and, later, the Mughal Empire. In 1856, the British East India Company took complete control of the city, along with the rest of Awadh, and, in 1857, placed it under the direct governance of the British Raj.

"Lucknow" is the anglicized spelling of the local pronunciation "Lakhnau". According to legend, the city is named after Lakshmana, a hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana, who reportedly had an estate in the area, which by the 11th century came to be known as Lakshmanapuri (Sanskrit: Lakshmana's city), aka Lakhanpur/Lachhmanpur or Lakshmanavati. The latter name eventually transformed to Lakhnau. Another theory suggests that the city's name is linked to Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth.

Along with the rest of India, Lucknow became independent from Britain in 1947.

Today, the historical areas of the city reveal a wealth of architectural styles. The vast majority of the iconic buildings, constructed during the British and Mughal eras, are found in the old city. Among the extant monuments of the past here are numerous religious sites, such as Imambaras, Islamic mosques (e.g. Teele Wali Masjid [Alamgiri Mosque], Aasifi Masjid, Jama Masjid) and other shrines, as well as secular buildings and palatial complexes.

The colossal 18th-century Bara Imambara shrine (also known as Asafi/Asfi Imambara), Chhota Imambara and Rumi Darwaza stand in testament to the city's Nawabi mixture of Mughlai and Turkish styles of architecture, embellished with lavish decorations. Otherwise known as the Turkish Gateway, the 18-meter (60-foot) tall Rumi Darwaza, built in 1784, once served as the entrance to the city, and was erroneously thought to be identical to the gateway in Constantinople.

Another notable edifice, representing a maze of narrow tunnels, which affords tremendous views of the city from its upper balconies, is Bhool Bhulaiya. Close by is the grand Victorian Clock Tower, built as a victory column, in 1881.

For a chance to experience and admire Lucknow’s great heritage and to learn more about its history, take this self-guided introductory walk.