The city houses a collection of historical monuments, extensive parks, full-fledged markets and never-ending lanes that take you to a haven of variety of food delicacies. Lucknow was the capital of the Awadh region and hence famous for the Awadhi cuisine. It was controlled by the Delhi Sultanate and later the Mughal Empire and hence it has a diverse cultural background with immense historical significance. So, pay a visit culturally marked city that embraces the Nawabi culture, even today. Explore the City of Nawabs while you live like a Nawab at The Piccadily, a premium business hotel near Lucknow airport.
Here are some of the best places to visit in Lucknow:
Bara Imambara
Bara Imambara, translated from Bara meaning 'Big' and Imambara meaning 'sacred hall that was constructed for the purpose of Azadari'. It is amongst the pristine heritage buildings of Lucknow.
This historical landmark has been attracting a lot of attention since its inception and is considered an architectural marvel by all, making it one of the many places to visit while in Lucknow.
This monument is an essential place for the Muslims and it gets a huge number of visitors during the celebration of Muharram.
Hazratganj
Just like every city has an eminent shopping street or area, Lucknow has Hazratganj, the busiest market in the city. Shop, sip, walk, relish at the multifarious restaurants here.
Spend your day Ganjing (the term used for shopping in the city's ganj market) and enjoy every bit of it and explore Lucknow in the best way possible. If fortunately, you are in the city on the second Sunday of a month, you can entertain yourself with the Ganj Carnival when the market becomes a host to various cultural and entertainment programmes.
Lucknow Zoo
Situated at a distance of around 13 kilometres from The Piccadily Hotel, the zoo holds a variety of birds and animals, Royal Bengal Tiger, White Tiger, Lion, Golden Pheasant and Silver Pheasant, to name a few. In addition to these fascinating creatures, the zoo also exhibits a vintage train and has a toy train as well which runs through the premises.
Get awestruck when you come across the artifacts from Awadh, being displayed by The State Museum in Lucknow Zoo.
Try out the 'Galawati Kebab' or 'Boti Kabab' - Galawati means 'melt in your mouth'. This dish is prepared as a mix of meat and unripe papaya and a lot of different spices. Boti Kabab is a famous Lucknowi dish as well.
From Bailey Gate to Begum Kothi, the buildings here are a symbol of the Indian freedom movement and the ruins here are one of the most popular Lucknow attractions.
The main building itself is surrounded by fascinating structures like Charbagh, the Hamam, the dual Taj Mahal replicas and much more.
This beautiful 221-feet structure, a legacy of Awadh rulers, was erected to honor the arrival of Sir George Couper, 1st Lieutenant Governor of United Province of Avadh. With close proximity to the Rumi Darwaza, it is a popular tourist attraction of the city.
Imambara Shah Nazaf is located by the side of River Gomti on Maharana Pratap Road. If you are in Lucknow, you might consider visiting this place.
The Rumi Darwaza was constructed around the same time as the Bara Imambara and by the same architect as well. This archaic gateway was designed after the Gateway of Istanbul which is regarded as East Rome. Hence, the Rumi is a moniker for Rome.
A masterpiece of Indian architecture, one can see signs of Mughal and Rajput craftsmanship blended into this magnificent structure. You are sure to pass this when you travel between the Bara Imambara and Chota Imambara.
Housing sculptures, bronze statues, paintings, woodworks, coins, decorative arts and etchings from the prehistoric era, the museum is a symbol for Lucknow’s rich heritage throughout the ages. Visit the Lucknow State Museum whenever you explore the city.
The Kothi was damaged during the First War of Independence in 1857. The place has immense historical value and is one of the popular tourist sites being so close to Hazratganj.
During the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, part of the palace was damaged by the British, as the ruler and his wife fully supported the rebellion.
Whether you are with friends or with family, Janeshwar Mishra Park is definitely a place where you can sit back after a long day of sightseeing.
The seat of the legislative assembly of Lucknow, the monument is a juxtaposition of political power and mesmerising beauty. Vidhan Bhawan is one of the places you must definitely visit on your trip to Lucknow.
This memorial was constructed in honour of the founder of Bahujan Samaj Party, Shri Kanshi Ram ji.
Bronze statues, bronze murals, huge elephant statues, large gardens, 52 feet high bronze fountains adorn the sprawling area of the monument. A definite spot for tourists who visit Lucknow city.
The park is adorned by beautiful columns, stones, and elephant statues. Some important highlights of the park are the Ambedkar Stupa (sanctum), Sangrahalaya (historical centre), Gallery, Pratibimb Sthal (passage) and Drishya Sthal (vantage point).
The pavillion in the middle is used to conduct various cultural events like 'Kathak' dance, music and poetic 'mehfils' as was prevalent in the days of the Nawabs. Come to experience the splendour of Sikandar Bagh when you visit the city of Nawabs.
As she played a very crucial role during the era of the First Freedom Movement in 1857, the State Government built a marble memorial in her honour in the old Victoria Park. This magnificent garden in the Hazratganj region has striking wellsprings, beautiful trees and stone pathways.
The interior of the Safed Baradari contains elaborate stucco work, beautifully arched gateways, windows with twin columns and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The Safed Baradari is an absolute must visit especially if you are an enthusiast of Indian history.
Chowk is a unique variant of the market in Lucknow as Chowk is the main place of Chikan garment manufacturers. If you want to purchase a good quality Chikan Garment, then Chowk is the ultimate destination for you.