Last night over cocktails in the hotel bar (whose walls are incongruously covered in Arabic script) we decided as a group to condense our stay in Lucknow to only one day from the two originally planned.
We spent the majority of today walking around what is arguably Lucknow's main attraction, the Bara Imambara. The Bara Imambara was built by Nawab Asafuddaula as a kind of public works project to put this subjects to work during a time of famine in 1784. What remains of this complex is a reminder of the past glory of Nawab of Oudh.
The Imambara complex is famous for its magnificent architecture. The complex is made up of the Shah Najaf Imambara (a majestic white domed building housing the tomb of Nawab Ghaziuddin Haider, and his family.
The tombs are plated in silver and gold and the interiors are decorated with floral designs and chandeliers); Jama Masjid (a grand mosque built by Muhammad Ali Shah in typical Mughal style with tall minarets and onion-shaped domes); Chhota Imambara (built by Nawab Mohammed Ali Shah ( 1837 – 1842 ) to the left of Rumi Darwaza, fabulously designed and adorned by Chandeliers, gilt-edged mirrors, colorful stuccos. The king’s throne is in the interior of this tomb).
We climbed to the top of the Shah Najaf Imambara for a beautiful view of the entire Bara Imambara complex. Had lunch at a local restaurant filled with giggling Indian girls. Every so often deafeningly loud birthday music played through massive speakers.
We all ordered appetizers (chicken tikka) but when they arrived they were ample dinner sized portions.
Then headed off to find a perfumery that specializes in natural fragrances made up of local ingredients.
On the way got stuck in one of the most incredible traffic jams any of us had ever seen. A girls' school let out around 3:30 and families were double parked waiting to pick up their daughters. Every manner of rickshaw, motorbike, car, bicycle and pedestrian were all vying for a channel to inch along the road. Finally female traffic cops appeared and unsnarled the traffic. What probably was a 5min route took us about a half and hour to get through!
Our last stop of the day was The Residency, a complex built between 1780-1800 which was once the political residence of the British officials. This has historical significance because in 1857 a major rebellion by the native Indian people against their British occupiers took place. You can still see cannon marks on the walls of the ruined buildings. It is a site of great national pride.
Returned to the hotel late afternoon, had cocktails and an early evening. Tomorrow we return to Delhi and leave the hotel around 11am.
We spent the majority of today walking around what is arguably Lucknow's main attraction, the Bara Imambara. The Bara Imambara was built by Nawab Asafuddaula as a kind of public works project to put this subjects to work during a time of famine in 1784. What remains of this complex is a reminder of the past glory of Nawab of Oudh.
The Imambara complex is famous for its magnificent architecture. The complex is made up of the Shah Najaf Imambara (a majestic white domed building housing the tomb of Nawab Ghaziuddin Haider, and his family.
The tombs are plated in silver and gold and the interiors are decorated with floral designs and chandeliers); Jama Masjid (a grand mosque built by Muhammad Ali Shah in typical Mughal style with tall minarets and onion-shaped domes); Chhota Imambara (built by Nawab Mohammed Ali Shah ( 1837 – 1842 ) to the left of Rumi Darwaza, fabulously designed and adorned by Chandeliers, gilt-edged mirrors, colorful stuccos. The king’s throne is in the interior of this tomb).
We climbed to the top of the Shah Najaf Imambara for a beautiful view of the entire Bara Imambara complex. Had lunch at a local restaurant filled with giggling Indian girls. Every so often deafeningly loud birthday music played through massive speakers.
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| Cliff being sworn in as the Mayor of Lucknow. |
On the way got stuck in one of the most incredible traffic jams any of us had ever seen. A girls' school let out around 3:30 and families were double parked waiting to pick up their daughters. Every manner of rickshaw, motorbike, car, bicycle and pedestrian were all vying for a channel to inch along the road. Finally female traffic cops appeared and unsnarled the traffic. What probably was a 5min route took us about a half and hour to get through!
Our last stop of the day was The Residency, a complex built between 1780-1800 which was once the political residence of the British officials. This has historical significance because in 1857 a major rebellion by the native Indian people against their British occupiers took place. You can still see cannon marks on the walls of the ruined buildings. It is a site of great national pride.
Returned to the hotel late afternoon, had cocktails and an early evening. Tomorrow we return to Delhi and leave the hotel around 11am.
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