Tourism in Lucknow

Lucknow is caught in a time warp. It exists in an in-between land of the past and the present looking back constantly to the memories of a colonial-Nawabi past. There is at the same time a sense of pride at the thought of being after Delhi, the most important center of power in free India. Politics has indeed been Lucknow's forte but culture has been its historical identification.

Nawabi legacy: Despite the Indo-Persian legacy, Lucknow has a composite Indian culture. The welding of various cultural strains nurtured by centuries of Mughal and later Delhi Sultanate rule, to the folk traditions of the Indo-Gangetic plains has produced a complex, yet rich synthesis. The Urdu language acquired its baffling phonetic nuances and suave perfection here. It was in Nawab Wajed Ali Shah's court that the most advanced of all classical Indian dance forms, the Kathak , took shape. The popular Parsi theatre originated from the Urdu theatre of this city. The tabla and the sitar were first heard on the streets of Lucknow.

Naming Lucknow: Lucknow-the name can be traced to the epic Ramayana. After 14 years of exile when Lord Ramchandra returned to Ayodhya , he gifted this place to his younger brother Lakshman. Lakshman is believed to have stayed in Lakshman Teela, a high ground near the banks of the river Gomti. Later the region was named after him; 'Lucknow' is derived from the name Lakshman. There are other stories that do the rounds: Lucknow was named after a very influential person called 'Lakhan Ahir' who built the fort 'Qila Lakhan'. The name 'Qila Lakhan' later became Lucknow. Some other source says that one Lakhu Khan who was earlier a non-Muslim by name Laxman Singh has lent his name to Lucknow.

Old City: The ravages of time has left its mark on Chowk, the oldest street of Lucknow. But a walk through of the streets is still a memorable experience because of the series of unfolding scenes. The rhythm of hammers beating silver into paper, the smell of flowers, the fragrance of ittar, the fineness of chikan embroidery and the mouthwatering aroma of roasting meat at a kabab shop. Venturing beyond the streets into the bylanes you confront a private world of courtesans' houses with their many stories and anecdotes, past and present.

The Raj Connection: In the annals of Indian history, Lucknow forms the traditional link between tradition and modernity, the decline of the Mughals and the rise of the British. The timing of its rise, however, cut short Lucknow's cultural effluence. The land of etiquette and manners, of the 'pehle aap' tehzeeb received a serious jolt with the siege of the British Residency during the great revolt in 1857. Eager for revenge, the last Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, proved a suitable scapegoat. Awadh was annexed on the pretext of administrative failure and the Nawab was packed off to Calcutta with a pension.


SIGHTSEEING IN LUCKNOW

PRIME ATTRACTIONS LUCKNOW
Kaiserbagh
Kaiserbagh is Wajed Ali Shah's most magnificent and spacious contribution to Lucknow. This sprawling complex consisted large, medium and small structures in the form of large rows of living quarters, royal mansions, baradaris, and cupolas. Almost half of the Kaiserbagh has withstood the vagaries of the time and has somewhat survived. Few important structures comprising Kaiserbagh are:

Jaloo Khana - It was a massive gate on the northern side where Awadh Gymkhana is located now.
Lakhi Gate - At the end of China Bazar with built-in quarters on the top.
Huzur Bagh - This was the royal garden surrounded on three sides by the king's apartments. The main building was Shahenshah Manzil which faced the south. It is one of the buildings which now stands in front of the Lucknow Development Authority office.
Chandiwali Baradari - This Baradari was near Huzoor Bagh. It was the Baradari where Prince Brijis Qadar was installed on the royal throne on 12th July 1857.
Wazir Manzil - This was behind Shahenshah Manzil which was used as the 'reception' for waiting courtiers and visitors.
Lanka - now Amir ud Daula Library
Patthar wali Baradari - now Bhatkhande University
Sufaid Baradari
Maqbara Amjad Ali Shah - located towards western end of Hazratganj

Picture Gallery
Not far from the clock tower is the picture gallery which has a collection of contemporary oil paintings of the Nawabs of Avadh. A little pond in front of the gallery has both hot and cold water in it.

Aminabad - is in old Lucknow. It's a market with an old-world charm. Crowded with shops selling everything from truck tyres to mouthwatering biryani, it has the look of a permanent fair.

Hazratganj - was built by Amjad Ali Shah. He was buried at Imambara Sibtainabad in the western part of Hazratganj.

Charbagh station
Overpowering in dimensions yet aesthetically designed, Charbagh Railway Station was built in 1914 and combines the best of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. True its name, it is said that four gardens were here at the time of the Nawabs. It gives an ideal, traditional warm welcome to every visitor.

KOTHIS
Kabooter wali Kothi
Was built by Wajed Ali Shah for keeping the royal pigeons which were about two lakh in number. The building still stands to the east of the University bridge and is known as Oel House. The pigeons were often bought from the common people and gold and silver rings were put on their legs to distinguish them as royal pigeons.

Tehri Kothi - Is Memorial Trust and UP Roadways depot has now been built. Prince Jawan Bakht the eldest son of Emperor Shah Alam stayed here on the way to Banaras when sent on exile after attacking English official, Charles Brown. It later on housed government offices of Nawabs.

Bibiapur Kothi - is about a mile
Is the south-east of Dilkusha . The two-storeyed building was built under the direction of General Claude Martin for Nawab Asaf-ud-daula who often stayed there and used it as a hunting lodge. At 1798 he summoned Saαdat Ali Khan from Benaras and welcomed him with an impressive durbar at Bibipur before taking him in procession to the city where he was proclaimed Nawab.

Hayat Baksh Kothi
Government House stands on the site of the original Hayat Baksh Kothi. It was built during the reign of Nawab Saαdat Ali Khan between 1793 and 1814. Around 1856, it became the residence of the Commissioner of Lucknow, and was known as Banks House. The first commissioner was a Major Banks after whom the Major Banks Road gets its name.

Begum Kothi
Must not be confused with the house of the same name within the Residency. It is on the left hand side of the Hazrat Ganj, coming from the Cantonment. Till 1932, the house including a large group of buildings huddled round the central one was used as General Post Office. The Begum Kothi was built by King Amjad Ali Shah as a palace for his Queen, Malka Ahad Begum. The building was not conspicuous during the Mutiny till March 1858, when two batteries bombarded it continuously for 24 hours.

Tara Kothi
Built by Nasiruddin Haider, was supposed to be an astronomical laboratory. The construction started during 1832 under the supervision of Captain Herbert, the engineer and the contractor was Raja Bakhtawar Singh. Once constructed, it was managed by Colonel Wilcox, the royal astronomer and two Indians, Kali Charan and Ganga Prashad.

Toopwali Kothi
Is between Chini Gate and Awadh Gymkhana Clubon Laxmi Bai Marg. Here a gun was mounted by the rebels which created havoc with the English forces since it was covering upto Khurshid Manzil (La Martiniere Girls School).


PARKS & GARDENS
Gautam Buddha Park
Situated in between the Bara Imambara and the Martyrs Memorial, this park has been a recreation ground for children. Rides, similar to those in the Appu Ghar of Delhi, are a big draw. Also used by political parties to hold rallies now. Nearby is the Elephant or the Hati Park, another recreation park. The lemon park or the Nibu Park of the Bara Imambara is also very popular.

Zoo
Four km from the Charbagh station is the Lucknow Zoo or the Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens. The zoo comes under the Banarasi Bagh area. This Zoo, constructed in 1921, also has a museum, an aquarium and a toy train. The plane Rajhans used by Pt. Jawarharlal Nehru is also kept in the zoo.

Chini Bazaar
Its existence is till remembered as an entrance to Qaiser Bagh. It was an exclusive market where English and Chinese merchandise were sold. Chinese jade and clay pottery along with glass items of decorations were the special attractions. There was also a garden in front of the gate, of the same name, extending upto Tara wali Kothi. The present triangular garden between Laxmi Bai Marg and K D Singh stadium is the remnants of that garden.

FORTS & MONUMENTS
Bara Imambara
was buillt by Nawab Asafuddaula in 1784 A.D. when Avadh was gripped by severe famine. It shows a blend Mughal and Rajput schools of building and a shade of the Gothic. The excellence of this structure lies in its extensive interior. The structure took six years to be completed. Built over the hall is the 'Bhulbhuliya,' a maze of corridors in a honeycomb of architecture. More on bhulbhuliyan.

Chota Imambara
or the Husainabad Imambara is a father's parting 'gift' to his daughter. It was built by the third Nabab, Muhamad Ali Shah for his deceased daughter Jenabasia, in 1840 A.D. The appeal of this structure lies in its furnishings comprising exquisite chandeliers of Belgium glass. The glittering brass-domes and ornate architecture of this building made a Russian Prince call it the "Kremlin of India."

A small bazaar, known as the Gelo Khana or "Decorated Place", lies inside the imposing entrance of the Imambara and is the home of chikan and bidri workers and of those who make the small clay figures typical to Lucknow. Opposite the entrance is a similar structure, the Naubat Khana, where seven musicians play three times a day in honour of the dead.

Rumi Darwaza - This huge 60-feet-high door was also built by Nawab Asafuddaula as part of a famine relief program. All classes of people helped in its construction. Preferring hard labour to beggary, the building was commissioned to help supplement their incomes. Surprisingly no wood or iron is used in the construction of this huge 'darwaza'. Also called the 'Turkey Darwaza,' it is the entrance to the Bara Imambara.

Ghari Minar or the Clock Tower
Built in 1881 by the British, this 67 m-high clock tower on the river Gomti is said to the highest clock tower in India. The tower has European style artwork. The parts of the clock is built of pure gunmetal and the pendulum hangs 14 feet. The dial of this clock is shaped like a 12-petalled flower and has bells around it. It is located very near to the Rumi Darwaza.

Vidhan Bhawan
In the British regime when Lucknow was made the capital of Avadh, Harfort Butler and Raja Sahib Mahmudabad joined hands to built the Vidhan Bhawan in 1922. At that time it took six years to complete and Rs. 18 lakh were spent on its construction. The Vidhan Bhawan is en route from Charbagh Station to the main market of Hazratganj.

The Residency
The site for this complex was specifically chosen on a high elevation of the bank of the Gomti to accommodate British visitors who found the tropical climate uncomfortable. This residential complex became the traditional home of British residents. In 1857, heavy cross firing between the rebels and British badly damaged the structure. But it still continues to be a favorite picnic spot.

La Marteniere
is soldier-architect Claud Martin's dream palace. Martin who established educational institutions in his hometown, Lyon and in Calcutta intended La Martiniere to be a seat of secular learning. But the school admitted students of European origin only, until India's independence.

Dilkusha Palace
The Palace of Dilkusha "Heart΄s Delight" was built by Nawab Saαdat Ali Khan 1798-1814. It was erected as a hunting box in the center of a large park stocked with game. Nearby lay a large shallow lake upon which the Nawabs, especially Nasiruddin Haider, would hold bird shoots.

Chattar Manzil
is near the Begum Hazarat Mahal park, on the banks of the Gomti. The United Service Club, otherwise the Greater Chattar Manzil, was once a king's palace. Under the existing river terrace was the 'ground floor'; below that were the tykhanas, cooled by the waters of the Gomti which lapped against the outer walls. Considering their size, surprisingly little is know about the Chattar Munzil Palaces. The name comes from the gilt chattars or umbrellas atop the two main buildings. On November 19 when Sir Colin Campbell decided finally to evacuate the Residency, the way to freedom lay through the Chattar Palace. Today this building houses the Central Medicine Research body. The Lal Baradari was also the part of Chattar Manzil and was built as Coronation Hall and Durbar Hall.

Shah Najaf Imambara
Situated on the south bank of Gomti towards the west of Sikandar Bagh, the building is almost an exact replica of the tomb of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, at Najaf Ashraf in Iraq. It contains the remains of Ghazi Uddin Haider and his three wives Mubarak Mahal, Mumtaz Mahal and Sarfraz Mahal. Earlier the entrance of the mausoleum was from the Gomti side which has been abandoned now for the south one.

Shahid Smarak
is a tall tower built of marble on the bank of Gomti built in the memory of the freedom fighters who laid down their life for the country. It is very close to the Residency.

Machchi Bhawan
The emblem of two fishes facing each other was adopted by the Sheikhs of Lucknow and patronised by the Nawabs and the English. It was built by Burhan ul Mulk. The Bhawan comprised of number of buildings and existed as a fort. with vaulted halls with arches. When King George V visited Lucknow as Prince of Wales in 1905, he laid the foundation of the Medical College exactly on the spot where Machchi Bhawan existed in ruins. The college was opened for admission in 1912 and became the famous K G Medical College.

Noor Baksh
The building is still in Lal Bagh area next to the Methodist Church and now known as Noor Manzil. It houses a psychiatric clinic for the mentally disturbed. It was believed to be built by Saadat Ali Khan as a school for royal children while others say Agha Mir, the Prime Minister was its owner. Rafi us Shan, son of Muhammad Ali Shah made this his residence till the end of Nawabi rule.

Baoli
means a very deep and large well. Here the well is flanked by small well-furnished rooms with a winding stair case. There is a small opening from top to bottom for the circulation of cool air within rooms. Viscount Valentia has recorded his stay in Baoli Palace in 1803. One of the rooms about 20 square ft had three fountains for hot and cold water supply. Shahzada Aali Qadar Taimuri also stayed here alongwith his wife during Saadat Ali Khan's time. Wajid Ali was installed as Nawab in this building. The Sangi Dalan was a stone hall built parallel to Baoli and was probably used for holding the darbars before the venue was shifted to Daulat Khana complex.

Satkhanda Mahal
Nawab Muhamad Ali Shah built this seven-storied palace in Italian and French style. Though the palace is in ruins, the splendor of the architecture is still visible. This tower like palace was built as a watch tower to keep watch on various buildings in Lucknow in those days.

Saddat Ali Tomb
In front of the famous Begum Hazrat Mahal park are the tombs of Saddat Ali and his Begum Khurshidzadi. These tombs are built in the Italian style and are marvels of architecture. The tombs were built by Gaziuddin Haidar, the son of Saddat Ali. The lush green lawns around the tomb were witness to fierce rebel fighting at the time of the 1857 revolt.

Sikanderbagh
This was the summer house of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. Situated in the Sikander Bagh Gardens, gets its name from Begum Sikander Mahal who was the favorite wife of the Nawab. It was 120 square yards in area surrounded by a high wall, with a summer house in its centre. The garden now houses the National Botanical Research Institute of India.

Moti Mahal
The Pearl Palace as the name suggests was constructed for the Nawab and his courtiers to watch cock fights from its balconies. Cock fights are still prevalent in Old Lucknow.

Fairs & Festivals IN Lucknow
Shi'ite Muharram celebrations (the date varies from year to year) are also observed with much fanfare. Muharram is not a festival in the celebratory sense as it mourns the Karbala tragedy when Imam Husain, grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was martyred in the early days of Islamic history. This occasion is an important feature in the calendar of Lucknow as it is the principal Shi'ite Indian city since the time of the nawabs. This is also a spectacle of penitence as followers scourge themselves with whips at the Bara Imambara. It is observed in different ways in various parts of India.

Profusely decorated taziyas (bamboo and paper replicas of the martyr's tomb), embellished with gilt and mica are carried through city streets. Mourners beat their breasts lamenting and grieving over the murder, accompanied by drum beats. Wrestlers and dancers enact scenes depicting the battle at Karbala and at each step young men beat their breasts crying "Husain! Husain!" in collective sorrow.

This tragedy is observed with great passion in Lucknow, in particular, as it is the centre of Shia culture and religious activities, and accordingly a large number of taziyas and the alams (standards of Hazrat Imam Hussain's army) are taken out all over the city. In places other than Lucknow, the taziyas are taken out and buried in the local burial ground known as the Karbala.

Lucknow Mahautsav , a 10-day program begins on the 25th November and ends on the 5th December. Processions, kathak, gazals and sitar recitals evoke the old-world charm. A brilliant showcase of the arts, crafts, and above all the heavenly cuisine of Awadh, the festival is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Deva Mela - The annual urs of Haji Waris Ali Shah is celeberated during Oct. - Nov. months at Deva 10 km. from Barabanki. This fair attracts pilgrims from as far as Pakistan and the Middle East Countries. The shrine of the Sufi Saint is much revered by Muslim pilgrims all over the world

Shopping in Lucknow

Shopping areas: - Hazratganj, Aminabad and Chowk

The bazaars of Aminabad and Chowk are interesting even if you are window-shopping. In fact, there are few showrooms here; most of the shops flow into the streets with vendors sitting with their wares on the roads. Wholesale markets sell a wide range of goods: antique furniture, furnishings, utensils, dress materials, coolers, even vegetables. A good bargain is not difficult, if you have mastered the art of haggling.

In the narrow lanes of Aminabad you can buy attar - pure essentials oils extracted from flowers in the traditional manner and jhaalar (colourful tasselled borders for dupattas). In Chowk, there is a bird-sellers district known as Nakkas; pigeon-keeping and cock-fighting have been popular in Lucknow since the time of the Nawabs.

Heritage Hazratganj: "At last we suddenly entered a very handsome street indeed, wider than the High Street at Oxford, but having some distant resemblance to it in the colour of its buildings and the general form and Gothic style of the greater part of them". In 1824, such was Lucknow΄s main street. As with everything else, what was once termed a street of noble width had in 1856 become a narrow road. Today, Hazratganj, full of glittering shops and magnificent arcades, plush hotels, fancy eateries, is Lucknow's fashionable district, so to speak. 'Ganj-ing,' a term synonymous with the easy amble of Lucknowites has become one of the city's favorite past-times. Free time, especially for the young, means a quick jaunt to Hazratganj.
Charm of Chikan : In Lucknow, everyone shops for chikan. Done originally on pristine white material and creating delicately textured surfaces on fine mulls and muslin, chikankari craft was Empress Noor Jehan's gift to India. It had its finest flowering in the 17 th and 18th centuries under the Nawabs of Avadh. The traditional chikankari motifs of creepers and vine are done in a variety of stitches, the most basic being the back stitch. The stitch is done on the wrong side of the cloth and the design is done on the right side by tiny, running stitches creating a fantastically ethereal effect.

There are six types of stitches which are traditionally popular.

Taipchi : This is the women's domain and is simple and the cheapest type of work. It is a type of stem stitch with which the outlines are worked.
Bakhia : is the most beautiful stitch in Chikankari . In this, the thread appears only below the surface and small stitches are seen on the right side for outlining the motif. Below the right side of the cloth, the threadwork makes the covered surface opaque thus creating a delicate effect of light and shade.

Khatao : is an embroidery of greater delicacy and rare these days. Earlier it was considered a poor cousin of the traditional Chikankari. This stitch was a form of applique work prepared on Calico material by placing Calico over the surface and working out floral patterns on the cloth. The details were filled by simple stem stitch.

Phanda and Murri : These are the most characteristic forms of Chikan work and are used mostly to work out the center of the flowers to evolve patterns such as angoori bale. Murri means rice and phanda, millet shape.

Jali : In the true Jali work, the thread is never drawn. The jali is normally worked by teasing the warp and woft threads of the cloth apart and by preparing minute button hole stitches to make a hole of 3/16th of an inch. There are different shapes of Jalis: Sidhuri, Madrasi and Calcutta jali.

Mango Industry: Dussehri mangoes are exported to different parts of the world. Rich in taste, aroma and attractive in color, the pulp is used to make pickles, chutneys, squash, fruit juice, jam, jell, syrup and nectar.

Perfumes - Ittar - Perfumes have long been used in the city and are available in various fragrances and in exquisite bottles of cut-glass work. In the days of the nawabs, perfumes were used not only on the person but also added to the food to give it more fragrance and taste. Different herbs and flowers are used in the preparation of perfumes, like the khus, and rose. A choice of traditional perfumes can be found in many shops in Aminabad and Chowk.

DANCE & MUSIC IN LUCKNOW
Kathak
This form of dance and was performed in temples. However during the period of the Mughals it came to the court of the Nawabs. Under the nawabs of Lucknow who were leisure loving it became a form of entertainment rather than being confined to the temples. Musical instruments like the tabla, harmonium, shehnai, sitar and sarod accompany the performance.

Kathak has its root in Katha, story. Wandering story tellers in North India, drew material for stories from the epics, dramatizing their recitation with mime and gesture. Lucknow is one centre where this dance form flourished. While Jaipur gave predominance to pure dance with emphasis on rhythm, the Lucknow version of the kathak drifted into erotics. The patron king of the Lucknowi style of kathak was Wajed Ali Shah who perfected the style in his court. The Kathak dance goes through a regular format mostly concentrating on rhythm, variously called Tatkar, Paltas, Thoras, Amad and Parans.

The dances are performed straight-legged and ankle bells worn by the dancers. It depends on intricate footwork and rapid pirouettes is the characterestic feature. The costumes and themes of these dances are

often similar to those in Mughal miniature paintings. Though not similar to the Natyasastra, the principles in Kathak are essentially the same. Here, the accent is more on footwork as against the emphasis on hasta mudras or hand formations in Bharatanatyam.

Music
Apart from the musicians of the court, and courtiers - among them some of the Nawabs themselves - tawaifs(courtesans) were often the centre of cultural life of the city, becoming proficient as poets and in dance and song. While khyal and dhrupad remained the mainstay of classical music, thumri - love songs amalgamating classical ragas and folk melodies - reached a height of sophistication, and forms such as dadra, tappa and hori, influenced by folk traditions, also became widely popular.

CUISINES IN LUCKNOW
Lucknow Food & Culture
To Wajed Ali Shah goes the credit for tapping much of Lucknow's cultural potential. An unusual man whose preference for the finer things in life was matched by his disinterest in state affairs, this poet-king composed verses that inspire singers to this day. The Nawab's interests in the arts was shared by his people who freely indulged their refined and artistic inclinations, playing chess, visiting the theater and gorging on fine cuisine. Chronicles list about 37 types of breads, 47 types of pulao, 35 types of zarda, 19 types of kababs, 5 types of meat curry and 37 types of halwa cooked in those days.

Ever the truant, once Wajid Ali Shah tricked prince Asman Qadar of Delhi by serving a mutton curry which looked like marmalade. Asman Qadar then reversed the trick and served a lot of dishes made of sugar but which looked otherwise. Culinary rivalry was rife between nawabs and cooks were as important a royal servant as generals.

Cuisine
Every great cuisine style of India carries its legends but the story of Dum Pukht is unique. In the 1780s, the kingdom of Avadh was struck by famine. Ruler, Asaf-ud-daula began building the Bara Imambara in his capital Lucknow, to give employment to people.

Feeding hundreds of workers was a mammoth task, so the cooks used an ingenious traditional way to prepare the food. Rice, meat, vegetables and spices were put in huge vessels, the top sealed and the dish allowed to simmer in the slow heat of bukhari ovens. As the handis were being opened, the Nawab, who happened to pass by, decided to sample the food. Delighted by the subtle taste and delicate flavors, he introduced it into the royal kitchens, where refined by chefs, the unique Lucknow style of Dum Pukht cuisine was born.

Dum Pukht literally means maturing of a prepared dish. The handis (huge pots) of kormas, dals, and biryani are brought to the table and then unsealed. The melting taste of kakori kebabs and the temptation of sheermal rotis….heavenly! If Dum Pukht cuisine is the ultimate gourmet experience, Nihari and naan, a mutton dish served for breakfast, is the only thing that can complete a holiday to the land of Mughals.

Pan Chewing : The ritual of offering pan was the first thing served to a guest at the time of his arrival and at the time of his departure. This custom, chronicled by Ibn-e-batuta still remains popular in Lucknow. Pan is a leaf of a vine grown in hot and humid climate but under the shade so that direct sunlight does not burn the leaves. Generally pan is used with catechu (kattha) and quick lime which brings the red color to the mouth. Beetlenuts and other items like clove, cardamom, peppermint are added for special taste and aroma.

Languages spoken: Hindi, Urdu, Awadhi and English


ENTERTAINMENT LUCKNOW
LEISURE
Music, Dance, Theater
The Ravindralaya Auditorium on Station Road (Ph: 452679), opposite the Charbagh railway station hosts classical music, dance and theatrical performances. The Bengali Club organizes cultural programs throughout the year, especially during Durga Puja.

Other venues:
Bhat Khande Maha Vidhyalaya, Kaiserbagh,
Natya Kala Academy, opposite Balrampur Hospital, Kaiserbagh
Rai Uma Nath Bali Auditorium, Kaiserbagh
UP Sangeet Natak Academy, Kaiserbagh

A Game of Cards:
Lucknow Bridge Association conducts bridge regular tournaments sometimes two regular pair events every week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. On Tuesday, matchpoint pair event takes place and on Friday, the IMP pair event. Entry fee is nominal Rs. 15 per person or Rs. 30 per pair for members. All bridge enthusiast all welcome. The membership of Lucknow Bridge Association is a nominal Rs. 300 per annum and all regular players are expected to become members of the association. The venue for these tournaments is Lucknow Club, near Ashok Marg. Timings: 6:30 pm onwards in the evening.

LBA also holds a duplicate event every first Sunday of the month at Lucknow Club usually from 1:30 PM onwards. The entry fee is Rs.50 per team. LBA members can also avail of Lucknow Club facility for daily bridge sessions. Usually a few sessions of duplicate take place in the evening from 6:00 PM onwards. The stakes are nominal Rs. 1 per IMP.

Lucknow is also a keen player of rubber bridge. Two prominent clubs are Oudh Gymkhana and Mahmoodabad Club(Cantt Area). The stake at Oudh Gymkhana is usually Rs. 20 per point and at Mahmoodabad club varies from Rs. 2 to Rs. 5 per point.

For golfers:
There are two golf courses, 2 km and 5 km away from the Taj Mahal Hotel, one of which is situated inside a nature and environmental park having exotic species of animals and birds.
Another place for golfers is the Golf Club near Gomti Barrage.

Jogging spot:
The KD Singh Babu stadium is a favourite with morning walkers and fitness freaks. It's ample space also makes it suitable for holding matches for cricket enthusiasts.

For the news:
Read The Times of India, Pioneer and The Hindustan Times for news of what's in or what's out. All papers carry special city supplements. For news in Hindi, rely on Rashtriya Sahara, Dainik Jagaran.

Magazines available in large bookstores are: India Today, Outlook, Business Today, Time, News Week, Business World.

Bookshops:
Ram Advanis Bookshop, Mayfair Building, Hazratganj.
Universal Booksellers, 82, Hazratganj
British Book Depot, 85, Hazratganj
Modern Book Stall, Janpath Market, Hazratganj
Dastavez, Ganj Plaza


Cinema halls:
Sahu, in Hazratganj
Pratibha, near Secretariat
Novelty, near Lalbagh
Capital, near Hazratganj
Odeon, on Cantt Road
Shubham, on Cantt Road
Vivek, near Kapoorthala complex
Umrao, near Nishatganj
Sudershan, in Charbagh

Discos:
32 Steps at Clarks Avadh. It occasionally organizes rain dances other than frequent disco evenings.



USEFUL INFORMATIONS ON LUCKNOW - TOURIST INFORMATION LUCKNOW

GETTING THERE
By Air: Amausi Airport: 14 km from downtown.

By Rail: Lucknow is serviced by North & north Eastern Railway by express and superfast trains. Best train from Delhi is Shatabdi Express. Direct trains connect Lucknow to Guwahati (Avadh and Lohit Expresses), Varanasi (Kashi Vishvanath), Puri (Neelanchal Express), Calcutta (Doon, Himgiri Exp.), Dehradun (Doon Express), Allahabad (Triveni, Nauchandi), Ahmedabad (Sabarmati Express).

By Road: Lucknow is on the important cross routes of National Highways 24, 25 and 28. UPSRTC bus stand is at Charbagh , opp. Railway station. There are also frequent coaches to Kanpur, Agra, Varanasi, Dehradun, and nearby areas.


CLIMATE
Lucknow has a typical Indian summer. Summer lasts a long four-month time, from March-June, cooling off only when the rains come in July end. Pleasant throughout the year, Lucknow can be visited anytime. Best time to visit is the spring months of September and October. Winters are cold.

Summer : March - June (Min 29Ί C - Max 45Ί C)
Winter : October - February (Min 11.1Ί C - Max 21.1Ί C)
Rain : July - September (44 cm)


TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES
Department of Tourism, Government of India (DOTGOI) - Janpath, Lucknow.

Directorate of Tourism -Naval Kishore Road, Hazratganj, Lucknow.

Regional Tourist Officer - 6 Sapru Marg, Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh)

Regional Tourist Office, 10, Station Road

State Information Bureau, Hazratganj.

UP Government Tourist Reception Center, at the railway station, Main Hall, Charbagh. Open from 0700 hours to 2000 hours.

UP Tourism, Chitrahar Building, 3, Nawal Kishore Road.

Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam 432/4 New Civil Lines, Old Hyderabad.

Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam, 2, Gopal House, Sarojini Naidu Marg.

STD CODE: 0522

NEARBY CITIES
Kanpur - 79 km.
Ayodhya - 134 km
Faizabad - 157 km
Allahabad - 210 km
Agra - 363 km
Varanasi - 380 km.
Delhi - 497 km