Lucknow Darshan hits different, thanks to the double decker

After its recent launch this week, the Lucknow Darshan double-decker electric bus is beginning to find its audience. On Thursday, the city tour saw a much livelier response, with nearly 55 passengers joining the experience across morning and evening slots.

More than the numbers, what stands out is the intent behind the initiative. For the first time, the government has introduced a continuously running, fixed-route tourism service in the city, directly accessible to residents and visitors alike. It’s a welcome shift for Lucknow. While cities like Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Agra often dominate Uttar Pradesh’s tourism spotlight, this initiative feels like a thoughtful step towards reclaiming Lucknow’s own narrative, rooted in heritage.

Unlike typical sightseeing ventures, the Lucknow Darshan tour is not positioned as a carefully planned tourism initiative. The idea is simply to let people see Lucknow. And honestly, that approach feels very on brand for the city.

The undeniable highlight of the tour is the exclusive entry inside the Vidhan Sabha Bhawan, one of Lucknow’s most enigmatic buildings. Passengers are taken inside the main Assembly Hall, an experience that even long-time residents rarely get. Seeing the interiors of such a powerful and historic space adds a sense of gravitas to the journey and firmly positions the tour as a true heritage experience. 

The three-hour journey also weaves through Lucknow’s most iconic landmarks, including Hazratganj, Raj Bhavan, Chattar Manzil and the Gomti Riverfront. The tour includes ticketed entry to The Residency and UP Darshan Park, making the price point feel surprisingly reasonable for what’s on offer.

For those on the evening slot, the experience concluded on a high note with a light and sound show at The Residency, bringing Lucknow’s layered history vividly to life.

The mood on board was lively and curious. Passengers were seen clicking photographs, shooting videos and soaking in the city views from the open upper deck, while pedestrians outside stopped to capture the bright red bus as it passed by. Speaking to Knocksense, passenger Kashish Kapoor shared, “This tour covers most of the iconic locations in the city and sounds quite interesting, to be honest.”

Adding a thoughtful, eco-friendly twist, passengers were handed plantable seed paper tickets. These tickets can be sown in soil to grow into plants, turning a city ride into a living souvenir. It’s a small detail, but one that aligns neatly with the electric bus model and the tour’s larger ethos.