History anchors us, shapes our identity, and tells the story of who we are, whether as individuals, cities, or nations. In Lucknow, these threads of the past are woven into every street, spice-laden alley, and grand facade. This Tourism Day on September 27, we turn our lens to the city itself. Drawing inspiration from The Lucknow Album by Darogha Ubbas Alli, Assistant Municipal Engineer in 1874, which captures fifty photographic views of the city and its surroundings, we present seven of Lucknow’s historic monuments waiting for you to rediscover.
The Tomb of Saadat Ali Khan stands in quiet grandeur, admired for its intricate architecture and the gardens that frame it. Though the once-sprawling lawns have diminished over time, the resting place of Awadh’s fifth Nawab still commands attention with its timeless charm.
Once a royal palace for the Nawabs of Awadh, Chattar Manzil is one of Lucknow’s most striking landmarks. Standing tall on the banks of the River Gomti, the complex originally comprised two palaces, though altered over the years. This palace is a brilliant examples of the Indo-European-Nawabi style.
The Hussainabad Gateway stands as a grand three-arched entrance to the Hussainabad Imambara complex, built by Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah. Adorned with exquisite floral motifs and ornamental detailing, the gateway is a statement of the artistic brilliance and opulence of the Nawabi era.
Built during the reign of Nawab Nasir-ud-Din Haider by his prime minister Roshan-ud-Daula, this palace has witnessed many transformations over the years. Once a kacheri or palace of justice for the Nawab, it later served as a district court. Today, time and neglect have left it in disrepair, with its ruins quietly revealing the passage of history.
Tara Kothi was built by Nasir-ud-Din Haidar Shah as a royal observatory, a place where the skies above Lucknow were once studied. Though the building suffered damage, the kothi found new lives in the years that followed. First as a court and eventually as the present-day headquarters of State Bank of India
Perched on the right bank of the Gomti, Bibiyapur Kothi was built by Major General Claude Martin for Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula as a hunting lodge and occasional retreat. After the annexation of Awadh in 1856, it was frequently used by British officials for gatherings, leaving behind layers of royal, political and colonial memory in its now-faded halls.
Standing tall in Hazratganj, Christ Church holds the rare distinction of being Northern India’s first English church. The church’s garden was later converted into a cemetery, with the first burials being those who lost their lives in the surprise attack at the Mandiaon cantonment on 30 May 1857. Today, the church stands as a reminder of the past and also functions as a school.
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