Lucknow’s iconic Charbagh Railway Station, a masterpiece of Indo-Saracenic architecture, marked 100 years of its foundation. A commemorative booklet was released on Independence Day, to honour this milestone. DRM Sunil Kumar Verma presided over the event, highlighting the station’s rich history.
100 years of heritage, engineering marvels & cultural significance
Charbagh Railway Station, a stunning fusion of Mughal, Awadhi, Rajput, and European architecture, boasts a legacy that began in 1914 when Bishop George Herbertlaid its foundation. After nearly a decade of construction, the main building was completed in 1925, marking the station’s centenary in 2025.
A marvel of engineering, Charbagh is designed to absorb the noise of over 250 daily trains, keeping the sounds inaudible outside. The station also witnessed a historic moment on December 26, 1916, when Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru met here for the first time, a significant event in India’s freedom movement.
The commemorative booklet highlights the station’s rich history, featuring British-era artifacts like East India Railway cabinets, vintage water gauges, and century-old furniture. Interestingly, gold coins and newspapers were buried in the foundation during construction.
From its origins as a wartime supply hub to its current role as a cultural landmark, Charbagh continues to be the heartbeat of Northern Railway, connecting 14 districts across 1,497 route km.
A tribute through photos and a sapling ceremony
To mark its centenary, a special photo exhibition traced Charbagh’s remarkable evolution, from its colonial beginnings to its role in independent India. Northern Railway’s DRM Sunil Kumar Verma planted a commemorative sapling during the celebrations, mirroring the station’s own enduring legacy of strength and timeless grace.
