About Lucknow

"No city-except Bombay, the queen of all-was more beautiful in her garish style than Lucknow," wrote Rudyard Kipling in Kim. Located on the banks of the Gomti River, Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. From ancient times, the city is known for its silks, perfumes, jewellery, mouth-watering cuisines, and nawabi etiquettes. In fact, Lucknow could be termed the cultural centre of northern India where people are so polite that anyone would feel at home. The classic example of 'pehle aap' (after you) shows how etiquette or tehjib runs in the blood of the people of Lucknow. But the city is very much able in accommodating the modernity, keeping the tradition and culture alive altogether.


In 1732, Muhammad Shah, one of the later kings of the once powerful Mughal dynasty, appointed Mohammad Amir Saadat Khan, a Persian adventurer of noble lineage, to the viceroyalty of the area known as Avadh, of which Lucknow was a part. Saadat Khan was the founder of the famous dynasty known as the Nawab Wazirs-a dynasty that changed the face of this hitherto little-known place. Under his successors, Lucknow flowered as never before and all but became the cultural nerve centre of northern India. The rapid growth of Lucknow dates from 1755 when the fourth Nawab, Asaf-ud-Daula transferred the capital of Avadh from Faizabad to Lucknow and set about gifting to the city some of its most splendid architectural marvels, a tradition that was sustained by this successors. During this period, Lucknow also established its pre-eminent place in the field of poetry, music, and dance. A colourful local culture, incorporating fairs and festivals also flourished alongside. By what Lucknow really became synonymous with was a certain elegance and grace of lifestyle. A romantic and courtly ambience became a part of the city. In fact, even today, the city breathes history, and the sound of laughter and music, the tinkling of ankle bells and the mellifluous rendering of Urdu poetry (shairi) still echo and reverberate through the long corridors of time. Even today, when one wanders through the city, one encounters the kind of refined courtesy and polish that seems to belong to another age.

Lucknow is situated in the upper Gangetic plains of the country. Therefore, the climate of this region is characterized by hot and humid summers but cold and chilly winters. Summers generally start by the end of March and remains till June. Immediately monsoon takes over and gives the people of Lucknow a much-needed relief from the heat. October is the time when winter starts and it remains for almost five months, i.e., till February end. The best time to visit Lucknow would be winter, i.e., between October and February, when the climate is pleasant and comfortable, making it easy to travel.