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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:
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.
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 where G
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 Saádat 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 Saádat 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).
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.
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 Saádat 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.