Lucknow
(
Sightseeing )
Hussainnabad
Imambara : Also known as the Chhota, or Small Imambara, This
was built by Mohammed Ali Shah in 1837 as his own mausoleum. Thousands
of labourers worked on the project to gain famine relief. The
large courtyard encloses a raised rectangular tank with small
imitations of the Taj Mahal on each side. one of them is the tomb
of Mohammed Ali Shah daughter, the other that of her husband.
The main building of the imambara, topped by a golden dome, contains
the tombs of ali Shah and his mother. Opposite the Hussainabad
Imambara is Satkhanda and also known as Sven Storey Tower. A 67m-high
defunct clock tower, overlooks the Hussainabad Tank nearby. West
of the Hussainabad Imambara is the Jama Masjid which was started
by Mohammed Ali Shah and Completed after his Death.
Bara Imambara : The Bara or Great Imambara (an imambara
is the tomb of a Shi'ite Muslim holy man) was built in 1784 by
Asaf-ud-Daula. The central hall of the Imambara, at 50m long and
15m high, is one of the largest vaulted galleries in the world.
An external stairway leads to an upper floor laid out as an amazing
labyrinth known as the Bhulbhulaiya. Beside the Imambara, and
built by Asaf-ud-Daula , is the imposing Rumi Darwaza.
The Residency : Built in 1800 for the British Resident,
this group of buildings became the stage for the the most dramatic
events of the 1857 Uprising the Siege of Lucknow. The red-brick
ruins are peaceful now a days, surrounded by lawns and flowerbeds,
but thousands died during the months-long siege. The Residency
has been maintaind as it was at the time of the final relief,
and the shattered walls are still scarred by cannon shot. Even
since Independence, little has changed. The only major work done
on the place was the unveiling of an Indian Martyrs Memorial directely
opposite. you can see cellars in the main Residency building where
many of the women and children lived throughout the siege. The
cemetery at the nearby ruined church has the graves of 2000 men,
women and children, including that of Sir Henry Lawrence, 'who
tried to do his duty' according to the famous inscription on his
weathered gravestone.
Laxman Tila : Situated north of the Imambara complex which
houses the Alamgir Mosque, was built by Sultan Ali, the governor
of Awadh during Aurangzeb's reign.
Rumi Darwaza : Rumi Darwaza is a massive gateway situated
west of the Bara Imambara and was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-daulah
in 1784.
Clock Tower : Near the Rumi Darwaza, is a 221 feet high
clock tower built by Nawab Mohammed Ali Shah in 1881.
Chattar
Manzil : Near Chowk, is an imposing building whose construction
was started by Nawab Ghazi Haider but was completed by his successor,
Nawab Nasiruddin Haider. The Main attractions include huge underground
rooms and a beautiful dome surrounded by gilt umbrella. European
architectural influences can also be seen.
