Charbagh Railway Station Lucknow

There are very few cities in India whose railway stations are themselves major tourist attractions. The Charbagh Railway Station located in Lucknow, the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, is one of them. This enormous structure of red and white, with its turrets, domes and towers, is an impressive sight, and another reminder of glorious heritage in Lucknow. There is no pretension of modesty about it, with its grand proportions overseeing the onlooker at first sight.

This railway station, which is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places to visit in Lucknow, is called Char Bagh (four gardens) because of the four gardens which are believed to have existed here till 1867. Of them, one garden still exists today, and is located just across the railway station. Spacious and large, the park complements the beauty of the railway station significantly.

History

The foundations for the Charbagh Railway Station was laid on 21st March, 1914 by Bishop George Herbert, with its design planned by J.H. Hornimen. However, it took 9 years for the construction of the railway station to be completed in 1923. The entire investment for the structure was about 70 lakh rupees. C.L.Colvin, a famous agent of the British East India Company, placed a casket inside the turret of the building which contained a coin and newspaper of those times. It was meant to serve as a reminder of the successful completion of the building. Today, an old railway engine stands at the exit gate of the railway station, transporting us back to the days of steam engines.

The Charbagh Railway Station in Lucknow has also witnessed some memorable episodes of Indian history. It was here that Mahatma Gandhi first met Jawaharlal Nehru and participated in the opening session of the legislature of Congress. This railway station was once again graced by the noble presence of Gandhiji when he attended yet another session of the Congress legislature held here.

Architecture

The Charbagh Railway Station is one of the most beautiful railway stations in India. Its architectural style suggests a combination of various styles including Mughal, Rajput and Awadhi. Another interesting fact about this railway station is that when viewed aerially, it resembles a chess board, with the domes, pillars and turrets appearing like chess pieces on a board. There are various tunnels below the station which are today used for the purpose of transporting goods. It is also believed that if you stand on the porch of the station, you will not hear the noise of incoming and outgoing trains. The basic structure of the station complex is rectangular in shape, with the raised platforms being used for official purposes.