Lucknow is associated with two famous sayings – ‘Pehle Aap’ meaning you first and ‘Muskuraiye Aap Lucknow Me Hai’ meaning smile because you’re in Lucknow. These show how welcoming and respectful environment city bestows to its visitors and travelers. And indeed it’s a truth. So, today we’re going to know about the top 15 places to visit in Lucknow.
Just in case you are not aware then I shall tell you – Lucknow is one of the best cities in India if you want to taste the local street food and real Awadhi cuisine. Perhaps this is why the city is also known as the city of kebabs apart from its other name which is the city of Nawabs.
The city of Nawabs and kebabs is what Lucknow is!
And perhaps 3.58 millions people of this city call themselves as Nawabs and savor long discussions often over kebab rolls.
Ranked India’s second happiest city, the country’s potential street food capital, Lucknow, is often overlooked by travelers and tourists.
Therefore, it’s my aim via this post, to show the travelers and visitors of the world the best 15 places to visit in Lucknow with a hope in my heart that they’ll realize the beauty of this place.
So without a fail, let’s jump right into the list of top 15 places to visit in Lucknow. But just keep in mind, Lucknow beholds a lot more than what can be described in a few words.
If you want to explore everything of Lucknow like a local, you can book a tour with us here.
Top 15 Places to Visit in Lucknow in 2019
| Place Name | Admission Cost in INR (As in year 2019) |
| Bara Imambara & Bhul Bhulaiyya | 50 for Indians, 500 for foreigners |
| Chota Imambara | Included in Bhul Bhulaiyya (Combined Pass) |
| Rumi Gate | Free |
| Hussainabad Clock Tower & Picture Gallery | Free; Included in Bhul Bhulaiyya (Combined Pass) |
| British Residency Buildings | 25 for Indians, 300 for foreigners |
| Dilkusha Palace or Kothi | Free |
| La Martiniere College | Free |
| Saadat Ali Khan Tomb | Free |
| Shahnajaf Imambara | Free |
| Chatter Manzil & Farhat Baksh Kothi | Free |
| Begum Hazrat Mehal Park | Free |
| Aminabad Market | Free, obviously |
| Chowk | Free, obviously |
| Riverfront & Marine Drive, Gomti Nagar | 10 for admission + Camera charges extra might apply |
| Ambedkar Park | 10 for admission + Camera charges extra might apply |
1. Bara Imambara & Bhul Bhulaiyya
This shouldn’t come as bewilderment if I tag this place #1 in our list of top 15 places to visit in Lucknow. Right?
Built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in the year 1784, Bara Imambara is a mourning place for Muslims and an epic piece of architecture. Its hall is the biggest hall in the world made in a china plate shape standing without any pillar and beams. Amazing, na?
Above Imambara, labyrinth (Bhul Bhulaiyya in Hindi) is made. It’s a maze and was particularly made to block the entrance for unwanted people back in the time of Nawabs.
Bhul Bhulaiyya has over one thousand doors, and out of every four-door, only one is correct. So it becomes a difficult task for a new person to find out the right way on its own.
Therefore, it is advisable to go with a local or hire a guide.
| Inside Bara Imambara Complex: | What’s so unique? |
| Bara Imambara | Has the largest hall standing without any pillar or beams. |
| Bhul Bhulaiyya | Has a ton of identical doors which makes a person forget the right door; Hollow walls makes one voice perfectly audible at another far end of the wall. |
| Shahi Baoli | A stepwell which is believed to be still connected with nearby Gomti river. |
| Asafi Mosque | It is the 5th largest mosque in the world. |
In addition, the Bhul Bhulaiyya complex consists of four major buildings namely – Bhul Bhulaiyya, Bara Imambara, Shahi Baoli, and Asafi Mosque.
Furthermore, each one has its uniqueness and which could be sensed by the table above.
The combined pass bought at Bhul Bhulaiyya is valid for all these four places including Hussainabad Clock Tower, Chota Imambara and Picture Gallery.
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset, Opens 1:30 pm on Fridays, closed on Mondays
Photography: Allowed
2. Chota Imambara
Also, known as Imambara Hussainabad Mubarak, this is a small (therefore ‘Chota’) Imambara perched at a distance of around 400 meters from the Bara Imambara.
It was erected by Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah in the year 1838 and was to serve as a mausoleum for himself and his mother.
On one side of the Chota Imambara, there is a tomb of Princess Zinat Asiya and on another side is the ‘reply’ building.
The Imambara and tomb is a quite picturesque and decent amount of time could be spent here!
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset, Opens 1:30 pm on Fridays, closed on Mondays
Photography: Not allowed inside.
3. Rumi Gate
Rumi Gate is perhaps the most iconic building of the city. It serves as a gate to enter the city and is standing on the busy road of Bara Imambara.
It’s next to the Bara Imambara complex.
After that, one is advised to take a halt at this gate’s front side and gaze its intricate architecture. Lucknowites are crazy when it comes taking photograph in front of this picturesque gate. Become a local with them.
Pro tip: An evening in Gulab Vatika which is next to Rumi Gate will serve as a memorable experience in your life.
Here you can know a lot more about Rumi Gate and why it is compared with Turkey, present-day Istanbul.
Timings: 24/7 open
Photography: Allowed
4. Hussainabad Clock Tower & Picture Gallery
Hussainabad Clock Tower is also entitled as the tallest clock tower of India. It’s a true replica of Big Ben in London.
People locally refer to this as ‘ghanta ghar.’ It’s worth visiting if you’re someone who loves symmetrical architecture.
Here’s the history of Hussainabad Clock tower.
Picture gallery, next to the clock tower, consists of mystical paintings of Nawabs of Awadh. Mystical? Because few paintings appear to be looking at you no matter where you go!
Timings: Clock Tower – 24/7 Open; Picture Gallery – 10 am to 4 pm
Photography: Allowed at Clock Tower; Not Allowed in Picture Gallery
5. British Residency Buildings
British Residency is perhaps the most visited attraction in Lucknow city by foreigners as well as Indian travelers. This place beholds a grand historic event during the mutiny of 1857 by freedom fighters.
Every building inside Residency is destroyed and lays without any roof except one mosque which is in good condition still.
Walls of those buildings still have deep marks of firing that must have happened during the mutiny.
If history is your thing, this place should not be missed by you. The 1857 Memorial Museum inside the Residency complex conducts regular shows (at an interval of 30-60 minutes) in English and Hindi showing about the history of this place.
Timings: 10 am to 5 pm, closed on Mondays
Photography: Allowed, camera charges apply (Please note that you can’t take tripod, monopod or any camera accessory inside the premises)
6. Dilkusha Palace or Kothi
Dilkusha Palace or more locally Dilkusha Kothi is a monument perched in offbeats of Lucknow. Although Lucknow Charbagh railway station lies just at a distance of few kilometers, this place is quite amazingly one of the peaceful places of Lucknow.
This building was built by Gore Ouseley as a hunting lodge for Nawab Saadat Ali Khan. But Nawab gradually started it using as a summer place.
One interesting story behind this is that when British actress Mary Linley Taylor visited Dilkusha Kothi, she was so amazed that she decided to name her house as ‘Dilkusha.’ The actress then named her house as ‘Dilkusha’ which is in Jongno district of Seoul, South Korea.
Know the full history here.
From the eye of a photographer, this is not the most recommended place but hey, creativity has no limits.
Timings: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, all days of the week.
Photography: Allowed
7. La Martiniere College
So, our next destination in the top 15 places to visit in Lucknow is something special. It’s a college in the present day.
The country’s college which has produced many famous personalities such as Priyanka Chopra, K. Raghunath, Muzaffar Ali, etc., is not only esteemed in education giving but also blessed with eye-catching architecture.
La Martiniere Boy’s College of Lucknow is a perfect example of French architecture. It was erected by a wealthy Frenchman named Claude Martin who lived in Lucknow at the time of Nawabs.
However, originally this place was meant to be summer place of Claude Martin but was converted into a school as per his last wish after he died early.
Know more about La Martiniere here.
Timings: Visit during school hours, Sunday closed
Photography: Allowed
8. Saadat Ali Khan Tomb
Saadat Ali Khan was the 6th Nawab of Awadh, and this tomb was erected by his son Ghazi-ud-Din Haider.
As you enter, you’ll find two tombs inside — one of Saadat Ali Khan and other, of his wife Khurshid Zadi. Both of these are made of lakhauri bricks, lime mortar, and plaster to give the fine edge.
Also, the place is full of lush greenery and fine gardening which concludes that this place is really photogenic. Photographers, this your bait!
In addition, I personally admire its beauty and in my conscious opinion, it is one of the most beautiful buildings in the city.
Here you can know the history of this place.
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
Photography: Allowed
9. Shahnajaf Imambara
The city of Imambaras holds many Imambaras of which people know only a few. Imambaras are the holy places built for the avatars of Allah and used of mourning by Muslims.
Another place in our top 15 places to visit in Lucknow is Shahnajaf Imambara, built by the first ‘king’ and last Nawab of Awadh – Ghazi-ud-Din Haider. It is a replica of Hazrat Ali’s burial at Najaf in Iraq.
Furthermore, know more about this place here.
Timings: Sunrise to sunset
Photography: Not allowed inside Imambara
10. Chattar Manzil & Farhat Baksh Kothi
Farhat Baksh Kothi was built in 1781 by Frenchman Claude Martin as his place of residence. But later as he died in 1800, Nawabs bought the place and started living in it unless Nawab Wajid Ali Shah built Qaiserbagh Palace (a destroyed building).
However, Chattar Manzil is just an addition (and little bit modification) to Farhat Baksh Kothi. The construction was started by Ghazi-ud-Din Haider and completed by his son Naseer-ud-Din Haider.
Also, Chattar Manzil was used as a place of residence for the wives of Nawabs. Chattar means umbrella, which the building posses at the top. And therefore, it is also known as Umbrella Palace.
Most noteworthy, both buildings suffered greatly during the 1857 siege of India. Furthermore, both the state and the central government is continuously working on restoring it’s maximum possible glow as of now.
Again, history lovers should have a quick visit here!
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
Photography: Allowed
11. Begum Hazrat Mahal Park
Begum Hazrat Mahal was the wife of the last Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah and handed her support during the mutiny of 1857 in India from Awadh region.
Therefore, this park is dedicated to her. Furthermore, a marble memorial is made inside the park by the Indian government for honoring her contribution.
It is situated near Saadat Ali Khan tomb at a walking distance. Above all, it is a go-to place for peace seekers.
Timings: Sunrise to Sunset
Photography: Allowed
12. Aminabad Market
So, Aminabad Market or locally Aminabad Bazaar is one of the oldest and busiest markets in the city of Nawabs. The market is famous for wholesale as well as retail buying of clothes, artificial jewelry, hosiery and wedding decorations.
Most noteworthy, the world-famous Chikankari i.e., Chikan embroidery clothes are available here at affordable prices. The Chikan embroidery is the symbol of Lucknow and it should be at #1 in your souvenirs which you are taking away from Lucknow.
World-famous Tunday Kebabi’s main branch exists here in the bustling market of Aminabad. A must-have experience in Lucknow – eating kebabs at Tunday Kebabi should not be missed as its taste is unforgettable. And yes it’s for non-vegans only.
Similarly, Biryani lovers have got their luck too. Also, world-famous (seriously) Wahid Biryani is just around the corner of Tunday Kebabi.
In addition, vegans can try another famous thing – Prakash ki Kulfi (kulfi is a sweet Indian dish). Just look out for it on maps or ask a local for help.
Timings: Market is closed on Thursdays
Photography: Allowed
13. Chowk
Chowk is yet another market that exhibits the old-age vibes of Lucknow. Be it Chikan kurta or sari, you’ll find everything here.
Moreover, from famous Azhar Bhai Ka Paan to Rahim ki Nihari or the taste-rich Idris ki Biryani – you’ll get a real treat here if you’re someone who’s fond of non-vegan food.
In addition, the market has a variety of options be it modern Wow Momos, local Makkhan Malai (aka Nimish) or refreshing Thandai from Pandit Raja.
Don’t worry if these names don’t ring a bell, these are just local shops in Lucknow selling the rich and authentic taste of Lucknow.
Timings: All days open
Photography: Allowed
14. Riverfront & Marine Drive, Gomti Nagar
Now enough of Old Lucknow, let’s roll to the new. Riverfront and Marine Drive fall in New Lucknow.
Riverfront – well as the word itself suggest is a beautiful park built on the side of Gomti river stretched over for about 2 km.
However, the park becomes even more beautiful in the evening due to colorful lightning and is perfectly suitable for spending an ample amount of quality time with your fam and buds.
So, yay, it’s perfectly suitable for photoshoots.
Timings: Sunrise till 8 pm
Photography: Allowed
15. Ambedkar Park
Certainly, this place had to be in our list of top 15 places to visit in Lucknow.
More formally Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Park is dedicated to Bhim Rao Ambedkar for his social work. This iconic place is fully made of marbles and various bonsai trees.
Most noteworthy, grand statues of Ambedkar Sahab is perched at different locations inside the park.
Also, the whole park is made in such a way to depict the life of Bhimrao Ambedkar and the aerial view of the park seems to be of a flower with four petals.
In addition, this place becomes extremely hot in summers and so if you came here on a summer day, please choose the evening for visiting this park.
Moreover, from the eye of a photographer, this place exceeds the minimum requirements by far. At some places inside the park, you’ll find stunning reflections on the marble floor. In conclusion, this is perfect for great photos.
Timings: 11 am to 9 pm, every day (some holidays affect its timings, please check afore)
Photography: Allowed
Down the line
Finally, it is now the time I tell you the truth. I lied to you. Yes. Please forgive me, lord.
But, hey wouldn’t you wanna know the reason?
It’s because there are a lot many places such as Janeshwar Mishra Park, Safed Baradari, etc that could not make on the list.
Moreover, the top 15 places to visit in Lucknow, I listed above are at the core of the city. Some of them are of old architecture, some fall under the symmetrical architecture of the modern era.
So, I hope this would have given you a lot of help, and just in case you need any further help contact us here and Tweet your question at @MisfitWanderers or simply DM us on Instagram.
But, before you go, here’s my question from you.
Which famous Bollywood movie was shot in Lucknow whose lead actress was Rekha and the director’s birthplace is Lucknow too?