Elephant Statues at Ambedkar Park, Lucknow

lesser known places of lucknow

Also see : Places of Tourist Interest in Lucknow

Nadan Mahal

Nadan Mahal contains the mortal remains of Sheikh Ibrahim, a Sufi saint. He arrived during the time of Lodhi Kings and died in 1553-54 during the reign of Humayun. It is said that his tomb came to be known as ‘Nidan’ Mahal since the Sheikh’s followers prayed for deliverance at his tomb. There is a large stone tablet at the entrance of his tomb which has three Persian couplets carved out in Nastaliq style speaking of the greatness of the saint. ”The last line of the lyrical inscription gives the chronogram for the year of death of the saint as 961 Hijri.

The other enclosed tomb has a square chamber surrounded with corridors on all its four sides that have carved pillars and brackets in stone, that support the overhanging inclined stone slabs fixed for providing shade. Besides some other graves, it contains in the centre, the marble cenotaph of Sheikh Abdur Rahim, a great favourite of Emperor Akbar. Once astrologers had warned Akbar that two particular days were inauspicious for him as an Emperor and he should let some reliable person occupy. CLICK HERE TO READ IN DETAIL…

Musa Bagh

Musa Bagh was developed as a scenic spot on a sloping ground close to the serpentine curving river bank. In 1803-04 with the help of Claude Martin, Nawab Saadat Ali Khan built this European style palace. It was here that fights between animals like tigers, elephants, wild buffaloes and rhinos were arranged for the pleasure of the Nawabs and his European guests.

Musa Bagh has a great historical importance due to the fact that it was the stronghold of Begum Hazrat Mahal and Prince Birjis Qadr in the action against the British in Lucknow in 1857, till it was attacked by Outram. Nearly five hundred rebels were killed and all their twelve canons were captured here. CLICK HERE TO READ IN DETAIL…

Kothi Bibyapur

Bibiyapur Kothi was built by Claude Martin during the reign of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, on the banks of river Gomti. This building served as an entertainment house for important emissaries of the British. Kothi Bibiyapur bears a striking French influence – light blue tiles brought specially from France, adorned its interior. The serpentine wooden staircases built inside the Kothi are known to be the first of its kind in India. The Kothi later served as a hunting resort, and became so important that Nawab Saadat Ali Khan was crowned here by Sir John Shore. CLICK HERE TO READ IN DETAIL…

Imambara Sibtainabad

The construction of Imambara Sibtainabad was started by Amjad Ali Shah and was completed by his son Wajid Ali Shah when he ascended the throne in 1847. The Imambara structure was later referred to as maqbara, for bearing the mortal remains of King Amjad Ali Shah. It also has the grave of one of his grandsons, Mirza Javed Ali and the grave of Najm-un-Nissan Begum, a queen of Wajid Ali Shah, who was formally addressed as Aashiq Mahal.The structure was under attack and occupied by Sikh troops of the British army on March 13, 1858, on their way to the assault of Begum Hazrat Mahal and her loyal forces at Qaiser Bagh. CLICK HERE TO READ IN DETAIL…

Karbala Talkatora

On the 10th day of Muharrum and Chehellum, the city witnesses groups of men, women and children, clad in black, moving towards the Karbala at Tal Katora near Aish Bagh, to bury their taazia (paper and wood replica of tomb at Karbala). This Karbala was built by Mir Khuda Bakhsh. The place also serves as an assembly point for people who come here with alam (the replica of the banner of Imam Hussain’s army) to perform maatam (beating their chest) to mourn the martyrdom of Imam Hussain and his 72 followers during Moharam. Some devotees also perform the zanjeer ka maatam (flagellation with knives attached to chains) here.

Also see : Places of Tourist Interest in Lucknow