View of Lucknow

Wajid Ali Shah Walk

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Kaiserbagh Palace was once the most beautiful palaces anywhere, with well laid landscaped gardens, gilded domes and minarets that added to the overall beauty of this huge palace complex. It indeed did not have any parallel anywhere in the world.No doubt, the palace complex was envied by outsiders and made natives proud. Kaiserbagh Palace Complex was in fact the most well planned works of grandeur by Wajid-Ali-Shah, the last ruler of Awadh, who himself was a great connoisseur of art in all its forms and the same innate personality reflected in his palace.

Kaiserbagh later became a victim of British revenge, after the failed Indian Mutiny in 1858 when the British forces recaptured sieged Lucknow, Begum Hazrat Mahal and her son Birjis Qadr fled to Nepal and Wajid-Ali-Shah was deposed and left for Calcutta. As a consequence and revenge of the toughest time that the British forces had here, Kaiserbagh was unmindfully demolished. Today sadly, only a few structures remain to be seen and it is indeed very hard to imagine that once it was, the world’s most beautiful palace complex.

On this walking tour we explore the Kaiserbagh Palace Complex, reconstruct the area with the help of old pictures and maps and as a cherry on the cake, we treat you over a cup of tea at the Kotwara House, that is a small part of Kaiserbagh, now an abode of the film maker Muzaffar Ali. We peep inside an intact portion of this palace, where along with your tea, you also enjoy watching a clip from his classic film, ‘Umrao Jaan’, that in fact was inspired by the culture of Lucknow and was extensively shot in Kaiserbagh.

Cost :

INR 3850 per person (Min two guests required)

Starting Time : 

Winters / Summers – 3 pm

Expected Duration : 

2 hours

Remarks : 

This tour covers Kaiserbagh, the erstwhile palace complex of Wajid Ali Shah, reconstructing it virtually and understanding the personality of the ruler. This walking tour ends at The Kotwara House over a cup of tea and cookies. 

Does not operate on Sunday and a few festivals such as Holi, Eid & Mohorram.



  • Inclusions
  • Exclusions

Pre-visit Orientation

Heritage Expert leading the walking tour

Walking bags with bottled water, tissues, light refreshments

Heritage Walk Route Map

Privileged access to Kotwara House, home of Raja Muzaffar Ali

Tea at the Kotwara House

Transport cost to and from walk starting point (may be booked separately)

Any food items on the walk, unless a part of offer (tea & refreshments are included)

Any other beverage, other than bottled water or tea at Kotwara House

Experiences