Lucknow

Lucknow Rumi Darwaza
Lucknow. Rumi Darwaza

Bada Imambara gate at the central road, Indian architecture, a mixture of Indian and Mughal architecture.

Bada Imambara Lucknow

Bada Imambara Lucknow
Architectural marvels are India’s cultural assets for more than a millennium. The Bada Imambada in Lucknow is a glorious specimen of how India went on a prosperous journey of architectural excellence in every phase of history. Built In 1784, this majestic building is one of the sought after tourist attractions of Lucknow. Nawab of Lucknow, Asaf-ud-daula came up with the idea of building a colossal edifice to provide assistance to the people affected by the deadly famine, which struck the whole of Uttar Pradesh in 1784. Although it was built with an intention of charity, Imambada ended up being a massive project with large halls, arched galleries and interconnected passages.

The real story behind Bada Imambada
Lucknow Mughal Architecture
Asaf-ud-daula wanted to surpass the splendor of Mughal architecture and led by this urge, he spent lavishly to create this huge building which cannot be categorized into a single class like mosque, mausoleum and others. When the natives were finding it difficult to survive the famine, the nawab decided to build the great Imambada, which generated employment for some 22,000 people. In order to create enough work, one fourth of the day's work was demolished at night against payment. It was only during the nights that the nobles and were offered the payments so that they can escape the humiliation in front of the masses.

What you can discover inside the Lucknow Imambada?
Lucknow Imambada is an interesting architecture with a clear impression of Islamic influence. Representing Lucknow's architectural heritage, the Bada Imambada is a great hall built at the end of a beautiful courtyard. This columnless hall is perhaps Asia's largest hall, which does not have any external support of wood, stone beams or iron. While the length of the interior is 49.4 m, its width is 16.2 m. The height of the ceiling stands at more than 15 m high with no beams to uphold such a huge size. As a visitor, you will find it very astonishing to take a close look at the roof, which is said to be 16 feet thick weighing around 20,000 tons.
Lucknow Imambada

As you enter the Bada Imambada you will encounter three halls namely the Persian Hall, the India Hall and the China Hall. The empty halls echo even a mild whisper and other slight sounds. Designed with ingenuity, the top terrace of the architecture is an interesting creation. You need to make you way through mazy passages, which amount to 1,000. The terrace offers you a grand view of old Lucknow with number of mosques and minarets within easy view.

The monuments surrounding Lucknow Imambada
There is an elegant mosque within the Imambada courtyard, which has stately flight of steps reflecting the pomp of the Nawabs of Lucknow. A real architectural mystery is the five-storied step well that is there at Imambada prior to the Nawabi era. Connected with the river Gomti, 3 stories of the well remain under the water throughout the year with only the first two stories above water. It is also called the Shahi-Hammam or the royal bath.

Getting to Lucknow Imambada
The Bada Imambada, situated on the northwestern part of Lucknow, is easily accessible by flight from most of the important cities. All the flights fly down at Amausi Airport in Lucknow. Moreover, Lucknow is a major railway junction well connected by trains linking other states. You can also count on the bus service and board on to the buses from three important stations situated at Charbagh, Alambagh, and Kaisar Bagh. Local buses, taxi and autos are frequently available from every part of the city.
Your trip to Lucknow Imambada will make you feel nostalgic as you seem to see for yourself the elegance of the bygone epochs.