Lucknow- A Heritage

Heritage

Key Issues: Heritage

• The well-known monuments are relatively better maintained although the attention seems

skewed in favour of the monument with lesser attention to its surroundings. Most of the

heritage sites need maintenance and designated parking places and space for food stalls.

These places also require public toilets.

• There is need therefore to widen the definition of ‘heritage’ from just monuments to entire

precincts.

 Key Issues: Inner City

• Grossly inadequate infrastructure for water supply and sewerage

• Poor solid waste management

• Encroachment of drains and blockages leading to water logging

• Urban decay.

Lucknow is known for its rich history and culture – manifest not just in its many magnificent

monuments but an intrinsic part of its lifestyle. While the city has archaeological remains dating

back to 3000 BC, the first documented reference to Lucknow is from the thirteenth century when

Emperor Akbar divided the Mughal Empire into twelve provinces and chose Lucknow as the seat

of Government for Oudh - the most prosperous province of the empire.

In the late 18th century, the Shia Nawabs of Lucknow built several imposing structures,

commercial and trading centres that increased the grandeur and opulence of the city. At the time

of the first war of independence in 1857, the city suffered a lot of damages and the old past was

replaced with new developments during the British period. After independence the city

experienced tremendous growth and the distinct “Lucknow” culture – composite, refined, rich and

vibrant is slowly disappearing. While there are many magnificent monuments symbolising the

glorious past of the city, the following are the better-known monuments.

Bara Imambara: - Nawab Asifudollah built this historic building in 1786, as a famine relief

measure to provide employment to the people of the city. The load of the roof is not supported on

beams but through an intricate system of arches or the “Bhul Bhuliya”. The campus has an

imposing mosque on one side and on the other side is a “Babli” or water body connected to the

River Gomti.

Roomi Gate: - Just adjacent to the Imambara is an imposing gate structure which when seen

from the front looks like a gate but in reality is a structure of several storeys. This monument has

now become the logo of the city.

Chotta Imambara: - Beyond Roomi Gate about 30 metres away on the road is located another

structure that is famous for its chandeliers and other artefacts. With fountains and a small garden

it is a beautiful structure that attracts tourists.

Clock Tower and Picture Gallery: - Located close to the Chota Imambara this structure is

adjacent to a picture gallery that is famous for large portraits of the Old Nawabs of Oudh. The

novelty of the paintings lies in the fact that they all seem to be looking directly at the viewer from

every angle.

Kaiserbagh Complex: - This complex depicts the typical architecture of the old Nawabi period

and is said to be have been the residence of the ladies of the Nawabi harem. The whole area is

now declared as a heritage zone and efforts are being made to restore it to its old beautiful

surroundings.

Maqbara Asfudoalah: - This mausoleum is in a beautiful garden that depicts the harmony of

Mughal and Hindu architecture.

Residency: - This is the British settlement that was established following the annexation of Oudh

and was the site of the 1857 Mutiny. The Archaeological Survey of India maintains the structure.

In addition to the buildings listed above, there are entire stretches of the city that have a glorious

historical past. These include the ‘Chowk’ that has the ‘rouzas’ – replicas of all the Shia shrines in

the world; Hazratganj that is in the heart of every resident of the city and is very badly overrun by

the growth of the city; La Martiniere with its history; Chhatarmanzil; Dilkhusha – the list goes on.

Parks: - Lucknow was famous for its parks and most of the localities derive their names from

parks. Along the southern embankment of the River Gomti there are a number of parks viz.

Lakshman Park, Globe Park, Buddha Park, Neebu Park etc. These parks have small water bodies

and fountains. Most of these parks have been landscaped and developed in the later years and

are places of tourist attraction.

Lucknow is also known for its characteristic cuisine, music, the nature of its residents and its

overall ambience – each of these elements together with the more tangible buildings combine to

create the heritage experience that is Lucknow.

Inner City Renewal Challenges

1.The inner city area was one of the first to be provided infrastructure in the form of water supply

2.and sewerage systems, drainage, street lighting etc. The pressure of population in this zone has

3.increased significantly both as a result of natural increase as well as its attraction of low rents and

4.large numbers of migrant families. There are few remnants of the once effective infrastructure with

5.the majority of the area facing problems of water supply, inadequate sewage disposal, practically

6.non-existent solid waste management, encroachment of drains etc. Interventions are necessary

7.not only from the point of improving the quality of life of residents but also from the perspective of

8.restoring its past heritage.

9.The old settlements like Chowk, Kashmisi Mohalla, Nakhas, Aminabad, Saadatganj, Asharafabad,

10.Nawabganj, Rakabganj, Ganeshganj, Chaupatia, Raja Bazar, Daliganj, and Balaganj, etc form the

11.‘inner city’. Daliganj and Balaganj fall on the Trans -Gomti side while the others are on the Cis

12.Gomti side. These localities are centuries old, having been established in the Nawabi period.

13.Today they are densely populated with grossly inadequate infrastructure and some of the old

14.buildings in a dilapidated condition. This locality is home to a number of handicraft ‘factories’ for

15.Zardosi and Chikan work, alongside people from varying socio-economic groups, ranging from

16.wealthy established families to poor people with vulnerable livelihoods.