The capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, is a popular tourist destination. It is famous for the reign of Awadh Nawabs. The rich heritage and amazing Islamic architecture increase curiosity among tourists. The City of Nawabs attracts tourists from all over the world.
The cultural heritage of Lucknow and the Lucknow visiting places has an extra charm. You can see some of Lucknow’s best Mughal architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries. You can find heaven in the delicious Lucknowi cuisine and the Lucknow visiting places.
Lucknow has good roadways, railways and airways links with all the main cities of India. You can easily reach all the visiting places in Lucknow. You can travel by public transport to reach all the Lucknow visiting places.
Lucknow encourages Indian historical tourism as well. Let us check out some of the best visiting places in Lucknow.
Bara Imambara
The Bara Imambara is one of the most famous monuments of Lucknow. It is popular mainly for the mysterious maze. The locals call the maze- Bhul Bhulaiya. If you plan to explore popular Lucknow visiting places, Bada Imambara must be top of this list.
Bhul bhulaiya is on the upper floor of the Baraa Imambara. Stories say the maze has 1024 ways to go inside while just 2 exist. Many know it as the Asafi Imambara. It was the name of the Nawab of Lucknow constructing it.
It is a worshipping place for Muslims during Muharram. It would help if you visited it. It is the world’s largest structure without beams. The engineering behind the construction is a marvel in itself. It is one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture among the visiting places in Lucknow.
The Imambara has no wood or metal in its construction. You can also see the grave of Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah alongside the architectural marvel. The Bara Imambara also has the nawab’s crown in the central hall for display. It is also the largest vaulted chamber in the world. Therefore
- Visiting hours: 6:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Ticket Fees: ₹ 25 for Indians
- ₹ 500 for foreigners
- [The ticket includes a free tour of Bara Imambara, Chota Imambara and Shahi Hamam]
Chota Imambara
The Chota Imambara has another name- the Imambara of Hussainabad. It falls under one of the best Lucknow visiting places. It is present in the old city of Lucknow.
It is a beautiful architectural monument. Muhammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of Awadh, built it in 1838. The Imambara has beautiful decorations. The incredible chandeliers adorn the place during festivals. International tourists often call it the palace of lights.
The architecture of Chota Imambara is a mix of Charbagh, Indo-Islamic and Persian designs. Tourists love the marvellous designs and interiors of the place. The exterior walls of the monument have intricate carvings of Quranic verses in beautiful Islamic calligraphy.
- Time:
- You can visit Chota Imambara from 6 am to 5 pm. The best time to tour it is between 9 am and 10 am.
- Ticket fees:
- The Indian visitors have to pay ₹ 25 as entry fees. Foreign tourists must pay an entry fee of ₹ 300.
The British Residency
The British Residency holds the history of the Revolt of 1857. It requires special mention among Lucknow visiting places. It was the headquarters of the British East India Company in Lucknow and later a refugee camp during the 1857 revolt.
The Residency Complex has many structures as an example of British architectural skills. The history buffs will love the place. The place also has a church, cemetery and graves of sepoy. You can even enjoy light shows on the revolt of 1857 every evening.
Time :
You can visit The British Residency on all days except Mondays. It also remains closed on holidays. You can visit the place from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Entry fee:
-The Indian citizens have to pay ₹ 15.
The entry fee for foreigners is ₹ 200.
Rumi Darwaza
You must attend the Rumi Darwaza while selecting Lucknow visiting places. It is a gateway between the Bara Imambara and the Chota Imambara. The sixty feet tall Rumi Darwaza is a perfect example of Awadhi architecture.
Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula built it on the model of the Turkish gateway- Bab-i-Humayun. He named Rumi Darwaza after the famous Muslim Sufi Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi. The Awadhi workers built it in exchange for every meal the nawab gave them during the famine of 1748.
The Rumi Darwaza holds a history of the noble deed. It is one of the most famous Tourist attractions in Lucknow. The beautiful architecture stands tall over the busy roads of lajpatnagar. It forms the heart of old Lucknow city.
Time:
You can visit it any time of the day or night. It is wise to avoid the busy traffic hours.
Fees:
You will need no entry fees to watch the amazing structure.
Chattar Manzil
Chattar Manzil, or Umbrella Palace, stands on the banks of the Gomti river is one of the popular Lucknow visiting places . Nawab Ghazi Uddin Haider built it. Chattar Manzil was home to many great nawabs of Lucknow. You must visit it.
The palace is a great example of Nawabi and European architecture. The historical monument has octagonal domes covering the Manzil. They are like an umbrella to the structure. So it gets the name Chattar Manzil or umbrella palace. You can also go to see the large underground rooms of the palace.
Time:
You may visit the Chattar Manzil from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. You may visit Chattar Manzil any day of the week except Sunday.
Entry Fees:
Indian tourists, as well as foreigners, can visit it without any entry fees.
The Ambedkar Memorial Park
The Ambedkar Memorial Park in Lucknow falls under the best visiting places in Lucknow. It had the name Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal earlier. The memorial park area is over a hundred and seven acres.
There are museums and galleries celebrating the life of Ambedkar. They also honour other great freedom fighters of India like Jyotiba Phule, Birsa Munda, Kanshi Ram etc.
The statues and structures of great historical importance also attract tourists. Sixty-two majestic stone elephants stand on both sides of the park’s entryway. You must put the Ambedkar Memorial park on your list of Lucknow visiting places.
Time:
You may visit the Ambedkar Memorial Park all days of the week from 11 am to 6 pm. It is better to avoid visiting it during extreme summers.
Entry Fees:
You have to pay ₹ 20 as an entry fee to the park.
Lucknow Zoological Garden
The Lucknow Zoo is a famous visiting place in Lucknow. People also know it as the Nawab Wazid Ali Shah Prani Udyan. Or The Prince of Wales Zoological Gardens.
The Lucknow Zoo has over nine thousand mammals, birds, reptiles, and other animals. You can see the royal Bengal tiger, white Bengal tiger, Himalayan black bear, Asiatic lion, etc.
Nawab Nasiruddin Haider started building the zoo in 1921 to celebrate the Lucknow visit of the Prince of Wales. It stands over 71.9 acres of land. You can try a few other activities, such as toy train rides through the Lucknow zoo. While explore Lucknow visiting places, never miss this awesome place.
Time:
You can visit the zoo between February to April from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
You may visit the zoo between May to July from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
You have to visit the zoo between August to October from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
You can visit the zoo from November to January between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm.
The Lucknow Zoological Garden remain closed on Mondays.
Entry fees:
Adults have to pay an entry fee of Rs.60 to tour the Lucknow zoo
The kids below 12 must pay Rs.30 as an entry fee to the Lucknow Zoological park.
The Indira Gandhi Planetarium
The Indira Gandhi Planetarium is quite popular among Lucknow Visiting Places. It is a hit among the children for the 3D science and astronomy shows.
You can visit the Indira Gandhi Planetarium at Surajkund Park neighbourhood in Lucknow. People also call it the Taramandal Show. You can see models of the Indian satellites here.
It also honours Indian scientists like Aryabhatt, Varahamihira etc. The 3D shows take you on a virtual trip to space amidst the stars and see the beautiful galaxies. There are shows available in both Hindi and English.
The planetarium is in the shape of the planet Saturn with five rings around it. The structure also has amazing architectural designs signifying the solar system. There is also a water pool around the planetarium.
Time:
Different shows are available from 1: 00 PM, 2:30 pm, 4:00 pm and 5:00 pm. You can find an extra show from 6:00 pm during the summer vacation. The Indira Gandhi Planetarium remains closed on Mondays.
You can find English shows only in the first show on Saturdays & Sundays. All other shows around the week are in Hindi. You can book the shows between 11:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Entry fees:
The adults have to pay ₹ 25 as an entry fee.
The Kids below the age of 3 do not need any entry fee.
Hazratganj Market
The Hazratganj market is the central shopping hub of Lucknow. Nawab Nasiruddin Haider laid the foundation for the market in 1827. It got a new name Hazratganj in 1842 after Nawab Amjad Ali Shah. People called him ‘Hazrat’.
The Hazratganj market is famous for its rich cultural heritage and history. You can find beautiful and authentic lucknow chikankari items in the market. You may shop for beautiful handicrafts in Uttar Pradesh here. This is the main attraction among popular Lucknow visiting places.
The bazaars of Lucknow, with colourful wares, zardozi embroideries and chikankaris, are a major attraction. You must visit the Hazratganj market for Nagra footwear.
Time:
You may visit the market between October and March for a comfortable shopping experience. You may visit the market every weekday except Sunday from 10 am to 11 pm.
Moti Mahal
Moti Mahal is one of the popular and historical Lucknow Visiting Places. Nawab Saadat Ali Khan built the Moti Mahal. People also know it as the Pearl Palace. It lies on the banks of river Gomti. The monument gains its name from its white pearl-like look.
You can also see the Mubarak Manzil and Shah Manzil near it. It was a great birdwatching site for the nawabs and their family members. The gardens of Moti Mahal now arrange parties and conferences on occasion. You must visit the historical monument for its architectural beauty in the beautiful background of the river.
Time:
You can visit the Moti Mahal from 11 am to 11 pm.
Entry fee:
You do not have to pay any entry fee.
Dilkusha Kothi
You must include Dilkusha Kothi in your list of Lucknow Visiting Places. It is an old building similar to the baroque houses in England. The Nawabs used Dilkusha Kothi as a summer house.
A British Major, Gore Ouseley, built Dilkusha Kothi in the design of palaces and halls in England. It is a fine example of an amazing amalgamation of India and British art and architecture. The beautiful sights of Dilkusha Kothi will surely make your heart happy.
Time:
You can visit Dilkusha Kothi throughout the week from 8 am to 6 pm.
Entry fees:
The Indians must pay an entry fee of ₹ 5 to tour the palace.
The foreigners must pay ₹ 100 as an entry fee to the Dilkusha Kothi.
Ramakrishna Math
The Ramakrishna Math is a monastery and shrine following the values of Sri Ramakrishna. It is a great place for everyone to meditate and awaken their spiritual sides. Among top Lucknow visiting places, the Ramkrishna Math stands as a pilgrimage destination.
A 19th-century Bengali saint, Ramakrishna, established the Ramakrishna Math. You can see many idols of Shri Ramakrishna, Mother Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda. The place has an amazing aura of serenity.
The structure has white marble and red sandstone. The use of red sandstone in the temple is a nod to the Mughal heritage of Lucknow. You can sit or roam around the temple grounds for a peaceful time.
Time:
You can visit the place between 8:30 am to 12 noon and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm every weekday.
Entry fees:
You do not have to pay any entry fees.
Shahi Baoli
The Shahi Baoli was a reservoir to help society. Nawab Asif-Ud-Din Daula and Kifayat-Ullah, the famous architects of the time, built this between 1784 and 1795. The amazing architectural design of Shahi Baoli is a mix of Indian and Islamic architectural styles.
Shahi Baoli has five storeys. The three bottom floors are storage spaces, while the top two are reserves. Tourists get in awe of the brilliant archways and carved doorways of Shahi Baoli. While you visit popular Lucknow visiting places, never miss Shahi Baoli.
Time:
You can visit Shahi Baoli from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm all weekdays.
Entry Fee :
The Indian tourists have to pay ₹ 25 as an entry fee, while the foreigners pay ₹ 300.
Amrapali Water Park
The Amrapali Water Park is great for a fun summer day. It is an adventure park among Lucknow’s visiting places. You can enjoy various rides of the latest technologies here. Your kids are going to love it the most.
The water park also has cottages, an eating area and a kid’s play area. You can also enjoy an in-house DJ to add to the party vibe. The water park is famous for top slides like the Aqua Trail, Crazy Cruise, Black Hole and Float Side.
You can enjoy swimming, water slides and splash pools here. Merry-go-rounds and roller coaster rides are also available in Amrapali Water Park. You may also enjoy camel rides in the water park. Now that is interesting. You can’t imagine Lucknow Visiting Places without Amrapali Water Park if you love amusement.
Timings:
You can enjoy the Amrapali Water Park from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Entry Fees With Lunch and Refreshments:
The Adults must pay ₹ 800, while the children have to pay ₹600 as entry fees.
Entry fees without Lunch for Adults is ₹ 600. The children have to pay ₹ 400 as an entry fee without lunch.
You have to pay ₹ 30 for the locker services. You can get costumes for ₹ 60 there. The parking cost is around ₹ 40.
Conclusion
We have a list of a few of the visiting places in Lucknow. It will help you in visiting the best places in Lucknow. There are also many other tourist attractions like Qaisar Bagh, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Park, Janeshwar Mishra Park etc.
The Janeshwar Mishra Park in Lucknow is also the largest in Asia. You must visit it. You will have at least a week to tour all the amazing visiting places in Lucknow.
Apart from the Lucknow visiting places, the city’s cuisine is also marvellous. The Mughal touch in the food gives a gastronomic delight to people. Remember to have the biryani dishes and delicious kebabs while touring Lucknow Visiting Places.
Lucknow has very hot and humid summers. The ideal time to see Lucknow visiting places is during the winter months. It will be comfortable to tour the city between December and February. The cool and pleasant weather during this time is the best for sightseeing.
FAQs
- When should I visit lucknow?
The summers are very hot and uncomfortable in Lucknow. Lucknow also gets very heavy rainfall. The best time to usually visit Lucknow is the winter months.
- Where can I shop for authentic Lucknow suits and chikankaris?
Hazratganj market is the best place to shop for chikankaris and suits in Lucknow. You can also get other handicrafts from Uttar Pradesh, Nagra shoes and zardozi embroideries there.
