India Travel

Information of Lucknow in Central UP

Related Properties from Gurgaon

Arrival, information and transport to the Lucknow in Central UP

From Amausi Airport, 16km south on the Kanpur Road, a taxi to the centre of Lucknow costs around Rsl50. Airport buses connect with flights. Lucknow s main Charbagh Railway Station (for computerized reservations), 4km southwest of the central hub of Hazratganj, is itself a remarkable building, with prominent chhatris above the entrance arcade and a roof inspired by chess pieces. Most buses, including those from Varanasi, Allahabad, Agra, Jhansi and Kanpur, arrive at the main Charbagh Bus Stand alongside, while some buses from the Nepal border at Sonauh and from Gorakhpur, Faizabad and Ayodhya pull in at the Kaisarbagh stand, near

Details of Central UP

Large tracts of CENTRAL UP, along the fertile flood plains of the Doab, constituted the nineteenth-century Kingdom of Avadh. Destined eventually to become little more than puppets of the British, its wealthy nawabs (governors) focused their attentions on the arts, and created a unique civilization centred around Lucknow. Monuments from those days, and traces of the bitter fighting of the "Mutiny" or "First War of Independence" that coincided with the final eclipse of Avadh, are scattered throughout both city and region. Today-central UP has become a Hindu stronghold as the BJP extends its grip from its seat in the state

Faizabad southwest of Ayodhya in the Uttar Pradesh

During the reign of Shuja-ud-Daula (1756-75), as the Moghul empire disintegrated. FAIZABAD, 6km southwest of Ayodhya, attracted craftsmen, artists and musicians from Delhi. However, the first capital of Avadh declined in tandem with the rise of Lucknow. Among the few monuments to survive is the lofty white marble Tomb of Bahu Begum, widow of Shuja-ud-Daula, close to the the nawab's own mausoleum. Faizabad's cantonment area is a legacy of British rule - caught up in the rebellion of 1857, it was thankfully spared the bloodshed seen in Kanpur and Lucknow. Cheap central accommodation can be found near the chowk in the

Shopping to the Lucknow in the Central UP

Chikan is a long-standing Lucknavi tradition of embroidery, in which designs are built up to form delicate floral patterns along edges on saris and on necklines and collars of kurtas. Workshops can be found around the Chowk, the market area of old Lucknow, and shops and showrooms in Hazratganj, Janpath larket, Nazirabad and Aminabad. Bhagwat Das & Sons are reputable deal-with two shops - one at the Chowk and the other at Husseinganj Chaurhai; Tandon's, 17/1 Ashok Marg, Hazratganj, is another good outlet. The fixed prices at Gangotri, the UP government emporium in Hazratganj, are more expensive than those

Kaisarbagh of the Lucknow in the Central UP

Isolated by the noise and bustle of modern Lucknow, the nineteenth-century monuments around Kaisarbagh, south of the Residency, stand forlorn and unattended. Large chunks of the Kaisarbagh Palace, built in 1850 by Waijd Ali Shah and intended to be the eighth wonder of the world, have vanished while the nearby Chattar Manzil, once the United Services Club, has lost most of its roof. Within the grounds of the Kaisarbagh, beside the grave of his wife Khurshid Zadi, is the tomb of Saadat Ali khan (1798-1814). N0v overgrown and often locked, it is distinguished by black-and-white marble paving, beneath which a

Details of Lucknow in the Central UP

in the approximate centre of Uttar Pradesh, 516km east of Delhi, the state capital LUCKNOW is best remembered for the ordeal of its British residents during the five-month siege of 1857. However, the city had earlier witnessed the last heady days of Muslim rule in India, before the final capitulation to the British. In fact the summary British deposition of the incompetent last Nawab of Avadh - or of Oudh, the British name for the kingdom - Wajid Ali Shah, is usually numbered among the root causes of the "Mutiny". Today, Lucknow s fading nineteenth-century monuments bear the scars of

Moving on from Lucknow in the Central UP

Indian Airlines flights from Lucknow include daily flights to Varanasi, Mumbai and Calcutta via Patna, and several to Delhi. Indian Airlines have offices at Hotel Clarks Avadh, 8 Mahatma Gandhi Marg, and at the airport at Amausi (information). Sahara India Airlines, Sahara India Tower, 7 Kapoorthala Complex also fly to Mumbai, Varanasi and Delhi. By rail, the excellent all a/c Shatabdi Express #2003 goes to Delhi (Daily 3.20pm; 7hr); cheaper alternatives include the Gomti Express #2419 (daily except Tues; 5.25am, 8hr), and the slower overnight Lucknow Mail #4229 (10pm; 9hr 45min). The best choice to Agra is the Avadh Express #5063

Practicalities of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh

There are three bus stands - the main Railway bus stand, 1km north of the centre, for buses from the Nepalese border at Sonauli and Kushinagar; the Kacheri bus stand, lkm southwest of the station, for services from Allahabad, Lucknow and Varanasi; and the main bus stand for Varanasi (6hr) and Nepal-Varanasi buses, at Pedleyganj, 2km southeast of the station. Major daily trains servicing Gorakhpur include the fast Vaishali Express #2553 to Lucknow and Delhi (5.10pm) and the Gorakhpur-Dadar Express #1028 for Mumbai via Varanasi (5am); among trains to Varanasi (6hr) are the fast Kashi Express #1028 (5am) and the Chauri-Chaura

Practicalities to the Kanpur Central UP

Trains on the main Delhi-Calcutta line, including the superfast Shatabdi Express #2003 (1 daily) pull in regularly at Kanpur Central, in the most congested part of the city. Buses from Lucknow and points east terminate at the Collectorganj Bus Stand in Sadar Bazaar, a short way east, while services from Delhi, Agra, Handwar and the west arrive at Chunniganj, 3km west of the Mall. Few people fly to Kanpur, as rail connections, especially with Delhi, are good, but there's an airport 12km to the east, a taxi-ride (Rs100) or an auto-rickshaw ride (Rs30) from the centre. Indian Airlines have offices

The Town of Lucknow in the Central UP

Most of Lucknow's monuments are spread along or near the southern bank of the Gomti, a sluggish weed-covered stream that most of the year swells with the monsoon, and becomes crowded with the small dugout boats of local fishermen. Close to the main central bridge lies the modern commercial centre of Hazratganj, with the Shah Najaf Imambara to its north near the river-bank. Further west, beyond the ruins of the Residency, the road passes the majestic Bara Imambara, leading through the large gate of Rumi Darwaza to the Hussainabad Imambara. South of Hussainabad, between Hazratganj and Charbagh, the old city

Kanpur and around in the Central UP

The teeming metropolis of KANPUR, 438km east of Delhi and 190km west of Allahabad, is among the most polluted cities in the world, and most visitors are there solely for business. Kanpur has been a textile-manufacturing centre since its cotton mills were established in 1869, and together with its twin city, Lucknow, 76km northeast, it dominates the industrial heartland of Uttar Pradesh. Unlike other points along the Ganges, the riverside is of little significance; its ghats are run down, and only those at Bithur, 20km upstream, are worth exploring.

Information of the Agra in the Uttar Pradesh

Agra has two tourist offices, one run by the Government of India, at 191 The Mall (Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm, Sat 9am-1pm), and one run by UF Tourism, close to the darks Shimz, at 64 Taj Rd (same hours); there is also an information booth at Cantonment station. The Government of India office is better organized and provides information about other destinations, though both supply information on hotels and local sights, and details of tours that start and end at Agra Cantonment railway station.

Travel details for Uttar Pradesh

Trains Note that most important trains to Varanasi stop at Moghul Sarai, requiring a change of trains or a connecting bus or taxi. Agra to: Ahmedabad (1 weekly; 27hr 30min); Alwar (1 dally; 4hr); Btiopal (16-19 daily; 5hr 30min-9hr): Bhubaneshwar (1 daily; 39hr); Chennai (1-2 daily; 34hr-42hr); Delhi (15 daily; 2hr-4hr 15min); Gwalior (15-19 daily; 1hr 15min-2hr); Indore (1 daily; 14hr 25min); Jaipur (3 daily; 7hr); Jalgaon (3-4 daily; 14hr 20min-19hr); Jhansi (15-19 daily; 2hr 25min-5hr); Jodhpur (3 daily; 13hr); Kanpur (4 daily; 7hr): Kolkota (Calcutta) (1 daily; 30hr); Lucknow (3 daily: 7hr-8hr 30min); Mathura (12 daily; 1hr 30min-2hr); Mumbai (2 daily;

Travel details to Bihar and Jharkhand

Trains Gaya to: Allahabad (4 daily; 4hr 20min-6hr 30min); Calcutta (6 daily 6-9hr); Dehra Dun (1 daily; 26hr); Delhi (9 daily; 12-15hr); Haridwar (1 daily; 23hr|; Kalka (1 daily; 27hr); Lucknow (3 daily; 10-13hr); Mughal Sarai (13 daily; 3-5hr); Mumbai (1 daily: 31 hr); Patna (4 daily; 2hr 30min); Puri (3 weekly; 17-40hr); Ranchi (3 daily; 8hr 20min); Sasaram (10 daily; 1-3hr); Varanasi (3 daily; 4hr-5hr 30min). Patna to: Agra (1 daily; 17hr 35min); Allahabad (8 daily; 6-8hr); Calcutta (6 daily; 7hr 30min-12hr); Chennai (2 weekly; 44hr); Delhi (8 daily; 12-24hr); Gaya (4 daily; 2hr 30min); Guwahati (3 daily: 21-26hr); Lucknow (3

Accommodation of Lucknow in Central UP

Budget and mid-range hotels are concentrated in the Charbagh area, around the bus and railway stations, and along Vidhan Sabha Marg, the main artery feeding into the city centre around the GPO. The more cosmopolitan Hazratganj district holds a few bargains. Top-range hotels include the Taj Mahal in Gomti Nagar and Arif Castles, Amber, Naka Hindola. Spacious air-cooled rooms, with clean Indian-style toilets. Arif Castles, 4 Rana Pratap Marg, near Shah Najaf. Comfortable but ostentatious; dripping with chandeliers and reminiscent of a Hindi film set. Standard luxury hotel with all facilities, including a good bakery. Baba Tourist Lodge, Charbagh Railway Station,

Information about Calcutta

The efficient and friendly Government of India Tourist Office, Shakespeare Sarani (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-lpm, is your best bet for information on Calcutta,'West Bengal and destinations further afield, and can assist with itineraries and booking tours.The Government ofWest Bengal Tourist Bureau. 3/2 BBD Bagh East, arranges tours of Calcutta and package trips around West Bengal. They also issue permits and book tours and accommodation at the Sunderbans and Jaldapara wildlife parks. Tourist information counters at the airport and Howrah Station offer the same services. English-language newspapers such as the

Practicalities of Allahabad in the Uttar Pradesh

Allahabad has four railway stations (including Prayag, City and Daraganj), but major trains on the broad-gauge Delhi-Kanpur-Calcutta line arrive at the main Allahabad Junction. Most of the city's hotels are nearby; be sure to use the exit appropriate to the area where you plan to stay. Leader Road bus stand, used by buses from western destinations such as Agra. Lucknow, Kanpur, Kausambi and Delhi, is just outside the station's south gates on the ciry side, while the smaller Zero Road bus stand, serving Mahoba and Satna and Chitrakut to the south - the railheads for Khajuraho - is 1km southeast. Buses

Information on Calcutta

The efficient and friendly Government of India Tourist Office, 4 Shakespeare Sarani (Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat 9am-1 pm;) is your best bet for information on Calcutta, 'West Bengal and destinations further a field, and can assist with itineraries and booking tours. The Government of West Bengal Tourist Bureau, 3/2 BBD Bagh East (©033/248 8271), arranges tours of Calcutta and package trips around West Bengal. They also issue permits and book tours and accommodation at the Sunderbans and Jaldapara wildlife parks. Tourist information counters at the airport and Howrah Station offer the same

Eating of the Lucknow in the Central UP

The rich traditional Lucknavi cuisine - featuring such Mughlai dishes as slmmi kebabs, mughlai parathas, sheekh kebabs, chicken musallam and boti kebab -is available from food stalls throughout the city, in places such as Shami Avadh Bazaar, near the K D Singh Babu Stadium, and behind the Tulsi Theatre in Hazratganj. Standard a/c restaurants are found mostly in Hazratganj, while, of course, hotel restaurants such as the expensive Clarks Avadh and the Taj Mahal serve excellent but pricey food. Bharat Restaurant, Charbagh. Cheap open-air dhaba opposite the station. Good dosas and thalis. Chowdray, Mahatma Gandhi Marg. Hazratganj. Excellent Lucknavi cuisine in

City transport and guided tours to the Lucknow in Central UP

Multi-seater tempos and Vikrams, their diesel engines sounding like hundreds of loud rattles, have more or less taken over from city buses, plying regular routes such as from Charbagh to the GPO, with depots at Janpath Market, Clarks Avadh Crossing and the Chowk. Adding to the chaos are legions of reasonably priced cycle rickshaws, more common than auto-rickshaws and charging around Rs5 from the station to Hazratganj. Cars can be rented from various operators, including Hotel Clarks Avadh, UP Tours at the Hotel Gomti, 6 Sapru Marg, and Aliza Tours Ltd, 4-A Saran Chambers, 5 Park Rd. Comprehensive daily city tours,