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Lucknow

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Lucknow is a major metropolis in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh.

LucknowMap
LucknowMap

It serves as the state capital and the administrative headquarters for its district and division. As a large urban center, it is the eleventh most populous city in India. According to the 2011 census, the city had a population of 2.8 million people.

Lucknow Skyline From Gomti Nagar
Lucknow Skyline From Gomti Nagar

The city is a vital hub for many different sectors. These include finance, pharmaceuticals, and information technology. It is also an important center for aerospace, commerce, and design. Lucknow is a significant site for education, music, poetry, and tourism.

Charbagh Railway Station, Lucknow
Charbagh Railway Station, Lucknow

The geography of Lucknow is defined by the Gomti River.

Gomti River Front 6
Gomti River Front 6

This river meanders through the city and divides it into two regions. These are known as the Trans-Gomti and Cis-Gomti. The city sits in the middle of the Indus-Gangetic Plain. It is surrounded by several rural towns and villages. To the east lies Barabanki and to the west is Unnao. To the south is Raebareli, while Sitapur and Hardoi lie to the north. The city is located in a seismic zone III.

Lucknow (Baedeker, 1914)
Lucknow (Baedeker, 1914)

Lucknow's development is divided into three clear morphological zones. The central business district is a fully built-up area. This includes the neighborhoods of Hazratganj, Aminabad, and Chowk.

Harzratganj Market, Lucknow
Harzratganj Market, Lucknow

A middle zone surrounds this inner area and contains concrete houses. The outer zone consists of various villages. The city's climate is a humid subtropical type, known as Köppen Cwa. It has cool, dry winters from late November to February. The summers are dry and hot with plenty of sunshine from late March to June. Most of the annual rainfall occurs between July and October from southwest monsoon winds.

The history of the city stretches back to the 6th century BCE. During the late Vedic period, Lucknow was part of Kosala. This was one of the 16 Mahajanapadas.

Lucknow (Baedeker, 1914)
Lucknow (Baedeker, 1914)

From 1350 onwards, the region saw many different rulers. These included the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, and the Nawabs of Awadh. The Nawabs eventually made Lucknow their capital. They were known for their refined and extravagant lifestyles. They acted as patrons of the arts, which helped music and dance flourish. This era left behind many famous monuments. Notable examples include the Bara Imambara, the Chota Imambara, and the Rumi Darwaza.

Bara Imambara Lucknow
Bara Imambara Lucknow
Chota Imambara , Lucknow 654 (11)
Chota Imambara , Lucknow 654 (11)
Rumi Darwaza - The Breathtaking Architecture 01
Rumi Darwaza - The Breathtaking Architecture 01

Political shifts changed the city during the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1775, Asaf-ud-Daula shifted the court to Lucknow. This raised the city's prominence. However, the British East India Company began gaining control through treaties. In 1856, the Company annexed the state for alleged maladministration. This led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

Office - The Residency - Lucknow - India
Office - The Residency - Lucknow - India

Lucknow was a major center of this rebellion. During the Siege of Lucknow, a British garrison was besieged at the Residency.

After the rebellion, the city remained under British governance. In 1920, the provincial seat of government moved from Allahabad to Lucknow. After Indian independence in 1947, Lucknow became the capital of the newly formed Uttar Pradesh.

Lucknow has also been a stage for important political moments. In 1916, the city hosted the Congress session. This was where Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Muhammad Ali Jinnah met.

Vidhan Sabha Lucknow
Vidhan Sabha Lucknow

During this session, the Lucknow Pact was signed. The city also saw the Kakori conspiracy and the subsequent Kakori trial. These events captured the imagination of the entire country. Today, the city continues to grow rapidly. It is listed as the 17th-fastest growing city in India and the 74th in the world.

Modern Lucknow is a center for research and industry. It is home to several major institutes. These include IIM Lucknow and the Indian Institute of Information Technology. The Central Drug Research Institute is also located here.

The High Court of Lucknow - Gomti Nagar
The High Court of Lucknow - Gomti Nagar

The city is an emerging hub for automobile manufacturing. It also hosts many software and IT companies.

Tcs lucknow campus
Tcs lucknow campus

Culturally, the city is unique. It has a syncretic Hindu-Muslim culture known as Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb. UNESCO has even designated Lucknow as a City of Gastronomy.

Dosehri
Dosehri

This recognizes its rich culinary heritage. Visitors can also find traditional crafts like Chikan embroidery.

Chikan embroidery on a saree pallu
Chikan embroidery on a saree pallu
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🖼️ Images & Media (41)
File:UPMRC.svg
UPMRC.svg
File:Lucknow Airport Logo.svg
Lucknow Airport Logo.svg
File:Chota Imambara , Lucknow 654 (11).jpg
Chota Imambara , Lucknow 654 (11).jpg
File:Office - The Residency - Lucknow - India.jpg
Office - The Residency - Lucknow - India.jpg
File:7th Hussars, charging a body of the Mutineer's Cavalry.jpg
7th Hussars, charging a body of the...
File:Lucknow (Baedeker, 1914).jpg
Lucknow (Baedeker, 1914).jpg
File:LucknowMap.PNG
LucknowMap.PNG
File:Gomti River Front 6.jpg
Gomti River Front 6.jpg
File:Dosehri.JPG
Dosehri.JPG
File:Tiger in Lucknow Zoological Garden.jpg
Tiger in Lucknow Zoological Garden.jpg
File:Chikan embroidery on a saree pallu.jpg
Chikan embroidery on a saree pallu.jpg
File:Tcs lucknow campus.jpg
Tcs lucknow campus.jpg

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