Mind Blowing Facts about Lucknow for First Time Visitors

Lucknow is an ancient Indian city that is a cultural potboiler, offering unique food, music, art, and handicrafts. The Nawabs, who ruled Lucknow for centuries and gave it the much talked about Nawabi style, were great patrons of the fine arts. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was very fond of the classical dance form of Kathak, which traces its roots to Lucknow. Lachhu Maharaj, Achhchan Maharaj, Shambhu Maharaj and Birju Maharaj are some reputed names who have kept the tradition of Kathak alive. Akhtari Bai Faizabadi, who later came to be known as the renowned Begum Akhtar, also made Lucknow her home. Her ghazals and thumris never fail to move the listener.

Kathak enthusiasts in Delhi should travel to Lucknow with domestic flights on offer, to enjoy the dance performances of their favorite artists. 

The Nawabi Style

 

It is said that it is the music, culture and monuments that speak of the Nawabi style of Lucknow. The city has been synonymous with Nazakat and Nafasat. Lucknow was ruled by the Delhi Sultanate, taken over by the Mughals and later looked after by the Nawabs. Little wonder then that it offers a real royal feel.

Gourmet Delights, Especially for Non-Vegetarians

Awadhi cuisine is native to the city of Lucknow, where the dum style of cooking or the art of cooking over a slow fire was given birth to. In Lucknow, you get to choose from a wide variety of kebabs, 18-layered parathas, succulent naans, mouth-watering kachoris, creamy kulfis and more. The famous Galoti kebab was created right here. These are made of tenderized meat whipped to a creamy consistency, and simply melt in the mouth. Once they are placed before the person, the aroma is enough to get your mouth watering!

 

Shopper's Delight

Lucknow is known for embroidery works like chikankari, zari, zardozi, kamdani, gota making, etc. Authentic Chikankari, a 400 year old embroidery style unique to this city, has myriad delicate stitches, to be precise, ten different kinds, which are traditionally embroidered with white cotton thread on thin cotton or muslin fabric to suit the hot weather. It has now evolved to suit the modern tastes but nothing beats the age old workmanship or kaarigari of the artisans here. Zardozi embroidery was done during the times of the Nawabs to create magic on cloth with golden zari thread work. Even today, when you wear garments with this work, you feel like royalty.

Lucknow is a cultural delight. If you too want to be a part of it, book yourself in one of the Delhi to Lucknow flights and experience a royal holiday.