Lucknow

Don't get scared...it does get creepy over there, however nothing to be scared off..too many people are around...

make sure you hire a guide..he will charge around Rs.100 for 2 people and show you all the things in details...the halls, the maze, the poll that bhabi was talkig about...

Guide is also important to enjoy the Bhool Bhulaiya (maze) as without a guide you can get lost easily..infact to add the fun element guides disappear for some time..and allow you to find your way out..keeping an eye on you all the time..

That sounds like a really fun place to be a tour guide!

If possible watch Satyajit Ray's film Shatranj ki Khilari

The Residency is a nice place to visit the ruins of the old quarters where the British were holed up when the mutiny took place in Lucknow. They have a nice sound and light show in the evenings if there are a few people at least, when I was there they held the show for just the two of us!!! Then a couple of more people turned up so we were four!!! HAHAHA!!!

The Martiniere is a college which was also used in one of the Bollywood movies!!! It has some good old architecture that I love to see in most places.

Cheers,
Aadil.

Thanks for the tip, Jyotida. Shatranj Ki Khilari (The Chess Players) is a wonderful movie. I had forgoteen that it was shot in Lucknow. Satyajit Ray, the director, is a giant of Indian cinema - for those who have only seen Bollywood movies, this would be an eyeopener - very different. Shabana Azmi is also a wonderful actress.

Here is the synopsis of the movie
http://www.popmatters.com/film/revie...1977-dvd.shtml

Reaching Lucknow on Wed 12/19 and will fly out on Sun 12/23 AM.
I have work on weekdays from 7PM to about midnight.
So I figured I'd explore Lucknow on Wed, Thurs and Friday. Since I don't work on Saturdays, I thought I'd like to take a day trip, see nearby places. I'm not sure where to go... maybe Varanasi?

I must come back to Lucknow Saturday night to take my early morning flight on Sunday. Any ideas, IMers??

Varanasi is about 285 km from Lucknow. Probably good for an overnight journey.

thanks for the reply pontesnm.

all the nice places seem to be rather far from lucknow :-\ i guess i'll just stick around in lucknow another day..

ChocolatNY

Since you like food,here are some places for you .

http://lucknow.nic.in/cuisine.htm

Ayodhya is 128 km from Lucknow, you may be able to get a bus tour for same day return. My guess is that you will have plenty to keep you busy in Lucknow

Stay in Lucknow; you won't be disappointed if you like Mogul architechture. Three days is just not enough in my opinion.

Hey ...just saw the thread....i'm leaving for lucknow tomorrow morning.

My plans...

Lots of Kebab
Visit some of the historical buildings
See the sunset on Gomti
Some good photography
Spend time in Universal Book Shop

AND Simply laze around for 5 days.

It's a city i love to spend time in.

They are labyrinths built by moghuls-tunde kababs are axailable @ sahara mall in hazratganj also nearby are very cool joints next to tulsi cinema for real good unexpensive nveg food

I hadn't noticed this thread when it came by before, but i'm glad I've found it!

I'll be back in Lucknow this summer with a group of "freshers", my family, parents are India veterans but brother, bro's gf, and another coupe have never been to india before. We'll be in Lucknow for a couple of days and will try and fit as much in as possible.
I'm thinking, defo Bhool Bhouliya, so Imambara and Residency. If you could only do two places, which would you choose?
oh, and last year part of the Imambara was closed so i couldn't go in. does anyone know if it's fully open or arethere specific days at the moment? Any recent info from someone who's been there in the past month would be very much appreciated!
cheers

must see-La Martiniere college movie gadar was shot here-Dilkusha gardens-night livelightn sound show @ the residency-& if u r a non veg freak visit nazeerabaad naaz cinema road for numerous joints that r inexpensive along with many @ tulsi cinema road- modern stuff fun republic/sahara/wave/inox etc

thanks rrrorthop!

We probably won't have much time to see all of those things unfortunately, but it's always good to have the view of someone who's living local!
But if you could only do 2 sights: would you put La Martiniere above Residency or Imambara (i really want to wander around bhool bouliya!) ?
Do you know if it is open everyday or not? thanks in advance!