Short trip to Lucknow

Lucknow trip: I visited Lucknow for three nights.

Arrived at Lucknow airport, took a prepaid taxi for Rp280, driver dropped me at Hotel Gomti. It is a terrible choice. Bathroom was very dirty, room also smell like urine. Due to jetlag, thought will stay for one night. Bad decision!!! In the afternoon, went out, talked to the reception ladies at Royal Inn, they booked me for a superior room for next two nights there.

Got back to hotel, took a sleeping pill and went to bed.Next morning, quickly packed. Waited for a while to get the free breakfast, then off to Royal Inn. No superior rooms available, the nice receptionist put me in the royal suite and said they will move me to new room later on. In the afternoon, she told me that I will stay in the suite for the superior room’s price, very good!!!

Saharaganj mall is just across the road, so food is no problem. Branch of Tunday khan and Royal Café is in the mall, with many other restaurants.
Visited two Imambaras, saw other historic places. Went to Aminabad and chowk.Did a lot of shopping.

Habibullah estate, Hajratganj: two shops there, Lalbehari tendon and a branch of Sewa chikan

Janpath market: several shops, but a bit tiring due to price haggling

Aminabad: quality of product is mediocre

Chowk: Went to Bhagwan Das shop, good product with good price

Indira nagar: Seva chikan, huge shop, fixed price, high end product with matching price

Saharaganj Mall: bought few kurtis from Pantaloon shop in the mall

On the way back to airport, called the same taxi, he wanted Rp 300, said ok. At the end, he wanted Rp400 because he turned on the AC for few minutes. Good try, just gave him Rp 300 and walked away.

In general, people are nice, they try to help you with direction etc. Very good Chikan products, very nice historical monuments. Food is excellent. If you are going from Delhi to Varanasi, make a stopover in Lucknow.

You should spend three nights to enjoy culture, food and shopping. You can stay at Royal Inn. But stay away from dirty Hotel Gomti.

Thanks for sharing your trip report Rony. To your list I would add the Presidency and La Martiniere as beautiful monuments, also the Bara and Chota Imambara.

Mridula, I did not include historic sights in my report. Travellers can find about them in any travel book. But, finding the right shop and hotel is a challenge...

Rony, I agree, hotel and shops are a challenge. Didn't think of it like that when I wrote my comment.

Surely you meant THE RESIDENCY, mridula !