Bara Imambara - A trip to gravity-defying Palace in Lucknow

Are you tired of staying and working from home due to pandemic? Are you on the lookout for some respite from the continuous sitting on your work chairs? Are you craving a holiday or a quick trip? If the answer to the above questions is ‘yes,’ then you need not worry anymore. We have got you covered. Read on why you should plan a trip to the Bara Imambara. 

Bara Imambara is in Lucknow and is located near the river Gomti. Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula built it in 1784.  

The History behind Bara Imambara 

The Bara Imambara was built in a famine relief program. Is it believed that the Nawab built this structure to provide work to the ordinary people who suffered from famine. The structure reflects Rajput and Mughal architecture with Gothic influences. A visit to Lucknow is incomplete without a visit to the Bara Imambara. The construction of the entire facility cost 10 million rupees, which is a considerable amount even today. 

The Architecture of Bara Imambara 

The Bara Imambara is a huge hall where the Mughals used to perform their rituals during Muharram’s time. Triple-arched gateways surround the structure. The central hall measures 50 meters in length and 16 meters broad. What is intriguing about the hall is that the construction is column-less and stands without any external support of wood, iron, or stone beams. This fantastic structure, with its intriguing architecture, is visited by lakhs of tourists every year. Located beside the Bara Imambara is the Chota Imambara. The central hall’s hollow walls help keep it cool during summer and help keep the hall well-lit and airy. 

This fort-like structure is famous for its labyrinth of corridors and is popularly known as ‘Bhulbhulaiya’. The palace gained this name due to the narrow corridors where people often lose their way. The labyrinth consists of 1,000 staircase passages. It is recommended that you take a certified guide who can show you around the place and let you know about the historical significance of this place. The corridors eventually lead to a beautiful and spectacular terrace from where you can view the entire city. 

The Bara Imambara is also famous for another unique structure, which is a five-storied baoli or step-well. This was constructed in the pre-Nawabi era and is unique since it is connected to the river Gomti. The first three stories remain submerged in water perennially while the two other levels remain above water.  

The lockdown has been very tough for all of us. With everything opening up slowly, now would be an ideal time to visit this amazing piece of history. If you live in Delhi and are planning a trip to Lucknow, a quick internet search will help you know about the Delhi to Lucknow flight and give you detailed information about flight tickets from Delhi to Lucknow. 

You can also find many Lucknow to New Delhi flights from this city of Nawabs.  

Hope you will enjoy your trip to this amazing city!