Lucknow

Template:Infobox Lucknow Lucknow pronunciation^ⓘ (Hindi: लखनऊ; Urdu: لکھنو Lakhnau) is the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. It had a population of 2,207,340 in 2001. Lucknow is also the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the MP for the Lucknow constituency.

Climate

Lucknow has a humid subtropical climate with a cool dry winter from December to February and a hot summer from April to June. The temperature extremes vary from about 45 degrees Celsius(113 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer to 3 degrees Celsius(37.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter. Fog is common in winter while hot dry winds called Loo blow in summer. It receives about 101 cm of annual rainfall mostly from the South-West monsoon winds between July and September. Mean monthly temperatures(Source:Indian Meteorological Department)- January: 14.7 degrees celsius June: 32.9 degrees celsius

Geography

Situated at the heart of Uttar Pradesh, 500 km south-east of New Delhi, Lucknow is surrounded on the eastern side by Barabanki District, on the western side by Unnao District, on the southern side by Raebareli District and on the northern side by Sitapur and Hardoi districts. The Gomti River flows through the city, dividing it in trans-gomti and cis-gomti regions. Some of the tributaries of this river are the Kukrail, Loni, and Beta. The Sai River flows from the south of the city and in the east enters Raebareli District. Lucknow is accessible from every part of India through air, rail and road. It is directly connected with New Delhi, Patna, Calcutta, Mumbai, Varanasi and other major cities by Amausi Airport. Lucknow's amausi airport is an international airport and is 13th online station for Air India. Some international destinations include Dubai, Jeddah, Sharjah. Soon, flights to Bangkok would be started.

Language

Both Hindi and Urdu are spoken in Lucknow but Urdu has been the lingua franca here for centuries. Under the rule of Nawabs, Urdu flourished and turned into one of the most refined languages. Hindu and Muslim poets like Aatish, Nasikh, Daya Shankar Naseem, Musahafi, Insha , Safi Lakhnavi and the great Meer Taqi Meer took Urdu poetry to dizzying heights. The two great poets, Mir Anis and Mir Dabeer, became legendary exponents of a unique genre of elegiacal poetry called 'Marsia' centred on Husayn bin Ali's supreme sacrifice in the battle of Karbala which is commemorated during the annual observance of Muharram. However, in recent years the use of Urdu has become significantly reduced -- many of the residents of Lucknow are no longer able to read the rich literary tradition or historical artifacts found in the museums and archives. Day-to-day transactions in the city are typically performed in Hindi or English.

The revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil, who was hung by the British at Kakori near Lucknow, was largely influenced by poetry and wrote verses under the pseudonym of "Bismil". The towns like Kakori, Daryabad, Rudauli and Malhibad produced innumerable poets and literateurs of Urdu like Mohsin Kakorvi, Majaz Lucknowi, Josh Malihabadi, and Maulana Abdul Majid Daryabadi.

History

File:Indian Monument at Lucknow.jpg

The intricate carving on a monument in Lucknow, India

In ancient times, Lucknow was part of Kosala kingdom (modern Ayodhya) ruled by Ikshvaku dynasty to which Lord Rama belongs. It is believed that he gave the territory comprising of modern Lucknow to his devoted brother Lakshman. Therefore, the original name of Lucknow was Lakshmanpur, popularly known as Lakhanpur or Lachmanpur.

Lucknow's medieval history begins with its elevation to a capital city under the Nawabs of Awadh. The architectural contributions of the Awadh rulers, many paintings of whom are maintained at the Art Gallery today, include numerous mosques and palaces. Of the monuments standing today, the Bara Imambara, the Chota Imambara, and the Roomi Darwaza are notable examples, although neglect by the authorities has put them in danger of turning into ruins.

The province of Awadh (anglicized to Oudh) was annexed by the British rulers of India in 1856. In the Indian Mutiny of 1857(also known as First War of Indian Independence), the garrison based at the Residency in Lucknow was besieged by rebel forces. The famous Siege of Lucknow was relieved first by forces under the command of Sir Henry Havelock and Sir James Outram, followed by a stronger force under Sir Colin Campbell. Today the ruins of the Residency, and the picturesque Shaheed Smarak offer reminiscences of Lucknow's role in the events.

During the siege of the Residency in 1857, it was the students of La Martiniere College that went ahead to defend the Residency. For the valour that they displayed, La Martiniere College at Lucknow is the only college in the world that has received battle honours of the British Empire, until McGill University in WWI.

Other architectural delights in Lucknow include the Vidhan Sabha (State Parliament) and the main railway station at Charbagh with its yellow domes and pillars. One of the oldest schools in the world is also situated in Lucknow: La Martiniere, founded by the bequest of the immensely successful colonial entrepreneur Claude Martin (1735 - 1800).

In and around the city

Lucknow airport is located around 20 km outside the city at Amausi. Locations of interest in and around Lucknow include Kukrail (a picnic spot and crocodile sanctuary), Malihabad (home of the famed Dashahri mangoes), Kanpur, Allahabad, Varanasi and Mirzapur. Lucknow is also home to the Central Drug Research Institute, the King George's Medical College (now King George's Medical University), Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeobotany, National Botanical Research Institute and Industrial Toxicology Research Centre which is the biggest institute of its kind (in toxicology) in Southeast Asia .

Aminabad, a quaint bazaar quite like Delhi's Chandni Chowk, is situated in the heart of the city and is a large shopping centre, catering to a wide variety of consumers. The Hazratganj area is the upmarket shopping area with colonial style buildings that also has a number of government and administrative buildings. A popular past-time among the locals is roaming around the market, known as 'Ganjing'. A huge mall, Saharaganj has opened nearby with around 7000 visitors daily.

Kakori, 14 km from Lucknow is a unique place. It is known for train dacoity during the independence movement and the memorial of the revolutionaries is located here. The town has a predominantly Muslim population and in 19th century had the highest percentage of civil servants in the country compared to any other place in British India. This town that is located in the Mango belt has three dozen mosques and numerous huge havelis besides being the seat of the Qadiria Qalandaria Sufi order. The Alavis of Kakori are renowned for preserving the most refined and uncorrupted Urdu. The Kakori kebabs are a delicacy famous across the world.

The Asafi Imambara (popularly called Bada Imambara), the Husainabad Imambara (popularly called the Chhota Imambara) Dilkusha Garden, The Residency, Shah Najaf, La Martiniere are some famous monuments at Lucknow. The famous "Bhul Bhulaiya" (meaning labyrinth) is part of the famous Asafi Imambara. Lucknow is also famous for culinary delights, including "makkhan malai" (flavoured whipped cream) and "Tundey Kababs" and "kakori kebabs".

Culture (Lukhnawi Tehzeeb)

Lucknow, the golden city of the east' is struggling to retain the old world charm that still exists in the old quarters of the city close to the Chowk area. Regarded as one of the finest cities of India, Lucknow represents a culture that combines emotional warmth, a high degree of sophistication, courtesy and a love for gracious living. The (pehle-aap) 'after you' culture so popularised as a tagline for the society of Lucknow is waning but there still remain people who possess those beautiful qualities. This sublime cultural richness famous as 'Lakhnawi Tehzeeb' blends the cultures of two communities living side by side for centuries, sharing similar interests, speaking a common language -Urdu.

Many of the cultural traits and customs peculiar to Lucknow have become living legends today. The credit for this goes to the Nawabs of Awadh, who took keen interest in every walk of life and encouraged them to attain a rare degree of perfection.

Arts and crafts

Chikan, sometimes anglicised to 'chicken' despite having no poultry affiliation - an embroidered handicraft which has traditionally been associated with Lucknow, and 'Lakhnawi Zardozi' are important small-scale industries around Lucknow. Old Lucknow's Chowk area is the location where the maximum number of Chikan factories and shops can be found. Apart from clothing, the Chowk area is also famous for its mouth watering sweets like 'Malai Gilauri', 'Badam Halwa' and 'Ras-Malai', as well as the famed 'Chatpati chaat'. Kathak, the classical dance form took shape here. Additionally it is also famous for its perfumes and silver-work.