A virtual tour of Bada Imambara to discover Nawabi legacy in Lucknow

Located at the bank of Gomti River, the city of Lucknow is the architectural hub of Northern India, BadaImambara in Lucknow is a daunting monument with magnificent architecture design highlighting the legacy of Mughals.. Lets take a tour of this marvellous structure:

History of BadaImambara of Lucknow:

Built by NawabAsaf-ud-Daula between 1785 and 1791 AD, the main objective of building BadaImambara was to provide employment to the people when devastating famine hit Lucknow in 1784. It is said that common people used to to build the structure in the morning while the nobility would dismantle it at night. This was Nawab’s way of thinking no one was ever out of work. The construction of this splendid monument was completed in 1791 AD.

Lesser Known Facts:

1. There is no wood or metal used in the construction of entire structure of BadaImambara. It is made - up of edible material like Daal, Lime stone & Rice husks. These are called as Lakori bricks and can be found in most of the monuments built by Nawabs. 

2. BadaImamabara is one of the world’s largest aced structure with the high ceilings having no beam support.To support the structure, it is made hollow and roofs are of different heights.

Architecture of Bara Imambara:

Central Hall having size of 50m length,16 m width & 15m height is the largest out of all nine halls in the monument. There are no beams, rods, girder to support the building The Rumi Darwaza or Turkish Gate, located just 100 m away from BadaImambara is a gateway of 60 feet height is fit for royal welcome. Bhul Bhulaiyyaor labyrinth is the fascinating part of the monument with narrow corridors &passages interconnecting with each other through 489 identical doorways. It is said that there are 1024 ways to reach the terrace but only one way to come back. So it is advisable to take a guide along to explore the grandeur of this exceptional architectural style.ShahiBaoli, built in the Indo-Islamic architectural designs, is the water reservoir used to serve water to the people in the ancient times. Currently, it is only used as a tourist spot.

Tips to Travellers:

1. Cover heads with a cloths available at the main gate & remove shoes before entering the shrine.

2. Carry a torch if you want to explore baori and the BhulBhulaiya as there are chances of one getting lost in the darkness of the place.

3. Keep a bottle of water to stay hydrated while roaming around.

4. Tourists are strongly cautioned not to venture into the maze without the help of a guide. Better hire a guide who will explain the history & other unknown facts of Bada Imamabara in detail.

5. Do not visit if you have claustrophobia or inform your guide about it. 

Entry Timings: 

6 am to 5 pm. Open all days.

Entry Fees:

Rs.50 for adult citizen, Rs. 25 per for children & Rs.500 person for foreign tourists.

Nearby hotels to stay:

Clarks Avadh (2.54 km), Hotel Gemini Continental (2.86 km) , Radisson Lucknow City Center (3.23 km), Radical Palace-Hotel & Restaurant (3.25 km), Hotel Charans Plaza (3.32 km) 

 How to Reach:

Lucknow is well connected to some places abroad like Dubai, Jeddah, Bangkok, Sharjah  through international flights.Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport is 18 kms from BadaImambara and take around half an hour to reach. Charbagh Railway station is 7 kms from BadaImambara connecting trains from all parts of India. The Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) bus stand is located opposite to Charbagh Railway Station.

Things to do nearby:

Visit British Residency, Rumi Darwaza, ChotaImamabara, Lucknow Heritage Walk, Buddha Park,Husainabad Clock Tower, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah Zoological Garden

If fond of shopping, you may go to Chowk, Lucknow’s biggest Chikan market which is the speciality of Lucknow worldwide.