Places to visit in Lucknow

• Bara Imambara: There are many places to visit in Lucknow. Begin your trip with a stroll through the Bara Imambara (assembly hall), the largest arched entryway in the world. The central hall of Bara Imambara has no beams supporting the ceiling even though it's 15 metres tall—an architectural feat that has drawn many to Lucknow. After you've seen every detail in this historic heart of the city, don't leave. There's more which includes many historical places in Lucknow. Your ticket to the Imambara lets you immerse yourself in the magnificence of the Chota Imambara, the clock tower and the Hussainabad Picture Gallery, all of which are steps away.
• Clock Tower: Also, visible from the Bara Imambara is a 19th-century clock tower modelled after London's Big Ben. This is also one of the most important tourist places in Lucknow.
• British Residency: The story of Lucknow is not all pleasure—it does include some very dark chapters. You could and should lose a whole day visiting the British Residency—a haunting reminder of the 1857 Indian Mutiny (India's first revolt against the British for independence). This awe-inspiring cluster of gardens and ruins offer a look into the fall of the British Raj; the Residency was the only refuge for the British during the uprising. The main building hosts a museum devoted to keeping alive the story of 1857—in a chronological order making it even more haunting. Here, history buffs will find original photographs and lithographs, paintings and portraits of local Bravehearts. However, the museum's tone darkens as you venture down to the basement wing where you'll find terracotta figurines, a loaded revolver and cannonballs. To learn more, walk to the cemetery behind the nearby dilapidated church to ruminate by the graves of the dead. And end the day by bagging a front-row seat at the light, and sound show that dramatises the Residency's history every evening.
• Rumi Darwaza: Another monument depicting the era of Lucknow is the Rumi Darwaza. The main attraction of this landmark of the medieval period is exponentially incredible at night. It is during the night that the gate becomes surreal with the bulbs highlighting this architectural marvel. Built-in 1784, Rumi Darwaza is an epitome of Awadhi style architecture. It is also known as Turkish gate due to its similarity with to the gateway of Constantinople. Considered to be the symbol of Lucknow city, this beautiful monument features exquisitely carved dome and beautiful architectural patterns and designs. You must include in your travel itinerary while visiting Lucknow.

High-end shopping/luxury shopping/shopping malls in Lucknow

• Sahara Ganj Mall
• Fun Republic Mall
• East End Mall
• Pheonix United Mall
• River Side Mall
• Omaxe city centre Mall
• Singapore Mall

Street shopping in Lucknow

• Kotwara House: The home of the renowned film-maker and designer Muzaffar Ali (the Raja of Kotwara), Kotwara House is a homage to Nawabi culture. Located within the Qaisarbagh Palace complex, the restored house showcases and revives the traditional craft of Awadh. Here you can spend hours admiring the chikan, zari and mukaish work for the designer's couture label, Kotwara. Take a curated walk by all means across the palace property. It's the best way to sample Lucknow heritage without the hordes, though you can only do so by scheduling a walk with Lucknow Walks.
• Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA): You don't need to look far or go to the streets when looking for a bargain buy in Lucknow. Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) peddled beautiful chikankari at reasonable prices long before becoming fashionable. So, if you'd like to do your bit for a social cause, shop at their Alamgarh store. Looking good isn't half as satisfying as feeling good about yourself.
• Bharat Khamira store: Are you hooked on hookah? Pick up a pipe or two from Nazirabad-based Bharat Khamira Store in Hukke Wali Gali, play a few ghazals on that vintage turntable back home and go back a few years in time. This addictive haunt satisfies your smoking needs with an array of pipes and intensely flavoured tobaccos.
• Burma Bakery: Lucknow is famous for its bakery products as much as for its womenswear. Burma Bakery, in Hazratganj, is where you can stock up on butter biscuits and cake rusks to take home. Head to Ram Asrey in Chowk for kilos of kaju dalmoth, so that you can leave the city without feeling hungry for more.
• Hazratganj
• Aminabad Market
• Chowk

If you know your chikankari from your chicken curry, Lucknow is the best place to shop for traditional wear. Ever since Judi Dench sashayed up in an exotic Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla creation to receive an Oscar in 2004, chikankari couture has become a fashion staple in the swish set—at home as well as in the international corridors of fashion.

La Martiniere School

It's another splendid day in Lucknow so park your cynicism at the gate before visiting La Martiniere School, situated on the marg named after it. Initially built by Frenchman Major General Claude Martin as a palatial home, it's a distinguished boarding school where pop legend Sir Cliff Richard and many other famous personalities studied. The eccentric facade is a sensory overload with its throwback to colonial architecture and its many turrets and gargoyles grinning in appreciation at students rushing by.

The Bara Imambara's Bhool Bhulaiya

Lucknow doesn't go big on molecular cuisine or boho boutiques. But, if you know where to look, the capital is full of curiosities. The Bara Imambara's Bhool Bhulaiya or the labyrinth is where rulers of the city, to guard themselves against rebellious soldiers, instructed the artisans to build it in a way that would enable the slightest whisper to travel through several turns and twists of the corridors. Rumour had it that the underground tunnels could take you to Delhi (sadly the tunnels were closed after some mercenary British soldiers went in search of rare diamonds and never surfaced). So, if you genuinely want to lose yourself in the beauty of Lucknow, you know where to go.

Kukrail Reserve Forest & Gharial Rehabilitation Centre

Is there anything better than a grassy picnic spot with crocodiles for a company? Make your way to the Kukrail Reserve Forest & Gharial Rehabilitation Centre. Throwdown a blanket and while away the afternoon, watching blackbucks, rare avian species and crocodiles.

Nightlife/party places in Lucknow

Places to hang out in Lucknow at night are many and enough to ensure that you are never short of things to do even when the sunsets.

• Underdoggs Sports Bars
• Saqi, Taj Vivanta
• 5 CR Lounge
• Skybar

Lucknow city also has a late-night entertainment arrangement for the movie buffs. Many theatres in the city offer to watch a movie late in the night. Be it a Bollywood masala movie or a Hollywood thriller, the latest of both the arenas are available in Lucknow.

Lucknow Festival

Celebrated during November - December, the Lucknow festival is significant in this place. The unique and rich culture of Lucknow is depicted in this festival. The Lucknow Festival is celebrated for ten days. In these ten days, Lucknow wears an elegant and royal look, and the whole city comes alive with joyous celebration.

Vrindavan Sharadotsav

The beautiful festival of Vrindavan Sharadotsav is celebrated every year in October. Though it is not primarily celebrated in Lucknow, people over here also participate in celebrating this festival that is dedicated to Lord Krishna.

Holi

Holi is a celebrated festival all over India with great enthusiasm. . Many sweets and unique dishes are prepared for this occasion, and people indulge in all sorts of festivities and enjoy themselves.

Diwali

Diwali is an important festival in Lucknow and is celebrated by people all over the city. It is rejoiced to mark good over evil when Lord Rama killed the demon king Ravana and returned to his kingdom in Ayodhya. People lit lamps/diyas outside their homes and welcomed Lord Rama with a brilliant fireworks display.

Dusshera

Dusshera is an essential festival of Lucknow, and it is celebrated with great enthusiasm. On this day, Ravana and his brothers' monumental effigies are put up in various parts of the city and are set afire.