Lonely Planet Guide - Lucknow
I was at IIM-Lucknow for their fest, which I must say was quite successfully organized compared to some of the other B-schools. IIM-Lucknow has a fabulous campus and an awesome library.
Lucknow, on the other hand, on the face of it, looks like quite a typical UP town. It has the characteristic North Indian electricity wires jumble all round it. (If you haven’t noticed as yet, its true. Most North Indian towns have a labyrinth of electricity poles and wires jutting out from all over). The cycle rickshaws jostle for space along with the magnificent Bovines, who, as anyone in the cow belt would tell you, always have the right of way. A river runs close to Lucknow and it could take a while for someone outside India to figure out if we operate on the “keep to the left” or “keep to the right” policy traveling in an auto here.
Except, that Lucknow is not so typical. Its got an old world laziness about it and not the hustle and bustle of the rest of UP. The approach highways are actually good. Some of the residential areas are almost South-Delhi like. It has a range of very good restaurants serving not only delicious Lucknowi Khana, but surprisingly most other cuisine. I guess the explanation lies in the fact that foodies are foodies and give them anything good; they’ll wash it down with a burp of satisfaction.
The history here, however, is not only taken for granted, but also neglected. Much like in Delhi, where you could just be passing by and stumble into a 13th century fort or monument with no fuss around it, Lucknow is full of Mughal architectural splendour lying around in total nonchalance. Because apart from the Imam Bara, none of the others attract attention. So, a lot of magnificent monuments of history are taken for granted in the town. (And yes, some guy in the bus actually said “Pehle aap”, but that was it.:))
The Sahara Mall, Lucknow’s answer to the Gurgaonisation all round India however, seems to buzzing with visitors all year round. A sign of the times, that a pseudo historian-traveller-intellectual-writer like me has to accept, albeit with a sigh.
Lucknow, on the other hand, on the face of it, looks like quite a typical UP town. It has the characteristic North Indian electricity wires jumble all round it. (If you haven’t noticed as yet, its true. Most North Indian towns have a labyrinth of electricity poles and wires jutting out from all over). The cycle rickshaws jostle for space along with the magnificent Bovines, who, as anyone in the cow belt would tell you, always have the right of way. A river runs close to Lucknow and it could take a while for someone outside India to figure out if we operate on the “keep to the left” or “keep to the right” policy traveling in an auto here.
Except, that Lucknow is not so typical. Its got an old world laziness about it and not the hustle and bustle of the rest of UP. The approach highways are actually good. Some of the residential areas are almost South-Delhi like. It has a range of very good restaurants serving not only delicious Lucknowi Khana, but surprisingly most other cuisine. I guess the explanation lies in the fact that foodies are foodies and give them anything good; they’ll wash it down with a burp of satisfaction.
The history here, however, is not only taken for granted, but also neglected. Much like in Delhi, where you could just be passing by and stumble into a 13th century fort or monument with no fuss around it, Lucknow is full of Mughal architectural splendour lying around in total nonchalance. Because apart from the Imam Bara, none of the others attract attention. So, a lot of magnificent monuments of history are taken for granted in the town. (And yes, some guy in the bus actually said “Pehle aap”, but that was it.:))
The Sahara Mall, Lucknow’s answer to the Gurgaonisation all round India however, seems to buzzing with visitors all year round. A sign of the times, that a pseudo historian-traveller-intellectual-writer like me has to accept, albeit with a sigh.
posted by Sandeep at 1:23 PM
2 Comments:
eee! thanx for this cool description of lucknow!.. im originally frm lucknow.. but visit it every yr (it's going to b a yr since i've last been there) anyway ur blog brought back some nice memz! t h a n x ~ ! !
sandy boy ..thanx from the heart mannn...
i never knew u enjoyed so much at manfest!!!
coutsey says u shud have thanked me atleast once:)
...neways.. i m touched...
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