Lucknow mujh par fida main fida-e-Lucknow
Allah Jane kitni kashish Lucknow men hai
This is narration of first day, walk on roads
of Lucknow.
After a decade, I an itinerant was in Lucknow the city of Nawabs
famous for its tahzeeb, culture, mannerism, traditions and the most famous
cuisine Tunday Kababi. After a decade, I was in Lucknow.
Till now million and
million tons of water had flown away in Gomti, and Lucknow had witnessed the
hurling crowns of various Political parties. Recently: The city was crowned
with Metro Rail Project.
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Char Baagh-Railway Station of Lucknow
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My first impression
was not good. Garbage and rubbish waste items were boiling on Road and in
drains too. It may be due to recently constructed Metro Ril project and its
over bridge. Aalam Baagh Bus stand was converted into Metro Rail station.
From
Charbagh bus stand, hired a rickshaw for Charbagh Railway station, where a
retiring room was already reseved for me. After a shower I was ready to move to
look the bygone era of Nawabi daur of Lucknow.
I
was shocked, while on road just at a distance of few yards from beautiful
Charbagh Railway station.There was Metro Rail station and metro over bridge
passing over main road. This was a heavily crowded, noisy and full of
uncontrolled traffic even difficult to breathe fresh air.
Vidhan Sabha
First
destination was Grand building of Vidhan Sabha. Here I clicked some beautiful
pictures. The beauty of this building was under shadow of Metro works.
Its
foundation stone was laid by the then Governor Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler in
1922 and completed in 1928.It is said that at that time it costed Rs 21 Lac.
From
here I decided to walk on foot up to Hazratganj. As moved further, encountered the same disciplined traffic, the grand beautiful buildings along road side
were looking me haunted,the same garbage and dust.
Heavy
earth moving machines and technical staff were busy in Metro work.I found the
same position on roads of Hazrat Ganj too.
Destruction
and destruction.My mind whispered to my heart: “Every act of creation is first
an act of destruction. The way to create an art is to burn and destroy”.
New
Lucknow was in womb of time. Definitely “When completed, it would bloom its
glory on getting back its older look”.
GPO Complex of Lucknow
I
was near GPO Complex of Lucknow, where I looked statue of Father of Nation
Mahatma Gandhi. An arch surrounds this statue with a stairway on each of its
four sides.
To
my surprise, I found this park was crowded with heavy Police force, which broke
down my pleasure to enjoy the peaceful greenery in a chaotic road crossing at
Hzarat Ganj.
I
was in a mood to sit on bench lying under cool shadow of trees.Left soon this
place after some photography.
Shaahi Masjid in Hazrat Ganj
Hay-ya
alas Salah--- Hay-ya alal Falah (حي على الصلاة حي على الفلاح)
(Rush to prayer - Rush to success).
Suddenly
my ears were poured with Azzan .It was call for zohar ki Namaz.I raised my
head to locate the masjid.Vision stopped at a board written in Urdu: GPO
Complex of Luknow.
Shaahi
Masjid was shining in thick white wash coats, behind Mahila Hospital.The beauty
of intricate carving was under cover of commercial shops inside a narrow
lane.It is said to have been constructed during the era of first King of Awadh
Ghaziuddin Haider during 1819-20.
Hazrat Ganj
After
few steps, I was walking in corridor of Hazrat Ganj, which may be called
Conn aught Palace of Lucknow. Hazratganj, got its name in 1842, and is popularly
known as ‘Ganj’. After the First War of Independence in 1857, the British took
over the city of Lucknow and Hazratganj was modeled after Queen Way in London
Shops in
Hazrat Ganj are not like shops and show rooms as of grand malls of Delhi and
other metro cities. They were a blend of old and new. Most building housing
shops, restaurants, and cinemas were almost 100 years old.
Hazrat
Ganj cateres to all ages, interests, tastes suited to all pockets, with a
variety of shops, cinema halls, and restaurants, some of them could be
recounted Most historic “The Indian Coffee house” and”Chaudhary sweet house”.
That was
a time when the name Chaudhary sweet house, its sweets and other platers were a
symbol of status.
I was feeling some
food stuff for Pet Pooja (Lunch).Strolled upto “Moti Mahal Restaurant”, a big
name for mouth watering chaats. Here I relished with chaat basket and Famous
kulfi falooda.
Aminabad
From
Hazrat ganj I hired a riksha for Aminabad at a distance of about 3.50
Km.Aminabad is a cluster markets in narrow lanes and bylanes, which look quite
similar to Chandni Chowk of Old Delhi.
Historians tell about
Aminabad that: Fourth Nawab of Avadh Asaf-ud-Daula gifted this area to Shah
Aalam the the 16th Mughal Emperor during reign during 1759 -1806.
After his death, his
Begum sold out the entire properties to one of the officers in Nawab Amjad Ali
Shah court, Imdad Hussain Khan Aminaddaula (1842-47). He also further
constructed here gardens, Mosque, Big houses, market and named it as
Aminabad.
Apart
from being a major shopping hub, Aminabad is also food lover’s paradise as it
is home to several iconic eating joints in the city. The famous Prakash Kulfi
and Tunday Kababi Wahid Biryani and famous Burma Biscuits shop are also located
here.
The
evening of Aminabad was at its full youth, the road and shops were full of
customers.I was feeling laziness and tired.It was signal to add some energy by
feasting myself.
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Aminabad Market
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Prakash Kulfi
In that
craziness, I was at a Chaat shop in Aminabad. A plate of Aloo Tikki, Dahi
Paapdi, Dahi Bade and Gol Gappe; these were the beginning of my evening tasting!
Followed by Prakash kulfi topped with faluda noodles.
Staff of
Prakash Kulfi was v gentle.They allowed me to click full view of Aminabad market from roof of
the shop.
Tunday Kababi
Lucknow
and Tunday Kababi are synomys to each other. Yes; there is a Tunday Kababi’s
outlet in Aminabad, but I choiced to eat Tunday kabas at Chowk’s outlet.This
outlet is on road connecting Chowk Gol darwaza and Akbari gate.
Undoubtedly true the
kababs at the Chowk shop taste was very different than that at Aminabad restaurant
with the same name.
The Chowk outlet
serves only two items– Only Tunday kabab and parathe (ulte tawa ke parathe).
The other restaurants with the same name serve Tunday Kabas and many Mughlai
dishes too.
The Chowk outlet
serves only two items– Only Tunday kabab and parathe (ulte tawa ke parathe).
The other restaurants with the same name serve Tunday Kabas and many Mughlai
dishes too.
Lassi of Chowk
This ends
First day”s Itinerary of Lucknow with a dinner at Tunday Kababi. Travelling of
Lucknow is Incomplete without chewing of Paan. I purchased two glauries of Paan
from a shop in chowk.
The culture of Lucknow is still very much alive and
retains its old world charm even today. Popularly known as the City of Nawabs,
Lucknow is famous for its traditional cuisine, fine arts and the most courteous
people you will ever find in India.
Written, photographed and posted by Engr
Maqbool Akram
A
number of birds belonging to rare species that make a stop over this place to
have a few drinks out of these sparkling clean waters of the lake.
On the
bank of Gadisar Lake one can see a gateway made of yellow sand stones known by
the name of Tilon Ki Pol. A Krishna Temple is located by the side of the
archway.
The
gaseous sun of the afternoon transforms in to soft golden light the gadisar
lake fills with full of life. Exhausted due to heat, I see a heaven here! 
The day
gets ready for a gorgeous end as the powerful sun rays turn in to warm cover for
the cold breeze.
