The attractive city of Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh was founded by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula and is situated on the banks of river Gomti. The city is an architectural hub of northern India and has a skyline with structures that showcase ancient styles that dates back to Mughal and British rule. Lucknow attracts history buffs, foodies, art enthusiasts and the region is famous for its rich culture, music, poetry and embroidery. Surrounded by a cultural ambience, there are ample number of tourist places to visit in Lucknow; below are some of them that you will enjoy seeing.

Built by Asaf-Ud-Daulah in 1784, the Bara Imbara was created as a part of the Asaf-ud-Daula Imambara Complex. The complex contains several structures like a mosque, gateways and courtyards and will give you a feeling of the bygone mughal era. The Bara Imbara is absolutely beautiful and is an important religious place for Muslims during Muharram, with several devotees coming in every year. The central hall of the structure is 50 meters long and the largest arched hall in the world. The structure is an architectural marvel with labyrinth passages and 489 identical doorways. Once you reach the top of the monument, you can enjoy a brilliant view of Lucknow.

The British Residency is a famous attraction located in the vicinity of Bara Imbara and monuments like Tehri Kothi and High Court Building. The British residency served as a home for the General back in the day when it was constructed and later on served as a refuge for almost 3000 British inhabitants during the time of uprising in 1857. You can still see bullet and canon marks on the structure and ground outside it was a burial ground for almost 2000 British soldiers. The structure is a an important landmark in Lucknow.

One of the most prominent mosque’s in Lucknow is the Jama Masjid, constructed by Sultan Ahmed Shah in 1423. The amazing thing about this mosque is that it is entirely built with yellow sandstone and is renowned for its beautiful intricate designs and the combination of both Muslim and Hindu architecture. There a number of carvings on the pillars of the mosque that are elaborate and will keep you stunned. Jama Masjid spreads over an area of 4,950 sq m, with the tomb of Sultan Ahmed Shah on the eastern entrance.

Built in 1784 by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daulah, The Rumi Darwaza is an impressive structure in Lucknow. The gateway of the structure is 60 ft tall and the gateway styles are influenced by styles from Constantinople, which is now Istanbul. Also, it is carved with different designs and flowers. The Rumi Darwaza has a tower space on top that used to hold a massive lantern that would light up the city in the olden days. Rumi Darwaza is a great example of Awadhi architecture in Lucknow.

If you are travelling with children, the Lucknow zoo is one of the best places to go to. The zoo has been created to educate the locals of the importance of preserving wildlife and nature. The Lucknow Zoo has a avariety of animals; 348 birds, 447 mammals, 57 reptiles and 97 different species of wild animals. You can also find golden and silver pheasants roaming around or may catch a sight of Great Pied Hornbill. If you are tired of walking, you can hop on a toy train that is operated by the zoo.

The Ambedkar Park is a renowned park in Lucknow and is known for its beautiful architecture. This structure was built using red sandstone from Rajasthan, situated in Gomti Nagar of Lucknow. In the park you can see sculptures of Indian leaders like Birsa Munda, Jyotirao Phule, Kashi Ram, Shahuji Maharaj and Bhimrao Ambedkar. The park also has different statues showing the life story of B.R Ambedkar. This place is a must visit if you are interested in history and architecture

Located in the premises of the Lucknow Zoo, the State Museum was established in 1863. The museum is multipurpose and has many galleries, exhibits and several artifacts that range from Stone Age objects to natural history objects. The museum is four storeys and has numerous galleries like the Indian sculpture gallery, the Jain art gallery, the Egyptian gallery, the Buddha gallery and also the Nawabs art and coin gallery. The museum is also a place for students to watch movies and learn more about the history of the region.

Located on Sitapur Road on the banks of Gomti river, the Chandrika Devi Temple is an ancient temple that was built in the Ramayana Era. This temple is located at a distance of 28 km from the main city of Lucknow. The shrine has a lot of religious significance and has deep mythological stories attached to it. The goddess that is housed in this temple is Chandrika Devi who is in a form of a rock in the temple. The shrine is visited by many devotees every day, especially during the Hindu festival of Navratras.