4 hours for dinner to be served but all good
19.01.2018 - 19.01.2018
Day 12 Lucknow > Delhi
We had a 3.30pm / 15:30 train to catch so the day was free. Most of us took up JD offer of showing us a bit more of Lucknow.
Another foggy start to the day and at 9C it was chilly to begin with. Soon the fog burnt off and it turned into a lovely day.
Opposite the hotel - Look at what is being used as wickets
Rumi Darwaza / Roomi Gate
Husainabad Clock Tower
Film crew in action
Chhota Imambara
Leaving at 8.30am / 08:30 first up was Chhota Imambara where we had 30 minutes.
It is situated near the Bara Imambara and on the connecting road stands an imposing gateway known as Rumi Darwaza. The building is also known as the Palace of Lights because of its decorations and chandeliers during special festivals, like Muharram.
The chandeliers used to decorate the interior of this building were brought from Belgium. Also housed within the building, is the crown of Muhammad Ali Shah and ceremonial tazias. Thousands of labourers worked on the project to gain famine relief.
It has a gilded dome and several turrets and minarets. The tombs of Muhammad Ali Shah and other members of his family are inside the imambara. This includes two replicas of the Taj Mahal, built as the tombs of Muhammad Ali Shah's daughter and her husband. The walls are decorated with Arabic calligraphy. Thanks Mr Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chota_Imambara
http://lucknow.me/Chota-Imambara.html
https://www.holidify.com/places/lucknow/chota-imambara-sightseeing-2647.html
http://www.lucknowonline.in/city-guide/chhota-imambara-lucknow
An anemometer in the form of fish at main gate
Shahi Hamam or Royal baths
Tomb of Princess Zinat Asiya, Daughter of King Mohammad Ali Shah Bahadur (3rd King of Awadh). Taj Mahal Replica.
Chhota Imambara
Chhota Imambara
Chandeliers
Floor chandeliers
The Throne of Muhammad Ali Shah
Pink clock - kind of out of place
Here are some more images from Dr “Google”:
Husainabad Clock Tower
Residency
Residency entrance was 200 rupee / NZ$4.20 / US$3.10. During our short 30 minute stop here it was the door frames and arches that caught my eye. That was long enough to walk through the whole complex. Hardly anyone here so it was a really peaceful relief from the hustle and bustle of the trip.
The Residency, also called as the British Residency and Residency Complex, is a group of several buildings in a common precinct in the city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. It served as the residence for the British Resident General who was a representative in the court of the Nawab.
It was constructed during the rule of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan II, who was the fifth Nawab of the province of Awadh (British spelling Oudh). Construction took place between 1780 and 1800 AD. Between 1 July 1857 and 17 November 1857 the Residency was subject to the Siege of Lucknow, part of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. The Residency now exists as ruins.
The Residency has been maintained as it was at the time of the final relief, and the shattered walls are still scarred by cannon shot. Even since Indian Independence, little has changed. The ruined building is surrounded by lawns and flowerbeds and is a tourist attraction nowadays. The cemetery at the nearby ruined church has the graves of 2000 men, women and children, including that of Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence who died during the siege.
There is a weathered epitaph near the grave of Sir Henry that reads "Here lies the son of Empire who tried to do his duty" while another nearby grave reads "Do not weep my children, for I am not dead, but am sleeping here." A light and sound show to display the history of the Residency is also played each evening. Thanks Mr Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Residency,_Lucknow
http://www.lucknowonline.in/city-guide/lucknow-residency
http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_tktd_up_residency.asp
https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/india/uttar-pradesh/lucknow/lucknow-residency-siege/
It was Friday so the museum was closed. Wonder if this guy has been here since yesterday and is staying here till tomorrow?
Chipmunks
Here are some more images from Dr “Google”:
A quick stop at Mr Brown Bakery for a stand up pastry breakfast 87 rupee / NZ$1.80 / US$1.30 which we ate outside the bakery. Then onto to our third stop.
Ambedkar Memorial
The short 15 minute stop overlooking Ambedkar Memorial Park wasn’t enough but it gave us a taste of what was down below and inside. It would have been good if we had time to see close up some of the 62 huge elephants on either side of the path leading up to the monument. Word of warning … if you touch the statues equals a fine of 500 rupees. After sunset the place gets lit up so that would be a really beautiful sight to see.
Ambedkar Memorial Park is a public park and memorial in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. It is more formally known as Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Samajik Parivartan Prateek Sthal (Hindi: डॉ. भीमराव अम्बेडकर सामाजिक परिवर्तन प्रतीक स्थल ) and is also referred to simply as "Ambedkar Park". The park honors the lives and memories of Jyotirao Phule, Narayana Guru, Birsa Munda, Shahuji Maharaj, Bhimrao Ambedkar, Kanshi Ram and all those who've devoted their life for humanity, equality and social justice. The memorial was constructed by Mayawati, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, during her administration when she led the Bahujan Samaj Party.
The foundation stone of the memorial was first laid in 1995. Earlier, the park was named Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Udyan. In 2012, it was renamed the Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial and development work continued until 2002-03. In 2007, the park underwent further renovation and development. It was initially opened to the public on 14 April 2008 by Chief Minister Mayawati.
The entire memorial is built using red sandstone brought from Rajasthan. It is situated in the posh locality of Gomti Nagar, the largest planned residential colony in India. Cost of the memorial is estimated at 7 billion rupees. Its name was changed from Ambedkar Park to Bhimrao Ambedkar memorial in May 2012. Thanks Mr Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambedkar_Memorial_Park
Babasaheb & Ramabai Ambedkar Statue
Statue of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati
Here are some more images from Dr “Google”:
The 3 hours went by very quickly. Even our time at each stop was brief, it was most worthwhile seeing attractions of 3 quite different styles of architecture from the newly built to the ruins.
Lunch at Fork & Spoon – dal makhani 150 rupee / NZ$3.20 / US$2.30, steamed rice 100 rupee / NZ$2.10 / US$1.50, soft drink 40 rupee / NZ$.80 / US$.60. Total = 305 rupee / NZ$6.50 / US$4.70.
In the afternoon boarded the Swarna Shatabdi Express train through to Delhi.
Left at 3.30pm / 15:30 heading west.
Soon the sun was about to set just after 5pm / 17:00 as we crossed the Ganges River on the outskirts of Kanpur, a large industrial city with just some 3 million people.
Dinner was provided on board which took 4 hours to serve the various courses.
Soup
Ice cream
It was late 11.10pm / 21:10 when we finally arrived at Delhi and taken to Good Times Hotel for our last night’s stay.
Hotel security on duty
Posted by bruceontour 03:18 Archived in India Tagged indian_train Comments (0)