PEOPLE OF INDIA PHOTOS: 1850's Lucknow -album containing fifty photographs of Lucknow

HISTORICAL PLACES

Alambagh Bada Imambara Clock Tower Charbagh
	Chattar Manzil Husainabad Imambara Iron Bridge
Isabela Thoburn College Jama Masjid Kaiser Bagh Palaces
	Lakshman Tila Lal Baradari Museum Moti Mahal
Residency Shah Najaf Sikandar Bagh
	Tara Wali Kothi Wilaiti Bagh Zoological Garden

Imambara Nawab Asaf-ud-daula
Great Imambara

The exact meaning of the word Imambara is "Patriarch's Place" which is the title given by the Shia Mohmmedans of Oudh to a building constructed to the Moharram or celebration of the martyrdom of the sons of Ali the immediate descendants of the prophet, put the death by rival claimants to the headship of Islam in the 60th year of the Hizri or 633 A.D.
The great Imambara possesses several claims to notice in its vast size, its striking style and its origin. The colossal edifice was started as a relief work during the terrible famine in 1784 by Nawab Asaf-ud-daula and it is said that upwards of a crore of rupees were expended before it was completed. Kaifiat-Ullah is said to have been the chief architect, whose designs were adopted.
About the middle of the central room are interred the remains of the founder and this room is said to be the largest vaulted hall in the world. A narrow stone gallery rounds the upper part of the central room containing Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula's tomb enclosed by a silver railing and spread over with a handsome velvet pall. and in front of the Nawab's tomb is placed a turban laced of gold set in with imitation stones.
The hall is usually illuminated with a profusion of wax tapers and numerous hanging lights, coloured glasses and officiating priests attend morning and evening, chanting verses from the Kuran. It may be added that this vast building is a fine specimen of constructive skill, being built through out of solid masonry unasserted by the use of any timber. The Imambara building is three-storied structure and from first floor up to the top is the secret gallery called labyrinth or Bhoolbholaiyan is well worth a visit.
Nawab Asaf-ud-daula did not make any endowment for the upkeep of this Imambara.The Imambara proper, the Roomi Gate and the Baoli have since been declared to be protected monuments. The mosque situated within the premises has been exempted from the operation of the ancient Monuments Preservation Act on religious grounds.

Mosque

In front of the Imambara are two courts rising with a steep ascent one above the other and containing a picturesque mosque flanked by two minarets, where non-Moahmmadans are prohibited. On the left, inside the gate, is a building three stories high known as Summer Palace, in the middle a big round well called Baoli.

Clock Tower(Hussainabad Park)

The Clock Tower is 221 feet high and 20 feet square, is of recent date(1881) built at the suggestion of the Deputy Commissioner by the trustees of Husainabad Endowment, who administer the big sum of Rs.36,00,000 bequeathed by Muhammad Ali Shah third King of Oudh.
The Baradari facing the tank was erected by Mohammad Ali Shah, and has recently been repaired and improved at a great cost. Now the Baradari is occupied by the office of the secretary of Husainabad Endowment and on the south side is Picture Gallery where life size oil paintings of the late Kings of Oudh are a source of attraction to visitors.

Hussainabad Imambara
The Palace Of Light

This small but handsome building was built by Mohammad Ali Shah in 1839. The main gate is a rich specimen of the norid saracenic style that characterizes most of the neighbouring buildings and two sphinxes guard the entry. In the center of the quadrangle is a masonry tank crossed in the middle by an iron bridge and surrounded by flower pots. On the west side stands a white pavilion understood to be intended as copy of the Taj containing the tombs of the King's daughter Janabasya, and on the east a building of nearly similar proportions, erected apparently to balance the block. On the right is a small mosque for exclusive use of the surviving heirs and successors of departed royalty. The Imambara stands on the southern side of the quadrangle and contains the tombs of the King and his mother. The Imambara is an oblong building divided lengthwise into three rooms with smaller compartments at the ends, the partition walls are arcaded and profusely ornamented in arbesque. The central room contains a silver Tazia and a Tabooth of cradle covered with net, in which are exhibited the crown and other insignia of the departed monarch. In the last compartments are other Tazias of wax and tinsel with wood which are renewed every year. The floor is paved with black and white marble arranged with exquisite art and the interior is filled with chandeliers and pier glasses and globes of various colours. The roof is vaulted throughout and over the center is placed a glided dome. The whole structure stands on an elevated basement, part of which forms an arched open verandah in front, which is covered on festive occasions with a waning of tapestry borne on poles encased in silver. The Imambara has been endowed with an annual income of Rs.1,50,000 which goes to support it.the king left thirty six lakhs of rupees in trust of the maintenance of the Imambara for the purpose of education and charity as well as for the Imambara of Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula the tomb of Saadat Ali Khan and Jama Masjid. The Husainabad present a fairyland appearance when illuminated and in the time of the native rulers it formed the chief attraction during the Moharram.

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid lies due west of the Husainabad Imambara is a great mosque in the city, constructed with two minarets and three domes the largest one in the middle. The masjid was commenced by Mohammad Ali Shah, but he died before its completion. Subsequently the work was resumed and completed by Begum Mulka Jahan, a surviving member of the royal family. The walls both interiorly and exteriorly are enriched with arabesques and the arches, as everywhere else, ornamented with cusps and coloured in stucco. The edifice stands on an elevated basement, which forms an open verandah in front fitted with two lavatories for the use of the prayers. On the south side of the enclosure is an unfinished portion of the proposed Imambara, the piers of arches are about six feet in height and the whole work appears to have been abandoned on the death of the King.In 1901 Government made a grant of Rs.12,000 for the repairs of the mosque.

Lakshman Tila and Mosque

It is a prehistoric stronghold, a fort that was erected on the Bank of Gomti by Raja Lakshman the brother of Rama of Ayodhya. According to some historians the fort was entirely demolished before the annexation of Mohammadan and remained a tila only, others say that the remains of the Hindu fort were destroyed by Aurangzeb to build the mosque upon it.
The mosque still stands on the Historic Tila, and is the only mosque in Lucknow of the Sunni sect. Muslims offer prayer in large gathering on the last Friday of Ramzan.

The Iron Bridge

This graceful structure consists of three cast iron arches supported on Piers and abutments of brick masonry. The iron frame was received from England in 1798 during the reign of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan, remained unused at Lucknow for more than forty years. King Nasir-Ud-Din Haider directed it to be put up in front of the Residency and the work was started but failed before any great progress had been made. It was at length erected in its present position in the reign of Amjad Ali Shah.

Residency

This mansion now in ruins, and a melancholy monument of the memorable siege of 1857, was built by Nawab Saadat Ali Khan in about 1800 for the British Resident at his court. As one enters the palace, the first object he meet is the Baily Gaurd Gate "named after a colonel Baily who was the first officer that commended the Resident escort", "and whose house was close to the gate of the Residency enclosure, which has thus obtained its world famous name of the Baily Gaurd Gate." On the right front stands ruins of the Residency building, on the second story of the main building Sir Henry Lawrance was mortally wounded on the second July by a fragment of an eight inches shell, which entered the window and bursted. He was carried from the Residency to Dr.Fayrer's house, a building close to the gateway "where he breathed his last two days afterwards. Being on high ground, the upper parts of the main buildings were soon reduced to the state in which we now behold them but the tower on the top of the Residency was used as a lookout all through the siege; and an officer was constantly stationed with a field glass to keep watch over the movement of the enemy and in November Sir James Outram erected a Semaphore thereby means of which he contrived to communicate with Sir Colin Camphell at the Alam Bagh and Dilkusha Palace with a preconcerned code of signals.On the south side was a Tykhana or underground chamber which was occupied by women and children to secure from the enemies shots. The force at the commencement of the siege consisted of 2,994 persons.
When on 25th September 1857 General Hovlock and Outram arrived with the first relief they were entered through the embrasure of atken's Battery a few yards to the right of the Baily Guard Gate, immediately inside, to the right of the road stands the treasury still more to the north west the Banqueting Hall or General Hospital of the sad summer of 1857.On the opposite of the road, are the remains square mansions approached by stepi, known as Dr.Fayer's House to the south west rises two minarets and three domes of dismantled mosque and Begum Kothi, back on the east side a pillar marks the site of the post office, the remains of walls some 4 feet high show where German's Post was situated.Hardby is Sago's House and the ruins of the building is the Anderson's Garrison, another is Cownpore Battery.Northwest scattered ruins mark Martiniere Post, west of Martiniere post are extensive ruins known as the brigade Mrossor King's hospital where a small room some 10 feet square was allotted to Lady Couper, wife of Sir Henry Lawrence's secretary. A ruined archway leads to further remains marked 'Lady Inglis quarters', and other posts to visit round Sikh square, Grant's Bastion, Gubbion's Battery, Gubbison's Garrision, Ommanney's House, Slaughter House, Post Sheep House, North-west of the Residency cemetry, now Redan Battery, Inne's house and Residency's lower garden. The shot and shell marks can yet be seen on the walls of the houses which still remain intact. All posts are marked with stones tablets, and an excellent further idea may be formed of the relative position of the various buildings within and without, by the aid of the model which is kept in the Residency on upper room of the Tykhana for the information of visitors.

Lal Baradari Museum

This large and flat roofed building was built by Saadat Ali Khan and set apart for Royal Durbars. On the accession of a new King it was the custom for the Resident to place him on the throne and present him with a offering in token that the British authority confirmed his accession of the Government. Now there is Museum, where those interested in ornithology will find an excellent collection of birds, eggs, animals and inscriptions of the olden days sect. The Museum remains open from 10 to 5.

Chattar Manzil

Known as the umbrella Palace because of the copper gilt umbrella that surmount the dome, was the Palace of the 2nd King Nasir-Ud-Din Haider by whom it was built, is a three storied building with underground rooms.This is the most fantastic of all Lucknow's pile. This Hon. Miss Eden who visited in pre-mutiny days remarks Chattar Manzil as "such a palace! the only residence I have coveted in India. Don't you remember reading in the Arabian Nights, Zobeida bets her Garden of Delight against the Caliph's Palace of pictures! I am sure this was the garden of Delight.
There are four small palaces in it fitted up in the eastern way with velvet, gold and marble, with arabesque ceilings, orange trees and roses in all directions, and with numerous wild parquets of bright colours fitting about. In one palace there was a Turkish bath of white marble, the arches intersecting each other in all directions and the marble inlaid with precious stones; and in every corner of the palace there were little fountains; even during the hot winds, they say it is cool from the quantity of the water in the fountains playing; and in the verandah there were fifty trays of fruits and flowers laid out for us......it was really a pretty sight."
Now it is occupied by the offices of Central Drug Institute, United Service Club etc.
The visitors next turn their attention to the eastward and comes to Bruce's Bridge or Moti Mahal bridge. It was constructed recently and marks the period of British occupation after and service.

Kaiser Bagh Palaces

Kaiser Bagh Palaces were built by Wajid Ali Shah, the last King of Oudh. If only quantity and cost are taken into account in awarding the prize to the best builder of Palaces in Lucknow, Wajid Ali Shah heads the list. These buildings are said to have cost 83,00,000 half of which sum probably found its way into the pocket of his corrupt officials.
Now though a greater part of Kaiser Bagh has disappeared during the mutiny yet, the name is still applied to the large quadrangle, where Wjid Ali Shah, wearing the dress of a dramatic performer, used to hold fairs. There were several small pavilions for performance of plays. The surrounding yellow buildings to the nearest edge of quadrangle are known as Lakhi. These piles of buildings constituted the harem or the ladies apartment but now they have been assigned to the Taluqdars of Oudh.
Almost at half the length of the quadrangle, facing towards the eastern Lakhi there is a big store pavilion also known as Safeed Baradari is one of the grand buildings in Lucknow. Now here big functions are held. To the north and south of the pavilion, there are two fine buildings, which are similar in structure and design. The northern one formerly the Canning College was founded in1864 by the taluqdars of Oudh as a memorials to Lord Canning but now there is Music College and Provincial Museum of Archeology while in the south is situated Amir-Ud-Daula Government Public Library. Between the pavilion and the college building there is a wide grass lawn, enclosed with a high iron railing and is known as Butler Park as there stands the fine statue of Butler Ex. Governor of U.P. The park contains a small canal and a pool and it is said that in the glorious days of Wajid Ali Shah the canal was filled with rose water and the King used to bath in it.
Formerly Kaiserbagh quadrangle had four gates, but two of those had been demolished and only two remains to this day in the east and west, which are a living sample of the Nawabi Architecture at Lucknow.

Tomb of Nawab Saadat Ali Khan & his Wife

On the north east of Kaiser Bagh stand the tombs of Saadat Ali Khan and his wife Khursheed Zaidi. Both those tombs were built by their son Ghazi-ud-din Haider, displaying a very uncommon amount of similar affection. They are very large and handsome structures built in the usual Italianized style, but nevertheless excellent specimens thereof. The dome of the Nawab's tomb is only one of its kind at Lucknow, while that of his wife's monument rises out of a peculiar, but very pleasing group of pillars and arches. Behind the corridor of King's tomb are the graves of three Begums of Saadat Ali Khan while in the gallery on the east side three of his daughters are buried.
During the mutiny both of these tombs were mounted with cannons and were strongly fortified by the enemy. The firing from them was particularly effective and greatly hampered General Havelock in his efforts to reach and relive the Residency.

Canning College

It is now known as the Lucknow University.This was built in 1878 by Lord Canning, the first Viceroy of India. It occupies a wide area on the northern side of the river Gomti, near the monkey bridge. The college has five hostels for the convenience of the boys and prepares the students for the degree examinations and higher studies.

Isabella Thoburn College

It serves as the women's college of the Lucknow University.Its building was built in the Gothie style in year 1922, when the college moved to the present location from Lalbagh, where it was formerly situated.This college is about a mile from University.

Moti Mahal

Built by Saadat Ali Khan along the river face of Gomti, near monkey bridge. Here the King used to see the fight of the wild animals with his ministers and chiefs. Later on, after the British annexation it was sold to Raja Balrampur who resides here.

Tara Wali Kothi
observatory

Tara Wali Kothi or Observatory was built by Nasir-Ud-Din, here under the supervision of Col.Wilcox, Royal Astronomer, who had fitted up with Astronomicals. On the death of its founder his successor Wajid Ali Shah abolished the department.

Shah Najaf

It was built by Ghazi-ud-din Haider the first King of Oudh as a mausoleum for himself and contains the remains of the King, his wife and other family members. It derives its name "Najaf" from the hill on which the tomb of Ali, the son-in-law of Mohammad, is built of which this one is a copy. The mausoleum is roofed by a single white dome with glittering gold pinnale and remarkable as a unique peiec of architecture. The floor of the building is a tassellated pavement of marble and interior is furnished with chandeliers and pierglasses. In the north and south sides of the enclosure are two arched gateways ornamented in the oriental style. The illuminations at the Shah Najaf takes place during Moharram and on the anniversary of the King's death.

Sikandar Bagh

It was built by Wajid Ali Shah the last King of Oudh, is named after Sikandar Begum the favourite wife of King to whom it belongs. This is a high walled enclosure partly in ruins now, about 120 yards square summer Palace in center. To the right of the gate is a plate to sign the spot where the wall was breached during the advancement of sir Colin Campbell, on the 16th November, 1857.

Banarasi Bagh
Zoological Garden

It is a fine garden having trees with shrubs, clusters of flowers and grass lawns. The Baradari and statues in the garden once adorned the grounds of Kaiser Bagh according to the traditions the site on which the Baradari stands was originally occupied by a double storied summer house.
The introducton of Zoological section converted the garden into the most popular holiday resort. The Zoo is founded in memory of His Excellency; Prince of Wales who visited Lucknow in 1922.
Adequate arrangements have been made for different kinds of animals and birds. Dangerous animals are kept inside the iron bars while birds and harmless creatures are kept inside wire gauze.

Wilaiti Bagh

This garden was laid out by Nasir-Ud-Din Haider and planted with choice exotics, hence its name. In the days of Wajid Ali Shah this garden was in a very flourishing condition and formed a pleasant retreat for the ladies of the harem, the garden was enclosed by high masonry walls.

Alam Bagh

At one time a sylvan glade, but now a waste of weeds is situated on Cawnpore road at a distance of two miles from Charbagh Railway Station. It was built by Wajid Ali Shah as a country residence for one his special favourite Begum. The old gateway still exists, the bagh is surrounded by a dilapidated wall. In the center stands a double storied house, the Begum's Residence, with four octagonal towers at each of the four corners of the house. The tower of the east served as a semaphore station in communicating with the Residency garrison during the troubled days of mutiny.
As a historical monument it owes its principal interests to the fact of its being the scene of many relief operation under such distinguished General as Sir Henery Havelock, Sir Colin Campbell and Sir James Outram. It was captured by Sir Henry Havelock on the 23rd September 1857;and the wounded and sick, about 403 with spare stores, were left here on the 25th to the relief of the Residency. General Havelock was with in its enclosure on the north side. Here his mortal remains were buried under a monument which has no pretensions to architectural adornments, but is a plain square pillar of about 35 feet high, tapering from below to the top, and erected on a square basement. The visitor on perusing the inscription on the slab on this monument, will learn from it that the gallant General in question, succumbed to dysentery, in the Dilkusha Palace on the 24th September. To this monument an addition has recently been made of a tablet in memory of his son Sir Henry Havelock Allan, who was killed by the Afridies on 30th December 1897.

Charbagh Railway Station

It is situated in the southern portion of the city, and is the biggest station in Lucknow. It is a big junction on the Eastern Railway from where four Railway lines are passing to different sides.

Lucknow, India (1850s) : r/papertowns