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Majestic Monuments - Lucknow's Imamwada
Chandni Moudgil
May 16, 2012
First Published: 16:21 IST (14/11/2011)
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Lucknow is one of those unique cities who's reputation precedes its mention. Dripping with a heritage that dates back to mughuls , it perhaps is more stereotyped than any other city that one can think of. Perhaps like the mention of Paris throws an image of impeccably dressed models catwalking down runways or couples indulging in freshly brewed coffee with French pastries at road side cafe , perhaps more as an antithesis , lucknow still comes across as a city of people from the old era narrating stories of life as it was over shero-shayri , lukhnavi tunda kebabs and intricate chickenkari .
Whether you've visited the city or not, you've known of lukhnavi aan , baan and shaan since forever.
A city that singlehandedly fuses delectable cuisine, atypical culture and art with the reminiscence of a bygone era. The bustling bylanes of hazratganj , the echoes of namaz at the old city , the tunda kebabs for travelers brought in by the morning shatabdi , the glittering ghats of gomti , the chatter of students of Le Martineire , the majestic vidhan sabah which stands tall as a tribute to the british era - a city that paints many vivid pictures. And amongst these snapshots one finds the most intriguing monument of our times - the Bara Imambara.
Literally meaning 'big shrine' , the building was built by Asaf-ud-ulah , the then nawab of lucknow in 1784 and here comes the interesting part , not as a symbol of undying love or opulence , but as a 'famine relief project'! When the region was hit by one of the worst famines and people of his land were distraught , building this monument came as an answer to his dilemma and their worries.
Legend has it , that for 18 long years , the poor used to labour their way into building the monument through the day to earn their daily wages , while the nobility was brought in to demolish it by the night.Every year thousands of tourists land here and gaze with spectacle at the grandeur of the building and attempt to crack the bhulbhullaiyya without the guide's help . But the monument still remains unknown to those who swear by our cultural heritage . One look at the litter strewn around the premises that's now home to colonies of laboureres and touts and one wonders when would some of the most exquisite monuments of our times find their much deserved glory and come out from the shadows of Taj.
Whether you've visited the city or not, you've known of lukhnavi aan , baan and shaan since forever.
A city that singlehandedly fuses delectable cuisine, atypical culture and art with the reminiscence of a bygone era. The bustling bylanes of hazratganj , the echoes of namaz at the old city , the tunda kebabs for travelers brought in by the morning shatabdi , the glittering ghats of gomti , the chatter of students of Le Martineire , the majestic vidhan sabah which stands tall as a tribute to the british era - a city that paints many vivid pictures. And amongst these snapshots one finds the most intriguing monument of our times - the Bara Imambara.
Literally meaning 'big shrine' , the building was built by Asaf-ud-ulah , the then nawab of lucknow in 1784 and here comes the interesting part , not as a symbol of undying love or opulence , but as a 'famine relief project'! When the region was hit by one of the worst famines and people of his land were distraught , building this monument came as an answer to his dilemma and their worries.
Legend has it , that for 18 long years , the poor used to labour their way into building the monument through the day to earn their daily wages , while the nobility was brought in to demolish it by the night.Every year thousands of tourists land here and gaze with spectacle at the grandeur of the building and attempt to crack the bhulbhullaiyya without the guide's help . But the monument still remains unknown to those who swear by our cultural heritage . One look at the litter strewn around the premises that's now home to colonies of laboureres and touts and one wonders when would some of the most exquisite monuments of our times find their much deserved glory and come out from the shadows of Taj.
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