Bada Imambara in Lucknow

The Bara Imambara was built in the year 1784 by the fourth Nawab of Awadh known as Asaf-ud-Daula. It was built as a part of a relief project for a major famine that took place in the year 1784. The Bara Imambara of Lucknow is one of the most famous monuments of this place. It is also called Asfi Imambara after the name of the Nawab of Lucknow who got it constructed. It is an important place of worship for the Muslims who come here every year to celebrate the religious festival of Muharram.

The Bara Imambara has a unique style of construction. The central hall of Bara Imambara is said to be the largest arched hall in the world. The hall measures 50 meters long and goes upto a height of 15 meters. What makes the construction unique is the fact that the blocks have been put together with interlocking system of bricks and there has been absolutely no use of girders and beams. The roof stands steady till date without any pillars to support it.

The Bara Imambara is known for its incredible maze called Bhulbhulaiya. This is located in the upper floor of the monument. A stairway leads to this level. One can view a scenic panorama of the city from the top of this monument, which is absolutely breath-taking. The Bhulbhulaiya is a must see and the best way to find your way out without getting lost is by hiring a guide. It is said that great treasures are hidden in the secret tunnels of this maze. The monument remains open from morning 6am to evening 5pm.

The real story behind Bada Imambada

Asaf-ud-daula wanted to surpass the splendor of Mughal architecture and led by this urge, he spent lavishly to create this huge building which cannot be categorized into a single class like mosque, mausoleum and others. When the natives were finding it difficult to survive the famine, the nawab decided to build the great Imambada, which generated employment for some 22,000 people. In order to create enough work, one fourth of the day's work was demolished at night against payment. It was only during the nights that the nobles and were offered the payments so that they can escape the humiliation in front of the masses.

What you can discover inside the Lucknow Imambada?

Lucknow Imambada is an interesting architecture with a clear impression of Islamic influence. Representing Lucknow's architectural heritage, the Bada Imambada is a great hall built at the end of a beautiful courtyard. This columnless hall is perhaps Asia's largest hall, which does not have any external support of wood, stone beams or iron. While the length of the interior is 49.4 m, its width is 16.2 m. The height of the ceiling stands at more than 15 m high with no beams to uphold such a huge size. As a visitor, you will find it very astonishing to take a close look at the roof, which is said to be 16 feet thick weiAs you enter the Bada Imambada you will encounter three halls namely the Persian Hall, the India Hall and the China Hall. The empty halls echo even a mild whisper and other slight sounds. Designed with ingenuity, the top terrace of the architecture is an interesting creation. You need to make you way through mazy passages, which amount to 1,000. The terrace offers you a grand view of old Lucknow with number of mosques and minarets within easy view.

The monuments surrounding Lucknow Imambada

There is an elegant mosque within the Imambada courtyard, which has stately flight of steps reflecting the pomp of the Nawabs of Lucknow. A real architectural mystery is the five-storied step well that is there at Imambada prior to the Nawabi era. Connected with the river Gomti, 3 stories of the well remain under the water throughout the year with only the first two stories above water. It is also called the Shahi-Hammam or the royal bath.

Getting to Lucknow Imambada

The Bada Imambada, situated on the northwestern part of Lucknow, is easily accessible by flight from most of the important cities. All the flights fly down at Amausi Airport in Lucknow.  Moreover, Lucknow is a major railway junction well connected by trains linking other states. You can also count on the bus service and board on to the buses from three important stations situated at Charbagh, Alambagh, and Kaisar Bagh. Local buses, taxi and autos are frequently available from every part of the city.

Your trip to Lucknow Imambada will make you feel nostalgic as you seem to see for yourself the elegance of the bygone epochs.ghing around 20,000 tons.