History
Ethereal, enchanting and exotic...Lucknow, conjures up images of a society where the legendary etiquettes (adab and tehzeeb) is still a way of life. Capital of India's most populous state Uttar Pradesh, the erstwhile capital of the Awadhi Nawabs has always been another word for cultural refinement.
As Delhi's glories wanned under the tottering Mughal empire, Lucknow attracted the best of talents, which imbued the court and the growing city with distinctive culture which gradually became synonymous with the city. It is the land where Urdu language was refined, here was created the rhythms of 'tabla' and melody of 'sitar', and of Kathak, North India's most refined dance form.
The extravagant pastimes of the earlier royalty such as rooster fights and kite flying still evoke passionate involvement among the locals. Nestling on both sides of river Gomti, Lucknow pulsates with an unique Indo-Persian culture, portraying an impeccable blend of the ancient with the modern. But for most tourists, Lucknow will always be associated with the splendour of the nawabi era.