Bara Imambara Lucknow (Entry Fee, Timings, History, Built by, Images & Location)

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The pride and joy of a historical city that captivates the hearts of people near and far, Bara Imambara is a testament to the time and one of the top tourist destinations of Lucknow.

One of the most well-known buildings in the city is the Lucknow Bara Imambara. It is one of the most beautiful examples of Mughal architecture and a rightful triumph and ode to engineering.

Winding and a bizarre labyrinth of narrow passageways running through the upper floor of the monument are the true showstoppers. It is also known as the Bhool Bhulaiya passage.

#Trivia: This Bara Imambara is second in size only to the Nizamat Imambara.

Architecture of Bara Imambara

The Bara Imambara was constructed using Gothic, Rajput, and Mughal architectural elements. It was created by one of the most respected architects, Hafiz Kifayat Ullah, and is an example of pure engineering brilliance beyond comparison.

It is one of the last prominent projects that does not employ iron or other European design components.

There are 9 halls inside the monument, with the largest being the central hall.

#Trivia: It is one of the largest arched structures in the world, measuring 50 X 16 meters and standing over 15 meters tall with no beams supporting the ceiling.

Its construction is distinctive because it contains no woodwork other than what is found in the galleries. The roof is supported only by the interlocking bricks used to assemble the blocks and stands erect without any pillars.

The Imamabara is made of Lakhauri bricks and is decorated with stucco work, chattris, and parapets. This Imambara is distinctive because its roof is constructed with rice husk ash.

Bara Imambara is locally famous for its amazing maze, also called Bhool Bhulaiya. The topmost floor of the monument's structure is filled with an alluring maze of little tunnels that eventually leads to the rooftop.

There are 1024 ways to enter the maze, but only two methods to exit it. One may have a comprehensive perspective of the city from the roof.

Image Gallery of Bara Imambara Lucknow

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History of Bara Imambara

The construction of this magnificent structure was started in the year 1784 by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula, the fourth Nawab of Awadh. It took more than 14 years to finish. Bara Imambara's remarkable history captivates the attention of all tourists visiting this fascinating location.

The masterpiece results from Nawab's love and devotion for his people. When the Awadh region was severely affected by a disaster, increasing employment was the purpose of erecting this monument.

A catastrophic famine that hit the Awadh Estate in the 18th century prompted the Nawab to devise a strategy to feed his starving subjects. He decided to require them to build great structures, which would then give them work and, consequently, food.

#Trivia: More than 20,000 people—rich, poor, and elite—were employed by Asaf-ud-relief Daula's effort, which took 11 years to complete—exactly how long the famine lasted.

The working class and poor started the project in the morning, and all of the construction was destroyed in the evening by the upper class.

Every one was guaranteed to work and support themselves until conditions returned to normal in 1791.

QuickTips

• Since the Imambara is a holy site, visitors are required to cover their heads with appropriate attire before entering. These garments are accessible at the main entrance.
• Before entering the shrine, you must take off your shoes.
• When exploring the Baori and the Bhool Bhulaiya, bring a flashlight to get a clear view of the place.
• To avoid getting lost in the Bhool Bhulaiya, hire a guide.

Things to do at Bara Imambara

1. Bhool Bhulaiya of Bada Imambara: Bhool Bhulaiya of the Bada Imambara is one of the top tourist attractions of Lucknow. The fact that this maze-like monument has 1024 entrance doors and just 2 exit doors are one of its most confusing and astounding features! Labyrinthine passages, beamless construction, astonishingly identical stairways, winding hallways, rooftop balconies, and doors that can make you dizzy are other unique features of Bhool Bhulaiya.

#Trivia: There is considerable concern about getting lost among the confusing doors; it is advisable only to tour Bhool Bhulaiya with an authorized guide.

2. Asafi Mosque: The Asafi Mosque, a tomb for Nawab Asaf-ud-Daul, is the pinnacle of Mughal construction and is located on the western side of Bada Imambara. The grave of the Nawab and his crown, which conjures up his holy presence, is located in the middle of the enormous hall. The whispering noises within the hall walls and the balcony are a mystery to the visitors.

3. Shahi Baoli in Bara Imambara: On the eastern side of Bara Imambara is the five-story Shahi Baoli (stepwell), which is thought to be the Nawab and his officers' covert surveillance system. It is also known as Shahi Hammam and is connected to the Gomti river, and its last three levels are perpetually submerged in water.

The inner Eastern chamber of the well was where the officials would stand to watch to keep track of visitors since it was so expertly crafted that as people moved around, their reflections would fall on the water. Amazing right?

Interesting facts about Bara Imambara

A quick bite of the interesting facts that revolve around the Bara Imambara.

• The most significant aspect of this building is that no iron was used in its construction. Furthermore, it has yet to trace European architectural styles.
• This building has three enormous rooms connected by long corridors concealed by their 20-foot-thick walls.
• The building's 50x16x15-meter main complex has no roof supports.
• At the time, between 5 and 10 lakh rupees were spent on constructing this intriguing structure.
• The Imambara comprises three sizable chambers connected by long passageways, each around 20 feet wide.
• The maze constructed here has numerous connected perplexing paths and a total of 489 entrances.
• Rumi Darwaza, constructed outside the Imambara, served as the entrance to ancient Lucknow. It has three levels and is around 60 feet tall.
• According to legend, the Bara Imambara contains hidden passageways that connect to Delhi, Allahabad, the Gomti River, and Faizabad.

Entry fee and timing to Bara Imambara

The ticket price varies for Indian and International tourists. The entrance price for domestic visitors is 50 INR for adults and 25 INR for kids, while the cost for foreign visitors is 500 INR.

#Note: The Bara Imambara, Chhota Imambara, Picture Gallery, and Shahi Hamam are all included in the ticket price.

The cost of having a camera with you is extra. For a digital camera, you must pay INR 10, and for a video camera, INR 25.

You can visit the Bara Imambara between 6 am and 5 pm six days a week from Tuesday through Sunday. Monday is a holiday.

#Note: The maze opens at 9 a.m. So, if you want to visit, take note of the timing.

How to reach Bara Imambara?

Bara Imambara is a well-known tourist destination in Lucknow and is easily accessible by public transportation.

By Rail: Lucknow is centrally connected with all the major cities in India. You can book your tickets in advance to visit this gorgeous location and spend at least a week exploring the city in and out. The railway station is around 5 kms from this gorgeous monument.

By Air: Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport Lucknow has frequent flights from almost every major city in India. Once here, you can book a cab from top car rental companies in Lucknow or a local transport to take you to Bara Imambara.

By Road: The city is well-connected with several tourist buses from different parts of India. You can hop on an overnight bus from different North Indian cities or enjoy a road trip with your family and friends. As a top tourist destination in Uttar Pradesh, it has amazing road infrastructure and highways connecting it with almost every corner of the country.

Best time to visit Bara Imambara

You will find it more fascinating to explore Lucknow's treasures during the beautiful weather from October to March. Summers are extremely hot, with temperature reaching up to 45°C.

#Trivia: Consider the weather you'll be traveling in when packing your bags.

Places to visit near Bara Imambara

Even though the Bara Imambara is a special gem in and of itself, there are a few places you can see that are close by. All these places are around 1-2 km away from Bara Imambara.

1. Aurangzeb Mosque: Hussainabad in Lucknow is home to the tranquil Aurangzeb mosque. It is a tomb constructed in honor of Aurangzeb, who passed away in 1707 at 88.

2. Rumi Darwaza: Rumi Darwaza, also known as Turkish Gate, is reportedly designed exactly like an old doorway in Constantinople, Turkey. It is a massive, beautiful building distinguished by an eight-sided chhatri (umbrella) at the top.

3. Chota Imambara: This building, which Mohammed Ali Shah built in 1832 and is next to the Rumi Darwaza, houses both his and his mother's tombs. Arabic verses are used to embellish the mausoleum's walls.

4. British Residency: Dramatic events during the first Indian war of independence, popularly known as the Siege of Lucknow, took place at the British Residency in 1857. Built for British Residents between 1780 and 1800, it was formerly a sizable complex of numerous structures, including living quarters, an armory, stables, dispensaries, houses of worship, and more.

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If there's one place you must plan to visit in Lucknow, it's the beautiful Bara Imambara, a historically significant building with breathtaking architecture. The Bara Imambara is an intriguing fort-like architecture that is neither a mosque nor a mausoleum but rather a historical structure with intriguing features.

One of Lucknow's most popular tourist spots, the Bara Imambara, serves as just a glimpse of the 'City of Nawabs' and the other beautiful structures strewn across town. Book a Lucknow tour package with Lucknow Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA and we are sure you will take back immensely captivating moments from this beautiful city. To know more about our offerings, please fill the Contact Us form.

Location Map for Bara Imambara Lucknow