Lucknow The city of Nawabs

19 June 2017 Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, thrives along the banks of Gomti river. The Gomti river originates from Fulhaar Jheel (Gomat Talab) which is 3km east of Pilibhit district, and flows southwards through Lucknow, Barabanki, Sultanpur, Faizabad and Jaunpur before merging with the river Ganga near the holy city of Varanasi. According to Hindu Mythology, the river is the daughter of Sage Vashist and therefore considered sacred.Lucknow is the heart of the art, cuisine, dance, culture and music of North India. It was the cradle of the Hindu-Muslim-Sikh symbioses that made India great. Lucknow is the home of Urdu, Hindustani and Hindi languages. A historically important city for many centuries, it was at the heart of North Indian culture. In particular, the city was famous for its Adab and Tehzeeb (manners and hospitality), intricate embroidery, beautiful gardens and dance forms such as Kathak. It was also one of the major sites of the 1857 Indian Mutiny (or the First War of Indian Independence). The Hindi spoken in Lucknow is considered the most mellifluous and full of alacrity.Lucknow is also known for its elaborate cuisine and Chikankaari or exquisite shadow-work embroidery on fine muslin cloth.The origin & history of Lucknow is truly intriguing to one and all. The history of Lucknow can be traced back to the ancient times of the Suryavanshi Dynasty. It is said that Lakshmana, the brother of Lord Rama, laid the foundation of the ancient city near the Gomti River and therefore,the city was called Lakshmanpur. However, the city gained significance only during the early 18th Century. It was during the second decade of the early 18th century when the great Mughal emperors began appointing Nawabs in order to ensure smooth administration in the province. In the year 1732, Mohammad Amir Saadat Khan was appointed as the Nawab of Awadh, in which Lucknow was a major province. Under the rule of the Nawabs, Lucknow flourished like never before and gained much political and cultural progress. After 1755, Lucknow grew by leaps and bounds under the rule of the fourth Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula. The city gained commensurate flourish in each and every aspect,including poetry, dance, music and the other finer aspects of the lifestyle of Lucknow which even today remains an apotheosis. It was when the British came to India that Lucknow was made into an administrative capital. There were many uprisings during the British rule by Indian radicals and many ghastly incidents left Lucknow scarred with unpleasant memories. However, since independence, it has gained expedite progress, adroitly merging the past with the present.