The legacy of the imperial splendor of Lucknow has always fascinated people all over the world. The ambience of Avadh has commonly been
associated with leisurely habits, etiquettes, architecture, food and refinement-the city has preserved this spirit of the bygone days.
Lucknow took almost two centuries to grow to the size of a metropolis. The first hundred years of success belonged to the Nawab
Wazirs who, in different degrees contributed to its growth and made it, what has metaphorically called, the "Shiraz of Avadh",
& the "Constantinople of India". The Nawabs were responsible for imparting a distinct image to the city, which indeed is unique.
They worked meticulously to dress Lucknow with religious and secular edifices of incomparable excellence.
The surviving monuments of the city mark the evolution of an intresting style in architecture. In the reign of Nawab Asafuddaula,
the Mughal stylistic legacy was re-interpreted in stone & stucco instead of marble & stone. Soon the builders began to experiment
with European styles and attempts were made to fuse the occidental with oriental. Consequently, the style that emerged could rival the best of the world.
Thus the city of Lucknow, spread evenly on both sides of the Gomti offers tourist a plenty of places of historical interest, including the Jama Masjid,
the Chhota and Bara Imambaras, the Rumi Darwaza, Clock Tower, Chhatar Manzil and the La Martiniere. Aminabad, with its twisted lanes, is the main
shopping center, though Hazratganj, with its theatres, coffee house, restaurants, hotels and bars has haunted tourist since long. The Prince of
Wales Zoological Garden at Banarsi Bagh and the Botanical Garden at Sikandar Bagh, Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial, Kanshi Ram Samarak, Malls & Multiplex,
Regional Science, Kala Gaon and Indira Gandhi Planetorium are ideal places for family outings. Besides, the Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary and the Kukrail picnic
spot also offer exclusive recreational facilities.