Bara Imambara

Historic sites

Uttar Pradesh

17°C / Clear

History
Places to visit
How to reach

Bara Imambara of Lucknow is one of the most famous monuments in the city. The Imambara is primarily known for its incredible maze, known as Bhul Bhulaiya locally, which is located on the upper floor of the monument. It is said that there are 1024 ways to get inside the maze but only 2 to come out.

Also known as 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. Said to be the world's largest structure that is unsupported by beams, Bara Imambara is considered a marvel of engineering and a fine specimen of Mughal architecture.

The Imambara has a unique style of construction. Moreover, no wood or metal has been used in the construction of this mosque. One can also have a view of the grave of Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah and his crown, which is kept in the central hall, which is said to be the largest vaulted chamber in the world.

Winter is the perfect time to explore the place. There will be a beautiful scenic beauty around the place.

History of Bara Imambara

This beautiful, splendid building was built by the 4th Nawab of Awadh, Asaf-Ud-Daula and the construction work began in the year 1784. It took over 14 years to complete and was designed by the architect Hafiz Kifayat Ullah and Shahjahanabadi, prominent architects of that time. The estimated cost of constructing this grand monument is speculated to be between half a million rupees to a million rupees. Even after the construction was completed, the Nawab used to spend four to five thousand rupees annually on its decoration.

The story behind this massive center is based on a very noble cause. During the 18th century, a devastating famine struck the Awadh Estate, making the Nawab think of a plan to provide food for his starving subjects. He decided to make them construct magnificent buildings which would, in turn, provide them with employment, and hence food. This is how the idea of Food-for-Work was implemented.

Major Attractions in and Around Bara Imambara

1. Aurangzeb Mosque

The serene Aurangzeb’s mosque is located at Hussainabad in Lucknow. It’s a tomb that is built in remembrance of Aurangzeb who died at the age of 88 in 1707. Though, he was buried in Khuldabad. The Aurangzeb Tomb, Lucknow, is another tribute for him.

2. Hussainabad Picture Gallery

If you want to know more about 'Nawab Of Awadh', go through the galleries of Hussainabad Picture Gallery that showcases an array of portraits of Nawabs of Awadh. These portraits elaborate that era’s costumes and jewelry.

How to Reach Bara Imambara

Renowned as Asfi Mosque, Bara Imambara is an Imambara complex built by Awadh’s Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula that is located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It is believed that anyone's wish can come true just by praying at this mosque; therefore this place experiences a heavy footfall. It is 547 km away from Delhi, 1347 km from Mumbai, and 1936 km away from Bangalore and therefore you can cover these distances easily.

By Air

Deboard at Chowdhary Charan Singh Airport, Lucknow. Being the 12th busiest airport in India, both national and international visitors can reach here without any hassle. For International flights, terminal 1 is the arrival and departure spot whereas terminal 2 is allotted for domestic flights.

From Delhi – Board Air India, Go Air, IndiGo, Vistara flights from Delhi Airport. The airfares start from INR 2700-3000
From Ahmedabad – Board GoAir, IndiGo flights from Ahmedabad Airport. The airfares begin from INR 3100-3700
From Jaipur – Board IndiGo, GoAir, Air India flights from Jaipur Airport. The airfares start from INR 4000

By Train

Lucknow is well-connected via railways to nearby cities and states. Choosing a train to reach here is also a pocket-friendly way of traveling. From the Lucknow Railway Station, you will need to just cover 5-10 km to reach Bara Imambara. For this, you can easily hire a cab or some other means of public transportation.

From Delhi – Board GOMTI EXP SPL from New Delhi Railway Station and deboard at Lucknow Junction
From Patna – Board PNBE JAT SPL from Patna Junction and deboard at Lucknow Junction

By Road

The overall road network of Uttar Pradesh is quite good. Take a bus (inter-state/private) from your hometown to reach Lucknow. Otherwise, you can also consider booking a taxi or self-driving here.