Lucknow

Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Lucknow shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Lucknow offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Lucknow at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Lucknow? Wrong! If the Lucknow is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Lucknow then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Lucknow? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Lucknow and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Lucknow wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Lucknow then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Lucknow site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Lucknow, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Lucknow, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction| native_name = Lucknow| type = capital| locator_position = left| latd = 26.860556| longd = 80.915833| state_name = Uttar Pradesh| district = Lucknow District| leader_title = Mayor| leader_name = Dinesh Sharma| blank_title_1 = District Magistrate| blank_value_1 = Chandra Bhanu| altitude = 123| population_as_of = 2006| population_total = 2,800,000| population_density = 331| official_languages = Hindi, Urdu: लखनऊ, [Urdu: لکھنؤ, ) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India. It had a population of 2,541,101 in 2006.{{cite web] and Lucknow Division.

Located in what was historically known as the Awadh region, Lucknow has always been a multicultural city. Courtly manners, beautiful gardens, poetry, music, and fine cuisine patronized by the Nawabs are well known among Indians and students of South Asian culture and history. Lucknow is popularly known as the The City of Nawabs. It is also known as the Golden City of the East, Shiraz-i-Hind and The Constantinople of India.

Today, Lucknow is a vibrant city that is witnessing an economic boom and is among the top ten fastest growing non-metropolitan cities of India. The unique combination of its cultured grace and newly acquired pace is its most promising feature that augurs well for the future.

History The ancient history of Lucknow is believed to begin after the Suryawanshi king Lord Rama ordered his younger brother Lakshman to establish a town at the present site of Lakshman Tila. Lucknow was named Lakshmanpuri or Lakhanpuri after him. Slowly the name Lakhanpuri became 'Lakhnau' and then named 'Lucknow' by the British. After 1300 AD the Lucknow and parts of Awadh region have been under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate ,the Mughal Empire, the Nawabs of Awadh, the British East India Company and the British Raj. Lucknow has been one of the major centers of Indian rebellion of 1857, participated actively in Indian independence movement, and after Independence has emerged as an important city of North India.

Until 1819, subah of Awadh was a province of the Mughal Empire administered by a Governor appointed by the Emperor. Saadat Khan also called Burhan-ul-Mulk a Persian adventurer was appointed the Nazim of Awadh in 1722 and he established his court in Faizabad near Lucknow.

Awadh was known as the granary of India and was important strategically for the control of the Doba, the fertile plain between the Ganges and the Yamuna rivers. It was a wealthy kingdom, able to maintain its independence against threats from the Marathas, the United Kingdom and the Demographics of Afghanistan. The third Nawab, Shuja-ud-Daula fell out with the British after aiding Mir Qasim, the fugitive Nawab of Bengal. He was comprehensively defeated in the Battle of Buxar by the Honourable East India Company, after which he was forced to pay heavy penalties and cede parts of his territory. The British appointed a resident in 1773, and over time gained control of more territory and authority in the state. They were disinclined to capture Awadh outright, because that would bring them face to face with the Marathas and the remnants of the Mughal Empire.

Lucknow's rise to growth and fame begins with its elevation as capital of Awadh by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah. He was a great philanthropist and gave Lucknow a unique and enduring legacy. The architectural contributions of these Awadh rulers include several imposing monuments. Of the monuments standing today, the Bara Imambara, the Chhota Imambara, and the Roomi Darwaza are notable examples. One of the more lasting contributions by the Nawabs is the syncretic composite culture that has come to be known as the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb..

In 1798, the fifth Nawab Wazir Ali Shah alienated both his people and the British, and was forced to abdicate. The British then helped Saadat Ali Khan to the throne. Saadat Ali Khan was a puppet king, who in the treaty of 1801 ceded half of Awadh to the British East India Company and also agreed to disband his troops in favor of a hugely expensive, British-run army. This treaty effectively made the state of Awadh a vassal to the British East India Company, though it notionally continued to be part of the Mughal Empire in name until 1819.

The treaty of 1801 formed an arrangement that was very beneficial to the Company. They were able to use Awadh's vast treasuries, repeatedly digging into them for loans at reduced rates. In addition, the revenues from running Awadh's armed forces brought them useful revenues while it acted as a buffer state. The Nawabs were ceremonial kings, busy with pomp and show but with little influence over matters of state. By the mid-nineteenth century, however, the British had grown impatient with the arrangement and wanted direct control of Awadh.

In 1856 the East India Company first moved its troops to the border, then annexed the state, which was placed under a chief commissioner - Sir Henry Lawrence. Wajid Ali Shah, the then Nawab, was imprisoned, and then exiled by the Company to Calcutta. In the subsequent Revolt of 1857 his 14-year old son Birjis Qadr son of Begum Hazrat Mahal was crowned ruler, and Sir Henry Lawrence killed in the hostilities. Following the rebellion's defeat, Begum Hazrat Mahal and other rebel leaders obtained asylum in Nepal.

Those company troops who were recruited from the state, along with some of the nobility of the state, were major players in the events of 1857. The rebels took control of Awadh, and it took the British 18 months to reconquer the region, months which included the famous Siege of Lucknow. Oudh was placed back under a chief commissioner, and was governed as a British province. In 1877 the offices of lieutenant-governor of the North-Western Provinces and chief commissioner of Oudh were combined in the same person; and in 1902, when the new name of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was introduced, the title of chief commissioner was dropped, though Oudh still retained some marks of its former independence.

The province of Awadh (anglicized to Oudh) was annexed by the East India Company in 1856 and placed under the control of a chief commissioner. In the Indian Rebellion of 1857 (also known as the First War of Indian Independence and the Indian Mutiny), the garrison based at the Residency in Lucknow was siege by rebel forces. The famous Siege of Lucknow was relieved first by forces under the command of Sir Henry Havelock and Sir James Outram (British officer), followed by a stronger force under Sir Colin Campbell, 1st Baron Clyde. Today, the ruins of the Residency, and the picturesque Shaheed Smarak offer reminiscences of Lucknow's role in the stirring events of 1857.

The city played an important role in both the First War of Independence and the modern Indian freedom struggle. Whether it was the Lucknow Pact of 1916 or the Khilafat Movement it brought the citizens on a united platform against the British rule. In the Khilafat Movement Maulana Abdul Bari of Firangi Mahal, Lucknow actively participated and cooperated with Mahatama Gandhi and Maulana Muhammad Ali Jauhar.

In 1902, Lucknow was included in the territory of the new United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. However, it became the Province capital in 1920 when the seat of government was moved from Allahabad. Upon Indian independence in 1947, Lucknow became the capital of Uttar Pradesh, the erstwhile United Provinces.

Geography and climate Situated in the heart of the great Gangetic plain, Lucknow city is surrounded by its rural towns and villages like the orchard town of Malihabad, historic Kakori, Mohanlalganj, Gosainganj, Chinhat, Itaunja. On its eastern side lies Barabanki District, on the western side is Unnao District, on the southern side Raebareli District, and on the northern side the Sitapur District and Hardoi District districts.

The Gomti River, the chief geographical feature, meanders through the city, dividing it into the Trans-Gomti and Cis-Gomti regions.

Lucknow city is located in the seismic zone III .{{cite web] is quite common from late December to late January. Summers are quite hot with temperature hovering in the 40 to 45 degree Celsius range.

Lucknow gets an average rainfall of 1010 mm mostly from the south-west monsoon winds between June and September.

{])|23|26|32|38|40|37|33|32|33|32|28|24|-! Mean daily temperature (Celsius)|15|18|24|29|32|32|32|29|29|25|20|16|-! Mean daily minimum temperature (°C)|8|10|16|21|25|27|26|26|25|19|12|8|-! Mean total rainfall (Millimetre)|10|10|0|0|10|110|300|290|180|30|0|0|-! Mean number of rainy days|1|1|0|0|1|6|14|14|7|2|0|0|-| colspan="15" style="text-align: center;" | Source: Weatherbase|}

Economy and business Lucknow is not only a major market in Northern India, but is also an emerging hub for producers of goods and services with very promising potential. Being the capital, the Government departments and the public sector undertakings are the principal employers of the salaried middle class. Liberalization has created many more opportunities in the business and service sector and self-employed professionals are burgeoning in the city.

Lucknow also provides a good catchment area for the recruitment of quality personnel by information technology companies for the BPO hubs of Noida, Gurgaon, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

Large numbers of expatriate labour and NRIs from Lucknow serve in the Gulf and Middle East countries who send considerable remittances to their families back home.

The city is the headquarters of both the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) and the Pradeshiya Industial and Investment Corporation of Uttar Pradesh (PICUP). The Regional office of the Uttar Pradesh State Industries Development Corporation (UPSIDC) is also located here.

The other business-promoting institutions that have a presence in Lucknow are the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII).

Traditional trade Traditionally, Lucknow has been a mandi town of mangoes, melons, and grains grown in the surrounding areas. Sugarcane-growing plantations and sugar industries are also in close proximity. This attracted Mohan Meakin Brewery to set up a unit based on molasses in the city. Meakins was incorporated in 1855 and is Asia's first commercial brewery.

Lucknow also has been identified with Chikan (embroidery), a unique embroidery handicraft which has now caught the fancy of the fashion designers in Bollywood and abroad. Lakhnawi Zardozi, form of embroidery, and Chikan are significant foreign exchange earners. Now information technology is being introduced to the Chikan industry to increase productivity with the help of the World Bank{{cite web]-making reached a high level of artistry,{{cite web| url=http://lucknow.nic.in/crafts.htm| title=Lucknow crafts| accessdate=2006-10-23--> and is still a small-scale industry. Lucknow has also been an industrial producer of tobacco products like 'Kivam', edible fragrances like 'attars' and handicrafts such as pottery, earthen toys, silver and gold foil work, and bone carving products.

Manufacturing and processing The city had a big paper mill, one of the oldest in the country.

Among the bigger manufacturing units, Lucknow has Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Tata Motors, Eveready Industries and Scooters India Limited. Processing industries like milk production, steel-rolling units and LPG bottling are also operating.

The city's small-scale and medium-scale industrial units are located in the industrial enclaves of Aishbagh, Talkatora and Amousi.

Emerging businesses Lucknow, with its excellent educational, commercial, banking and legal infrastructure, is witnessing rapid growth in information technology, banking, retailing, construction and other service sectors. Private coaching institutions for preparing aspirants of competitive exams and services is another business that is flourishing in Lucknow.

All the major public and private sector banks of India, Reserve Bank of India RBI and foreign banks like Citibank, Standard & Chartered, ABN-AMRO and HSBC have their presence in the city. The big oil marketing companies like Indian Oil Corporation, Hindustan Petroleum,Bharat Petroleum and Reliance have their offices in Lucknow.

Leading IT companies like TCS and IBM are also operating in Lucknow.

Insurance companies, both public and private, as well as leading cellular phone companies are present in the city as well.

Currently, biotechnology and information technology are the two focus areas to promote economic development in and around the city. The Ministry of Science and Technology (India) is setting up a biotech park{{cite web], under which IT is being used to promote economic development.

Government and politics Lucknow is the political and administrative capital of Uttar Pradesh. The UP Governor is T. V. Rajeshwar and Mayawati is the present Chief Minister. Dinesh Sharma is the Mayor of Lucknow. Moreover, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the sitting MP for the Lucknow Parliamentary constituency.

Transport Local The available multiple modes of public transport in the cty are Taxis, City Buses, Cycle rickshaws, Auto rickshaws, and Vikram-Tempos. The fares are affordable. CNG(CompressedNatural Gas) has been introduced recently as an auto fuel to keep the air pollution in control. The city bus service is run by Lucknow Mahanagar Parivahan Sewa {{cite web|url=http://www.upsrtc.com/citybus.htm|title=Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation|publisher=|accessdate=2006-09-20--> a division of Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC).

Inter-city/inter-state travel Lucknow has good road, rail and air links with the rest of the country.

Road From Hazratganj intersection in Lucknow city Four Indian National Highways originate, viz, NH-24 to Delhi, NH-25 to Raksa (M.P. Border), NH-56 to Varanasi and NH-28 to Mokama (Bihar).

There are three bus stations. The inter-state terminal is opposite the Charbagh Railway Station while the intra-state terminal is at Qaiserbagh. One more inter-state bus terminal has become operational in Alambagh on Lucknow-Kanpur road to reduce the burden on the busy Charbagh bus terminal. UPSRTC is the principal public road transporter of the passenger traffic. Now inter-city travel in private cars is also becoming very common.

Railways The main railway station is Charbagh Railway Station at Charbagh. It is an imposing structure. The main terminal belongs to Northern Railway(NR) division of Indian Railways and the second terminal is run by the North Eastern Railway(NER). Lucknow is a major junction with links to all major cities of the state and country. Lucknow has a further nine railway stations viz. Dilkhusha, Gomatinagar, Badshahnagar, Aishbagh, Lucknow City, Daliganj, Manak Nagar, Amausi and Mohibullapur. The first three stations cater for broad gauge only whereas the others have meter gauge as well. All the stations are within city limits and are well connected with each other via road networks and public road transport. The Barabanki-Lucknow-Kanpur track (101 km) is electrified. Its electrification was done in 2002-03 when Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was Prime Minister of India and he was MP from Lucknow.

Air Lucknow is directly connected by air with New Delhi, Patna,Kolkata, and Mumbai and other major Indian cities. The Amausi Airport at Amausi is located around 20 km from the city centre. It is an international airport and is the 13th online station for Air India. International destinations include Dubai, Jeddah, Muscat and Sharjah. Flights to London, Bangkok and Hong Kong may also commence soon. During Haj special flights are also operated from Lucknow. Oman Air, Cosmo Air, etc. are a few internationally acclaimed airlines those are successfully operating direct international flights from Lucknow to international destinations & vice-versa.

Language and poetry Lucknow's reputation owes largely to the polite language and clear diction of its citizens.

Both Hindi and Urdu are spoken in Lucknow but Hindustani has been the lingua franca here for over two centuries. Day-to-day transactions in the city are typically performed in Hindi or English. Hinglish is also very popular with the young generation.

Under the rule of Nawabs, Urdu flourished and turned into one of the most refined languages. Hindu and Muslim poets like Brij Narayan Chakbast, Khwaja Haidar Ali Atish, Amir Meenai,Mirza Hadi Ruswa, Nasikh, Daya Shankar Kaul Nasim, Musahafi, Insha, Safi Lakhnavi, and the great Meer Taqi Meer took Urdu poetry to dizzy heights and established the laknavi form of the language. {{cite web] and Mirza Dabeer, became legendary exponents of a unique genre of elegiacal poetry called Marsia centred on Husayn bin Ali's supreme sacrifice in the battle of Karbala which is commemorated during the annual observance of Muharram. Lucknow has on most best significance and famous world wide during the processions of Muharram in Lucknow .

In recent years the use of Urdu has become significantly reduced but Lucknowites are still known for their polite and polished way of speaking which is noticed by visitors to this charming city. The revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil, who was hanged by the British at Kakori near Lucknow, was largely influenced by poetry and wrote verses under the pen name of "Bismil".

The surrounding towns like Kakori, Daryabad,Barabanki Rudauli and Malihabad produced many eminent poets and literateurs of Urdu like Mohsin Kakorvi, Majaz, Khumar Barabankvi and Josh Malihabadi.

Cityscape Places to see The Asafi Imambara (popularly known as Bara Imambara), the Chhota Imambara, Residency, and Shah Najaf are monuments of architectural importance at Lucknow. The famous 'Bhul Bhulaiyan' (Labyrinth) is part of Asafi Imambara complex. Some other places of interest are the Picture Gallery, Chattar Manzil, State Museum/Lucknow Zoo, Shaheed Smarak, Dilkusha, Ambedkar Memorial, Planetarium, and Ram Krishna Math.

The British-built architectural sights in Lucknow include the Vidhan Sabha (State Legislative Assembly ), the Clock Tower and the Charbagh Railway Station, with its distinctive domes, arches and pillars.

Two of the oldest schools in the India are also situated in Lucknow: La Martiniere Lucknow and the Colvin Taluqdar's College. Both of these schools have produced many eminent personalities.

Lucknow has several well-kept parks that attract the citizenry in large numbers on evenings, holidays and weekends. The bigger parks are Ambedkar Memorial and Lohia park in Gomtinagar, Swarn Jayanti park and Aurobindo Park in Indiranagar, Dilkusha Park, Begum Hazrat Mahal Park, Globe Park, Mukherjee Phuhaar, Haathi Park, Buddha park, and Neebu Park. The sprawling National Botanical Garden at Sikandarbagh on the banks of Gomti river is also worth visiting.

The city also has the Kukrail Reserve Forest(a picnic spot and Gharial rehablitaion centre).Moosa Bagh and Utretia are other popular picnic spots.

Natural attractions accessible from Lucknow are Katarnia Ghat, Dudhwa National Park, Nawabganj Bird Sanctuary and Samaspur Bird Sanctuary.

Shopping Aminabad, a quaint bazaar like Delhi's Chandni Chowk, is situated in the heart of the city. It is a large shopping centre that caters to a wide variety of consumers.

The Hazratganj area also has an upscale shopping market with colonial- style buildings. Interestingly, a popular pastime among the locals is window-shopping in the Hazratganj market. It is popularly referred to in Hinglish as Ganjing. The Janpath market, Rovers, Lovers Lane, Mayfair building, Kwality, and Universal book store are some popular landmarks of the market.

Lucknowites are now experiencing the new waves of shopping malls and Multiplex (movie theater) culture in India. The first shopping mall-cum-multiplex to open in Lucknow was the East End Mall ( Wave Cinemas) in Gomti Nagar. Soon came the much anticipated Sahara Ganj mall, which also houses a PVR (Priya Village Roadshow) multiplex. Sahara Ganj is a project of Sahara India Pariwar, one of India's biggest business conglomerates. The most recent addition to Lucknow's growing list of big shopping malls is Fun Republic.

Chowk and Nakhhas are markets in the old Lucknow area where you can get a feel of traditional Lucknow. Some other important shopping centres are Alambagh, Kapoorthala, Indiranagar, Mahanagar, and Nishatganj.

Real Estate The real estae of Lucknow is a one of the many booming sectors.There are several malls,residential complexes and business units operating in the city.Real esate giants like Parshvanath,DLF,Omaxe,Sahara,Unitech,Ansal API etc. are creaming her potential.Lucknow is one of the few Indian cities that follows vertical outgrowth plan like Delhi, Mumbai, Surat ,Gazhiabad etc.The city boast handsome skyline in Gomti Nagar,Hazrat Ganj and Kapoorthala.The highest under construction building is Sahara Hospital which will have 35 floors followed by Metro City(30 floors),Parshvanath Planet(25 floors) and Omaxe Hieghts(23 floors).Presently the highest buildings are Shakti Bhawan(21 floors) and OCR(20 floors ).The city boast high property expansion rate.It is expected that city will have $2.5 billion organised real estate by 2010.

Cuisine When it comes to dining, Lucknow is a culinary delight as the Awadh region has its own distinct Nawabi style cuisine, with various kinds of biryanis ,kebabs and breads like 'sheermal' / 'roomali roti' all very popular delicacies.

Lucknow has also pioneered the slow-fire cooking called Dum Pukht. The World-Famous chef Imtiaz Qureishi hails from Lucknow.

The city has a range of fine restaurants catering to all tastes and budgets.

From 'Oudhyana' 'Zaika' 'Royal Cafe' 'Falaknuma' 'Dastarkhwan' 'Daal Mein Kaala' 'Naushi-Jaan' to fastfood joints like Pizza Hut, McDonalds to traditional eateries like 'Tundeys' and 'Rahims' in the Akbari Gate area the choice is wide.

Makkhan Malai, 'Malai Gilori' of Chowk , the famous Tundey Kebabs, named after the one-armed chef Haji Murad Ali, and 'Kakori kebabs' are very popular with food lovers.

A street food court with a number of street-side restaurants and eating joints are also present in China Bazaar (near Tulsi theatre) serving affordable Avadhi-Mughlai cuisine.

The Chaat in Lucknow is on a par with the best you will get anywhere in the country. There are quite a few places serving outstanding chaat, like Shukla Chaat in Ganeshganj, Moti Mahal, Radhey Lal in Aliganj Chhappan Bhog in Sadar and Mahesh Sweets in Nirala Nagar . Actually, you can pretty much have Chaat in any corner of Lucknow and never be disappointed.

After a delicious dinner, one can have Paan from the shops Malhotra Pan Bhandar near K.D. Singh Babu Stadium and the State Bank of India. You could have to shell out 500 ruppees for a Banarasi Special. Ordinary one costs around 10 rupees.

Localities The urban sprawl is spread equally on both sides of the Gomti River. The colonies and residential settlements in the Cis-Gomti area are Hazratganj, Alambagh, Charbagh, Aminaabad, Husainganj, Lal Bagh, Golaganj, Wazirganj, Rajendra Nagar, Malviya Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Aishbagh, Rajajipuram, Chowk, and Saadatganj.

The residential settlements in the Trans-Gomti area are Nirala Nagar, Aliganj, Daliganj, Mahanagar, Old and New Hyderabad, Nishatganj, Indira Nagar, Gomti Nagar, Vikas Nagar and Janakipuram.

Culture Lucknow is bravely struggling to retain its old world charm while at the same time acquiring a modern lifestyle. Regarded as one of the finest cities of India, Lucknow represents a culture that combines emotional warmth, a high degree of sophistication, courtesy, and a love for gracious living. The Pehle-Aap (after you) culture, popularised as a tagline for the society of Lucknow, is waning (rather was never existent except in stories). But a small part of Lucknow's society still possesses such etiquettes. This sublime cultural richness famous as Lakhnawi tehzeeb blends the cultures of two communities living side by side for centuries, sharing similar interests and speaking a common language.

Many of the cultural traits and customs peculiar to Lucknow have become living legends today. The credit for this goes to the secular and syncretic traditions of the Nawabs of Awadh, who took a keen interest in every walk of life, and encouraged the traditions to attain a rare degree of sophistication.

Dance and music Kathak, the classical Indian dance form took shape here. Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh, was a great patron and a passionate champion of Kathak. Lachhu Maharaj and Birju Maharaj have kept this tradition alive.

Lucknow is also the city of eminent Ghazal singer Begum Akhtar. She was a pioneer in Ghazal singing and took this aspect of music to amazing heights. "Ae Mohabbat Tere anjaam pe rona aaya" is one of her best musical renditions of all times.

The Bhatkande music university at Lucknow is named after the great musician Pandit Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande.

Lucknow has given music legends like Naushad Ali, Talat Mehmood, Anup Jalota and Baba Sehgal to the entertainment industry. It is also incidentally the birthplace of British pop legend Cliff Richard.

An inspiration for films Lucknow has been a great influence on the Hindi film industry of India and it would be true to say that without the Lakhnavi touch, Bollywood would not have been what it is today. Many script writers and lyricists hailing from Awadh like Majrooh Sultanpuri, Kaifi Azmi, Javed Akhtar Ali Raza, Bhagwati Charan Verma,Dr. Kumud Nagar, Dr. Achala Nagar Wajahat Mirza (writer of Mother India and Ganga Jamuna), Amritlal Nagar, Ali Sardar Jafri andK.P.Saxena have enriched Indian Cinema.

Moreover, several famous movies have used Lucknow as their backdrop, such as Shashi Kapoor's Junoon (film), Muzaffar Ali's Umrao Jaan and Gaman, Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi. Ismail Merchant's Shakespearewallah was also partly shot in Lucknow.

Bahu Begum, Mehboob ki Mehndi, Mere Huzur, Mere Mehboob, Chaudhvin Ka Chand, Pakeezah, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Saher, and many more films have either been shot in Lucknow or have Lakhnavi backdrops.

Education and Research Lucknow is a hub of education and research with many premier institutions.

Major schools at Lucknow

Primary and secondary education are both of the highest quality with most schools affiliated to the ICSE or the UP Board though a few offer theCBSE programme as well. Some of the major schools in Lucknow are:

Bal Vidya Mandir

Central Academy Senior Secondary School

City Montessori School

Christ Church College

Colvin Taluqdar's College

D.A.V College

Delhi Public School

Emma Thompson School - Girls' School

Govt. Jublee Inter College

La Martiniere Lucknow - Boys' School

La Martiniere Lucknow - Girls' School

Loreto Convent

Lucknow Public School

Mahanagar Boys Inter College

Maharishi Vidya Mandir

Modern School, Lucknow

Mount Carmel

Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial Senior Secondary School

Red Rose Inter College Lucknow -

Seth M.R. Jaipuria College

Shia PG College

Spring Dale College

St. Agnes' Loreto Day School

St. Dominic Savio College

St Fidelis College, Lucknow

St. Francis' College, Lucknow

St. Paul's College, Lucknow

St. Teresa's Day School & College

Study Hall, Lucknow

The Army Public School

The Cathedral, Lucknow

Unity Public School

U.P. Sainik School

Universities at Lucknow Lucknow is home to a number of Universities offering courses on campus. These universities are:-

University of Lucknow

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National University

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Central University

Amity University, Uttar Pradesh

Integral University

University of Lucknow, also known as Lucknow University, was founded in 1921. It is one of the oldest educational institutions in India. The motto of the university is "Light and Learning". It has produced many luminaries in all walks of national life. Some of its most well known departments are Sociology, Business Administration, Botany, Geology, Chemistry, Western History and Economics. The university has a beautiful campus in an area called Badshah Bagh. The famous Tagore Library of the university overlooks a green park and an artificial canal, which gives the university a very grand ambience.

Medical Institutes at Lucknow

Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS)

King George Medical University, also known as KGMU (Recently UP Assembley has passed a motion to rename KGMU as Chhatrapati Shahu ji Maharaj Medical University . Although rated very high in survey of India Today, the KGMU is always in center of politics among various Governments in the UP, with every change in Govt its name undergoes change etc. Further there is a serious issue of Private practice by its faculty members. The standard of medical care at KGMU is among the best in the country.

Management Institutes at Lucknow

Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow

Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow

ICFAI Business School, Lucknow

Institute of Management Studies, lucknow University

Technology Institutes at Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh Technical University

Institute Of Engineering & Technology, Lucknow

Sri Ramswaroop Memorial College of Engineering and Management Lucknow

BBD National Institute of Technology & Management, Lucknow

National Level Research Institutes Besides having prestigious educational and coaching institutions, Lucknow is also home to some of the country's best research institutions -the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, ITRC, which is the only institution of its kind in South-East Asia.

National Botanical Reasearch Institute (NBRI)

Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI)

Industial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC)

Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR)

National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (NBFGR)

Central Institute for Sub-Tropical Horticulture(CISH) (Popularly known as Mango Research)

Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP)

Birbal Sahni Institute of Paleobotany

Institute of Judicial Training and Research

Railway Design & Standards Organization

Central Drug Research Institute, CDRI which is involved in biomedical research and claims to have the infrastructure and skills to develop a drug "right from concept to market". It is involved in basic and applied reeach related to metabolic disorders as well as tropical illnesses like malaria, filaria and leishmaniasis. The organisation's R& D division includes fields like Biochemistry, parasitology, Molecular and Structural Biology and Pharmacokinetics.

Both these institutions help establish Lucknow on the world's Biotechnology map. It offers Phd degree in association with JNU,New Delhi. Post-Doctoral training as well as M.Sc.(Summer)training are also offered. Students from all over India come to conduct research(PHd) at CDRI and ITRC.

Besides these Lucknow is home to the National Botanical Research Institute,NBRI, the country's premier plant sciences research centre, including plant molecular biology, biotechnology and transgenics. It conducts muti-disciplinary research on areas ranging from traditional Taxonomy to cutting edge areas of modern Biology, such as bioinformatics and in-silico biology.

CIMAP, a premier plant science research institute, is involved in research related to medicinal plants, bioinformatics, bioprospecting etc. It possesses superb research infrastructure on DNA Fingerprinting, Proteomics and Plant Molecular Biology.

However, the city's lack of job opportunities reults in a 'brain drain 'which means that young people leave the city for greener pastures in other places like Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai.

Other educational bodies/private coaching institutes at Lucknow Lucknow is home to a large number of coaching institutes offering coaching for every course available under the sky. Few popular private coaching institutes are ,Rubic's Rostrum, TriVaAg and Institute of Career Studies etc. These institutes train students for college entrance examinations like IIT-JEE, medical, engineering and Common Admission Test for the IIMs etc. Thousands of students from nearby towns and cities flock to Lucknow in search of guidance/coaching for such competitive examinations. Coaching is a full grown business in Lucknow. Although various coaching institutes claim very high success rates, however success of students enrolled in Coaching classes is not proven.

Media Press Lucknow has always been a major centre of journalism. Several daily newspapers in Hindi, Urdu, and English are published in the city. Among the Hindi papers are Dainik Jagran, Amar Ujala, Dainik Hindustan, Rashtriya Sahara, Jansatta, Swatantra Chetna and Swatantra Bharat. The main Urdu papers are Rashtriya Sahara, Sahafat, Qaumi Khabrein, and Aag. The prominent English Dailies are The Times of India, The Hindustan Times, The Pioneer (daily), and Indian Express.

The National Herald was also published from Lucknow and edited by the legendary Manikonda Chalapathi Rau.

The Press Trust of India and United News of India have their offices in the city and the major newspapers of the country have their correspondents/stringers in Lucknow.

Radio One of the earliest stations of All India Radio has been operational in Lucknow.

FM broadcasting transmission started in Lucknow in 2003, and the city today has 5 FM radio stations. {{cite web|url=http://www.asiawaves.net/india-fm-radio.htm|title=FM Radio Stations|publisher=|accessdate=2006-10-27--> -

90.4 MHz City Montessori School,
100.7 MHz All India Radio,
91.1 MHz Radio City
105.6 MHz Gyan Vani
98.3 MHz Radio Mirchi

TV The national telecaster Doordarshan came to the city in 1975. {{cite web].

All major television channels are available in the city through private cable operators as well as individual dish receivers.

News channels have their correspondents and crew posted in the city.

Web The city has broadband internet connectivity and video conferencing facilities.

Sports Lucknow has traditionally been a sports-loving city.

In the past pehlwani, kabbadi, chess, kite flying, pigeon racing, and cock fighting were popular pastimes. For decades Lucknow hosted the prestigious Sheesh Mahal Cricket Tournament. Today Cricket, football (soccer), badminton, golf and Hockey are among the most popular sports in the city.

The main sports hub is the K. D. Singh Babu Stadium which also has a world-class swimming and indoor games complex. The other stadiums are at Charbagh, Mahanagar, Gomtinagar, Chowk and Sports College.

The Lucknow Golf Club, on the sprawling greens of La Martiniere College, is one of the most famous golf courses in India.

The city has a good record in modern sports and has produced several national and world-class sporting personalities. Lucknow sports hostel has produced national-level cricketers such as Suresh Raina and R. P. Singh. Other famous sports personalities include hockey Olympians K. D. Singh, Mohammed Shahid and Ghaus Mohammad Khan, the tennis player who became the first Indian to reach the quarter finals at The Championships, Wimbledon. However offlate city has been doing less well on sports than sports politics. The State Govt is trying demolish beautiful Gomti Nagar stadium on some flimsy ground. However, High Court at Lucknow has granted stay against demolition and court proceedings are on.

Further reading

Rosie Llewellyn-Jones. City of Illusion. Prestel Verlag, 2006, 295pp. ISBN-10: 3791331302. ISBN-13: 978-3791331300.
Rosie Llewellyn-Jones. Lucknow Then and Now. Marg Publications, India, 2003. ISBN-10: 8185026610. ISBN-13: 978-8185026619.