Lucknow was a dream place for me to visit. I had read about it in the famous Satyajit Ray story of Feluda called The Emperor’s Ring. I had heard stories about it from my friends. When my mom told me she had a workshop in Lucknow and was trying to book tickets I secretly envied her. However, when my father got to know about this he suggested we all go. It was a fairytale come true; adding to that my father said we would go by road in our car. My happiness knew no bounds. I packed my luggage and we started on a Saturday around 7 o’clock via  NH 12.

We decided to spend the night in a hotel called Park Lane Resort , Dhanbad. Next morning we had a sumptuous breakfast and set out for a 14 hour long journey to Lucknow via the Purvanchal Expressway. While on the 300 km expressway I was very bored as the route seemed to never end but in my mind I was thinking about what I would tell my friends when I got back home.

 Lucknow is a city of diverse culture, amazing food and Moghul traditions still passed on from one generation to another to this day. We reached Lucknow later at night and went directly to a famous restaurant called Tunday Kebabi which was visited by famous celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Salman Khan. It was very surprising to me that at 2:00 PM in the night people can still form a group and eat like they’ve not eaten in days. There we ate Galawti kebab with the paratha , it was heaven to me as I took my first bite, my eyes got closed instantly.  I wanted to keep the kebab on my tongue the whole day but all good things come to an end, so with our stomachs which we were sure would not want to have breakfast the next morning, we went to sleep. My cousin brother was doing his PhD at the CDRI, Lucknow at that time so we decided to meet him at his PG to give him a surprise. In fact, he was shocked to see us there. He had just moved there so there was not much furniture, presently he was sleeping on the floor but the sense of hospitality was so great, he also treated us with yummy narus (traditional Bengali sweetmeat).

The next morning my mother had her workshop. So, me, Father and my cousin went to a place called New Market and did some shopping. There we had lunch at another famous restaurant called Rahim’s Kulcha Nihari. Then we went to pick up my mother from her workshop and went to visit the scary Bhool Bhulaiyaa. It is there that Nawab Ali Wardi Khan used to play hide and seek with his wives. It is said that some ghosts of the era still roam there. Thanks to my father’s intelligence and bravery we could enter the maze without a guide, but midway my father and brother started making scary voices to scare us. Actually my father soon understood the pattern of the building and helped us get out smoothly. At the terrace of the historic building we clicked some pictures of the beautiful sunset. Soon, my parents wanted a cup of coffee so we went to the city centre, it was an urban centre which is Hazratganj which was part of new Lucknow. There was a cafe called Hazelnut Factory there which was not that crowded so we decided to go in. Oddly every building there in the city centre area was painted in white. As soon as my parents were finished with the coffee we dropped my brother to his house and went back to our hotel Arif Castle.

The next day we decided to see around the city, we visited a place famously known as one of the historic locations where the historic Sepoy Mutiny had started – The Residency. There we witnessed marks on the building of the cannon balls and bullet marks used by the sepoys during the great historical massacre. The whole history fascinated us, the bricks on the walls still stood strong. While exploring I found a secret tunnel which led to who knows where but the amazing part is it is still not destroyed.

On our way back to the hotel we saw the green corridor which was truly green as we travelled along the banks of river Gomti. We were in total awe of the scenic beauty and could not decide on which side to look at, the lush green forest or the rippling Gomti. My brother took rest in our hotel that afternoon as in the evening we went to see the historic Rumi Darwaza.  We heard the story about how it was built during the great famine, the Nawab wanted to help his people but not as charity, so he made them build it during the day and break it at night, again rebuild it the next day, and break it at night. He continued to pay them this way until the famine was over.

We enjoyed some yummy tandoori chai at the Rumi Darwaza. We also clicked some pictures of the Clock Tower that was made by the British, works perfectly even today and stands near the Rumi Darwaza itself. We hired an auto to take us to a shop which sold the famous chikankari, the traditional handloom of Lucknow. I will not be able to explain much here as I am not a fan of clothes but I will tell you that the intricate designs were really beautiful and my mother had a fun time shopping. By evening we were all very hungry and went to Dastarkhwan which was an eatery suggested by my father’s colleague. Our server there was from Malda so we happily got to speak in Bengali. The food there was great, our hunger was finally satiated. As we dropped my brother we bid him farewell as the next morning we were leaving. This trip would always have a special place in my heart. Next day we said goodbye to Lucknow, as we were returning to the city of Joy my father took a detour and went to Banaras.

To be continued…

Note: This story was written as part of an event organised at Mallika Malancha Housing Complex, Newtown, Kolkata. We commend them for encouraging young voices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Lucknow, the City of Nawabs

Why is Lucknow known as the “City of Nawabs”?
Lucknow is called the City of Nawabs because it was the capital of the Nawabs of Awadh, who were known for their culture, hospitality, architecture, music, and cuisine.

Which famous food did the author enjoy in Lucknow?
The author enjoyed the famous Galawti Kebab with paratha at Tunday Kebabi and later tasted delicious Kulcha Nihari and other traditional dishes.

What is Bhool Bhulaiyaa in Lucknow?
Bhool Bhulaiyaa is a fascinating maze inside the Bara Imambara. It consists of numerous interconnected passages and has become one of Lucknow’s most popular tourist attractions.

What historical site related to the Sepoy Mutiny did the author visit?
The author visited The Residency, which played an important role during the Revolt of 1857 and still bears marks of cannonballs and bullets from that period.

What is Rumi Darwaza famous for?
Rumi Darwaza is an iconic gateway of Lucknow known for its impressive architecture and historical significance. It is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.

What is Chikankari?
Chikankari is the traditional hand embroidery of Lucknow, famous for its delicate and intricate patterns on fabrics.

Which river flows through Lucknow?
The Gomti River flows through Lucknow and adds to the city’s scenic beauty.

Why was this trip special for the author?
This trip was special because the author had always dreamed of visiting Lucknow, explored its rich history and culture, enjoyed delicious food, spent time with family, and created unforgettable memories.

How did the family travel to Lucknow?
The family travelled by car from Kolkata, making the journey even more exciting and adventurous for the author.

What can visitors learn from a trip to Lucknow?
Visitors can learn about India’s rich history, Mughal and Awadhi culture, traditional crafts, historical monuments, and world-famous cuisine while enjoying the city’s warm hospitality.

Where can you buy books?
You can buy books at Bookosmia.com and Amazon.in.

Princy the Porcupine’s Hugs: A Heartwarming Children’s Picture Book About Love, Kindness & Friendship | Book for Kids | Picture book for Kids | Story book for Kids

Discover a heartwarming children’s picture book about love, kindness, and friendship in Princy the Porcupine’s Hugs by Nikhila Wunnam, a beautifully illustrated kids book about emotions and empathy that helps young readers understand how to express care in meaningful ways. Princy is a lovable little porcupine who adores his friends and wants to show his affection with warm hugs. But there’s one problem, his prickly quills make hugging difficult! This charming and engaging story for toddlers and preschoolers follows Princy as he learns creative ways to express love, teaching children that kindness can be shown through thoughtful actions, gentle words, and caring gestures. Perfect as a bedtime story for kids ages 3–7, this delightful early learning picture book introduces essential concepts of emotional intelligence for children, including empathy, compassion, and social skills. Through simple storytelling and relatable situations, young readers will learn how to recognize feelings, build friendships, and express emotions in positive ways. This beautifully crafted children’s book, Published by Bookosmia, about feelings and friendship is ideal for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking for kids books about kindness, social-emotional learning books for preschoolers, and gentle parenting resources that encourage emotional growth. With its soothing tone and engaging narrative, Princy the Porcupine’s Hugs makes a perfect addition to any collection of bedtime stories, picture books for toddlers, and books that teach empathy and kindness. Whether you’re searching for a gift for young children, a classroom read-aloud book, or a meaningful story to share at bedtime, this touching tale reminds children that love doesn’t always need a hug, sometimes, the smallest acts of kindness make the biggest difference.

***

This article is published by Bookosmia, India’s #1 publisher for and by young people. Bookosmia publishes stories, books, podcasts, events, TED-Ed talks, workshops, bedtime stories and more related to kids and young adults.

Photo Credit – AI generated images from Chat GPT and Magic Media from Canva .

Want to publish your articles, reviews, stories, audio stories, bedtime stories and poems ?

Did you know that children can submit audio stories to be turned into Bedtime Stories and published on Bedtime Stories – A Podcast by Bookosmia?

Write to us at sara@bookosmia.com or submit your article at the link below

Get Published

Lounging through Lucknow Lore | By Nidhi Mishra (Founder of Bookosmia)