Lucknow (Area: 2.528 sq. km. Population: 36,47,834  as per 2001 census) is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh and located in the Awadh region. It is popularly known as the The City of Nawabs. The Gomti River flows through the city.

The Lucknow and parts of Awadh region have been under therule of the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire, the Nawabs of Awadh, the East India Company and the British. It was known as the granary of India and was important strategically for the control of the Doab, the fertile plain between the Ganga and the Yamuna rivers. Nawab, Shuja-ud-Daula was defeated by the British in the Battle of Buxar, after aiding Mir Qasim, the fugitive Nawab of Bengal. The Nawab was forced to pay heavy penalties and cede parts of his territory. In the year 1773, the British appointed a resident and gradually 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 was made capital of Awadh by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Dowlah who was a great philanthropist and gave the city a unique and enduring legacy. The architectural contributions of these Awadh rulers include several imposing monuments viz., the Bara and Chhota Imambara, and the Roomi Darwaza.
In 1856 the East India Company first moved its troops to the border and then annexed the state. Nawab Wajid Ali Shah was imprisoned and then exiled by the Company to Calcutta. The city played an important role in both the First War of Independence and the modern Indian freedom struggle.

Climate

The climate of the area is a warm humid subtropical climate with cool, dry winters from December to February.  It is very hot in summers from April to June with temperatures rising to the 40 to 45 degree Celsius range. The rainy season is from mid-June to mid-September, when Lucknow gets an average rainfall of 1010 mm (40 in) mostly from the south-west monsoon winds. In winter the maximum temperature is around 21 degrees Celsius and the minimum is in the 3 to 4 degrees Celsius range. Fog is quite common from late December to late January.

Transport

The common modes of public transport in the city are taxis, city buses, cycle rickshaws, auto rickshaws and CNG Buses.
From Hazratganj intersection in Lucknow city, four National Highways originate, i.e. NH-24 to Delhi, NH-25 to Shivpuri, Jhansi, NH-56 to Varanasi and NH-28 to Mokama (Bihar). Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar bus station with all modern facilities is the major bus terminus at Alambagh. The bus station at Qaiserbagh is alos operation in the city. The old bus stand at Charbagh, in front of the main railway station, is now operated as a city bus depot.
The main railway station is Lucknow Railway Station with excellent architectural beauty at Charbagh. It was built in 1923. Lucknow is a major junction with links to all major cities of the state and country such as Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Amritsar, Jammu, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Jaipur, Ahmedabad etc. The city has thirteen more railway stations viz. Alamnagar, Malhaur, Utretia, Transport Nagar, Dilkhusha, Gomti Nagar, Badshahnagar, Manak Nagar, Amausi, Aishbagh junction, Lucknow City, Daliganj and Mohibullapur. Now meter gauge services originate from Aishbagh and connect to Lucknow city, Daliganj and Mohibullapur.
The Amausi International Airport at a distance of 20 KM serves as the city's main airport and directly connects New Delhi, Patna, Kolkata, Mumbai and other major Indian cities. Oman Air, Cosmo Air, Fly Dubai, Saudi Airlines and Indigo Air and many more international airlines that are successfully operating direct international flights from Lucknow to international destinations & vice versa.

Last Updated on Saturday, 04 September 2010 21:59