The Indian food history is the history of invention in times of necessity and inheritance from diverse cultures. Some dishes were invented for the sake of masses, while some others were borrowed from across geographies. Many such interesting stories of Indian food are still unheard of. Travel Beats, a community portal for Indian Diaspora, takes a few picks from the grave of history to share with you.

Petha is as old as the Taj Mahal 

What to eat in Agra? Whoever has been to the city of the Taj Mahal says that Petha is the best thing to eat in Agra. The invention of Agra ka Petha is linked to the construction of the Taj Mahal in the Mughal Empire. When the colossal monument was under construction, some 21,000 workers were bored of the daily meal comprising only dal and roti. The then Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan shared his concern with master architect Ustad Isa Effendi, who requested Pir Naqshbandi Sahib for a solution to the Emperor’s worries. It is believed that the Pir went into a trance during prayers one day and received the recipe of Petha from the Almighty. Then, some 500 cooks made Petha for the workers.

CHECK Best Dishes of Agra

Dal Bati was a means of survival during wars 

What is the best food to eat in Rajasthan? It is Dal Bati Churma in Jaipur, Mewar, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Udaipur. How the recipe of Dal Bati Churma was invented is a story worth sharing. The origin of this Rajasthani food is the famous Chittorgarh Fort in Mewar. Bati is dough of wheat dipped in ghee, a long-lasting food which the Rajput kings of Mewar required for survival in adverse conditions during wars. Bati could be made with the few ingredients and the little water available in the barren lands of Rajasthan. This culinary invention evolved into a delight with two other items – Dal and Churma – over the years.

SHARE Inforgraphic of Chittorgarh Fort

Mysore Pak journeyed from palace to public  

What is the best taste of Mysore? It is the Mysore Pak, a signature sweetmeat of South India. The Mysore Pak history is traced to the kitchen of the Mysore Palace in the early 20^th century when Nalawadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar was the king in power. Kakasura Madappa, the then royal cook in the Mysore Palace, used to please the King with different dishes. One day he made new sweet dish with the mix of chickpea flour, ghee and sugar. When the King tasted it, it melted at the tip of his tongue. On being asked the name of the dish, the cook invented the name ‘Mysore Paka’ in a split of second. ‘Paka’ is a Kannada word meaning a sweet concoction. Mysore is a weekend getaway from Bengaluru City.

KNOW Best Food of Mysore

Khaja is inherited from the Mauryan & Gupta empires 

What is the best sweet of Odisha? Undoubtedly, it is Khaja. Though the culinary art of making Khaja is a matter of pride for the people of Orissa, the recipe is believed to have been borrowed from the Gangetic plains of Bihar around 2000 years ago. The history of Khaja dates back to the Maurya and Gupta empires in ancient India. Today, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh are homes to this Indian dessert. Each of these states offers a different taste of Khaja. The Khaja of Rajgir in Bihar is famous for its puffiness, while the Khaja of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh is known for its dry outside and juicy inside.

Do You Know 10 Varieties of Dosa

Jalebi is not essentially Indian but Asian in identity 

Jalebi, one of the most popular Indian sweet dishes, owes its origin to West Asia. The Persian-speaking invaders introduced Jalebi to India in the medieval era. This sweetmeat was called ‘Kundalika’, and ‘Jalavallika’ in India in the 15^th century. The poor were offered platefuls of Jalebi during Ramadan in Iran. It is called ‘Zalabia’ in the Arabian countries, ‘Zilebi’ in the Maldives, ‘Zlebia’ in Tunisia, Libya and Algeria, and ‘Jeri’ in Nepal. References to the Indian version of Jalebi are found in “Priyamkarnrpakatha” by Jinasura, a Jain author of the mid-15^th century.

HAVE Best Sweets of Bengal

Dum Biryani was a meal for the poor in Awadh  

The origin of Biryani is the princely state of Hyderabad in the era of Nizams, according to several historic sources. The recipe of Biryani is as old as the Mughal history of India, according to some historians. Some debate that Biryani was introduced during Timur’s invasion of India in the early medieval era. Though the origin of Biryani is debated, Dum Biryani or Biryani of Awadh was originated in Lucknow. The Nawab of Awadh ordered to cook a meal in huge handis (round-shaped brass pots) for all the poor people of his region when there was scarcity of food. A huge amount of food was cooked with minimum resources in covered and sealed pots. This art of cooking became known as ‘dum’.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton had a royal Indian dinner in the company of Bollywood biggies and business tycoons at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on Sunday evening. The Taj Hotels and Resorts had arranged the dinner gala in reception of the Royal Couple from Cambridge, England. The glittering evening of 10^th April was full of entertainment for the Duke and Duchess as well as VIP invitees from Mumbai’s film industry and business niches.

An Indian dance show on a number of songs from Bollywood films and an Indian fashion show were organized to introduce the Royal Couple to the cultural flavors of India. But it was the dinner menu that stole the show with Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai.

The dinner menu had the best of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes from different Indian cuisines including some of the delicacies cooked in the kitchens of India’s royal palaces in the bygone eras. The menu started with an amuse bouche with orange caviar, which was followed by a Maharaja Thali in the next course.

It was a most delicious feast for non-vegetarians among the guests at the reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton in Mumbai. The main course dishes on the royal dinner menu included Ajwaini Macchli, Shahi Murg ka Soyota, and Kundan Kalia. These were served with Awadhi Gosht Biryani and Lucknowi Vegetarian Biryani. Shahi Murg ka Soyota is a dish of chicken morsels cooked in saffron-rich gravy of cashew nuts and sweet corns. Kundan Kalia is a spicy dish of boneless lamb with gold varq. The biryani was accompanied by boondi and mint raita.

Since some of the invitees abide by the customary tradition of eating only veg food on nine days of Navratri festivity, they were served a grand vegetarian menu with mouthwatering dishes including Dal Langarwali, Paneer Shahi Korma, Khumb Makhana Mattar, Chhonka Palak, Subz Gandheri Kebab and likes. Subz Gandheri Kebab is a popular dish from the cuisine of Hyderabad while Paneer Shahi Korma is a delicacy from the kitchens of Nawabs in Lucknow City.

The royal Indian dinner of Prince William and Kate Middleton at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel ended with such traditional Indian desserts as Chhenna Payesh, Sharifa Kulfi and Dodha with Rabdi. Chhenna Payesh is one of the most popular Bengali delights from Kolkata.

A team of 228 people including chefs and culinary experts made the dinner a memorable one for the Royal Couple and other premium guests. They did their best in everything from selection of ingredients, meticulous cooking and eye-catching presentation to courteous serving. Though it was a small menu with a limited number of main course dishes and desserts, the team made sure that each and every item tasted the best. The guests were served on silver platters with silver cutlery as per the royal dining traditions.

The dinner with traditional delicacies from Lucknow and Hyderabad was meant to wow Prince William and Kate Middleton with a flavorful taste of our rich Indian food culture in the eras of Nawabs and Nizams. The Royal Couple is vegetarian, so we served moderately spiced vegetarian dishes to them. – Executive Chef Amit Chowdhury at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

The sumptuous feast in the reception of the Duke and Duchess was attended by Bollywood biggies from the entertainment industry of India, including Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Madhuri Dixit, Rishi Kapoor, Karna Johar, Sonak Kapoor, Farhan Akhtar, Anil Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and likes.

Prince William and Kate Middleton visited the India Gate and the Gandhi Smriti Museum in New Delhi. Read more about the Royal Couple’s itinerary in India.  

Travel Beats is a digital portal for Indians and NRIs by IndianEagle, a leading travel organization. Travel Beats publishes interesting stories and news about travel, culture, entertainment, lifestyle and aviation from India and the US.

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India is a rolling stone that never gathers moss! To say precisely, India is on the wheels of development in all spheres including travel & tourism. Since the discovery of the first sea route to India by Vasco da Gama in 1498, India had been a prime target of the colonists including the Portuguese, the French and the British mainly for its abundant wealth till the end of the Second World War. In the post-independence era, the heritage of India has been a pull to the world. Since independence, India has come a long way in travel and tourism, which is a thriving industry with lots of untapped potential and employment opportunity, today. Though the annual number of foreign tourist arrivals to India is much lower in comparison with other Asian countries, India’s inbound tourism is on a roll. Being a good player in international politics, India has witnessed consistent development in tourism over 68 years of independence. Today, the 69^th Independence Day of India, we at Indian Eagle take a sneak peek at the colossal picture of ongoing and upcoming developments in India travel & tourism.

India’s first Wax Museum in Kolkata

Kolkata is the first Indian city to have got a wax museum like Madame Tussauds in London. The museum has been named after Mother Teresa. Located in the city’s IT hub, the museum exhibits lively statues of eminent leaders, celebrities and freedom fighters of India. Kolkata is about to get a Ferris Wheel on the Ganges like the London Eye on the Thames.

Indian Railways on a ride for the better

Train travel in India is an altogether different experience these days. Thanks to the evolution of locomotive engineering and technology for Gatimaan Express, Indian’s fastest train from Delhi to Agra! Running at a speed of 160km/hr, it is faster than Shatabdi Express by 5 minutes. Ac double-decker train between New Delhi and Lucknow is another new feather in the cap of Indian Railways. India has eagerly been awaiting its first high-speed bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, which is under construction.

Easier Ways of pilgrimage in India

Pilgrimage is no exception to developments in India on the travel and tourism front. The newly laid Katra-Udhampur railway track has made pilgrimage to the hilltop Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu & Kashmir easier than before. Being a democratic country, India is keen on developing Buddhist tourism. The state government of Maharashtra has shown interest in the ambitious project, which is currently limited to identifying the Buddhist spots to be developed across the country.

India offers e-tourist visa to 75 countries

With e-tourist visa to India available for the nationals of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and China, the inbound tourism of India has taken a great leap for the better. Currently, tourists from 75 countries across the world are eligible for e-tourist on arrival in India. Recently, seven tier-II Indian airports including Jaipur, Amritsar, Gaya, Lucknow, Trichy, and Varanasi have been added to the e-tourist visa on arrival scheme.

Domestic air connectivity on a high

India has seen developments in aviation too. In 2014, the Airport Authority of India announced a plan to develop 200 low-cost, energy-efficient airports in tier II and tier III cities across the country over the next 20 years. A few days back, Indian aviation gave approval to a project for developing 5 regional airports including two in Karnataka, one in Rajasthan, one in Arunachal Pradesh and one in Odisha in order to leverage the tourism potential of remote regions through extension of domestic air connectivity.

Wi-Fi and online ticketing for heritage monuments

Image Credit: TheQuint.com

Tourism development in India has taken to heritage properties as well. Online ticketing has been implemented to facilitate hassle-free visit to India’s most popular heritage monuments including the Taj Mahal, the Agra Fort, the Qutb Minar Complex and likes. Besides, visitors can access Wi-Fi connection and upload their selfies to social media instantly at those heritage sites. This tourist-friendly facility has gained huge response. The Khajuraho Temple Complex and Varanasi are among the latest among the Wi-Fi tourist spots in India.

Indian railway stations under Wi-Fi coverage

Wi-Fi at public places is a new cool in India. More and more travelers’ reach to Wi-Fi Internet facility is being extended across Indian railway stations. Bangalore City Railway Station is the first to have been equipped with Wi-Fi connection in India. Recently, New Delhi Railway Station has brought under the purview of this project. Use of Wi-Fi is free for the first 30 minutes. Commuters can buy scratch cards at i-Fi help desks at those stations.

Airport-like hospitality at railway stations

16 Indian railway stations are to get premium lounges with airport lounge-like facilities at affordable rates. Hospitality at these railway stations is about to reach the next level. Jaipur, Sealdah, Howrah, Patna, Bhubaneswar, Secunderabad, Vishakhapatnam, Nagpur, Puri, Ahmedabad, Bilaspur, Dhanbad, Vijayawada and Ajmer are the stations to get executive lounges at the first phase of hospitality development by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation.

Security developments for female tourists

Developments in India are taking place to ensure security of women travellers. Women-only cab service for women is one of the developments that Goa and Kerala have witnessed to in last few months. The female drivers of the cabs under this initiative in interest of female tourists’ safety are trained in self-defense techniques soft skills, customer relations and first aid. Kerala and Goa’s women-only cab service is equipped with GPS system and panic alert system.

Incredible India Helplines for women travelers

The launch of “Incredible India Helplines” for domestic and international women tourists is one of the remarkable developments in India travel & tourism niche. 1800111363 and 1363 are the helplines for domestic and international female tourists respectively. Currently available in two languages: English and Hindi, the “Incredible India Helplines” will be rolled out in 12 international languages soon.

Innovations in India travel and tourism

The state tourism of Tamil Nadu has planned to introduce helicopter services for foreign tourists in the state. Madurai will be the primary hub of operations for helicopter tours to Kanyakumari, Mandapam and Kodaikanal. Tamil Nadu is globally famous as a state of temples of the Dravidian architecture. The God’s Own Country, Kerala has launched water taxis and AC boats on backwaters in a bid to fetch more luxury tourists. Kerala has teamed up with UNESCO to restore the faded glory of the ancient Spice Route, which connected 31 countries in the bygone eras. Odisha, a coastal state of India on the Bay of Bengal, is supposed to get India’s second Rock Garden. The sculptural exhibits in the garden will be made of rock and stone. Odisha’ Rock Garden will have amusement facilities too.

New tourist attractions across India

Tourism developments in India include innovations being implemented across the country. Gwalior, a historical city in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, is to set up a museum on Rani Laxmibai, whose name is remembered for her bravery in the Revolt of 1857. Udaipur, a heritage city in the Rajput region of Rajasthan, has got a new tourist attraction and that is India’s biggest telescope – the Multi Appplication Solar Telescope. An environment-friendly plan to build ropeway for tourists in Shimla and Rohtang Pass has recently been proposed. Mumbai is the first Indian city to be proposed for a floating hotel. Goa has proposed to transform the 85-m tall lighthouse on the Aguada Plateau into a tourist attraction like Dolphin Nose in Andhra Pradesh and False Point in Odisha.

Upcoming museums for literature lovers

Indian government has decided to convert the houses of George Orwell and Rudyard Kipling, two eminent authors in English literature, into museums for literature lovers. George Orwell, A British novelist who is famous for “Animal Firm” and “1984”, was born in the Indian state of Bihar. Rudyard Kipling, a Nobel Prize awardee in Literature who is famous for “The Jungle Book,” was born in Mumbai (then Bombay).

India travel on wings of global popularity

The growing recognition of Indian heritage and the increasing number of foreign tourist arrivals (though much lower compared to the numbers of FTPs to other countries) are among the leading reasons of ongoing and upcoming developments in India travel and tourism. In the end of 2014, the National Geographic listed Hyderabad as the world’s second best place to see in 2015 and incorporated Goa as the 6^th best nightlife destination to its guide for the year 2015. The Victoria Memorial Hall, which is often referred to Kolkata’s Taj Mahal, has recently entered TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame, which is an international recognition. According to a report based on the analysis of Google search trends in the beginning of 2015, the Charminar of Hyderabad is the most searched Indian monument. It is followed by the Golconda Fort and the Salar Jung Museum.

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Book Cafes are emerging destinations for urbane readers, foodies and travelers in India, replacing the age-old habit of reading books in silent libraries on weekends with the trend of reading over cups of coffee or platefuls of snacks in homely environment at any time. These are the places where both food for the stomach and food for the mind are enjoyed peacefully in company of like-minded folks and in seclusion from outer hustle-bustle. The popularity of book cafes in India has recently paced up from metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore to small cities like Lucknow, Gangtok, Chandigarh and Shimla. Indian Eagle penetrates through the changing socio-cultural fabric of India to list 10 best book cafes where you can enjoy yourself over reading, writing, drinking, munching and eating.

Café Story in Kolkata 

Of the few Indian cities where reading is a favorite pastime, Kolkata is known for its traditional “reading and writing” culture. Needless to say, the city houses several book cafes. Among the hangouts for coffee and book aficionados in Kolkata, Café Story is a special mention for its graphic novel and comic theme. Café Story boasts a huge collection of books of different genres and serves a fair spread of snacks to readers. The beauty of the place may inspire you to pen a story. You never know!

Coffee Cup in Hyderabad   

If the area around the Charminar in Old City is an ideal destination for foodies and those looking to sip the best Irani Chai on summer evenings, wintry nights and monsoon days, Hyderabad has a few hangouts like the Coffee Cup for not only foodies but also bookworms, art lovers and coffee addicts. Both the sheesham wood interiors and the sit-out terrace with potted plants are cozy places to indulge in reading. With posters of cartoon characters and cinema stars on inner walls, the atmosphere of this book café in Hyderabad is high on the fun quotient.

Kitab Khana in Mumbai

Kitab Khana is one of the few places in Mumbai City where the tempo of life becomes slow for readers. With readers flipping the pages of books, toying with story ideas, and sipping coffee, Kitab Khana may seem offbeat to those on the run around the clock. It is not just a book café but also a boutique bookshop. You can try a number of desserts besides sipping coffee in peace here.

Literati in Goa

Reading books while sipping coffee at a quaint bungalow of the Portuguese style in Goa may sound offbeat to those who travel to Goa for beaches and water sports. Housed in a 100-year-old bungalow, Literati Bookshop & Café is one of the places to visit in Goa for the pleasure of reading, which is accompanied by sipping of Karnataka coffee and munching of homemade sandwiches. If you feel like spending some time with your favorite authors, there is no other place as cozy as Literati Bookshop & Café in Goa.

Café Turtle in Delhi

Delhi is next to Kolkata when it comes to claiming the title “the city of book lovers.” Among the book cafes across the cityscape, Café Turtle in Delhi is an ideal place for reading in solitude.  The book café boasts cheerful atmosphere and serves gastronomical delights. There is such a huge collection of books that you may feel spoilt for choice. No matter which book you read, make sure to have a slice of the date cake with toffee sauce.

Atta Galatta in Bangalore 

In Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India, where everyone lives, breaths and dreams technology, a place like Atta Galatta for creative activities including reading, writing, painting and playing music is a surprising bliss. One of the best book cafes in India, Atta Galatta in Bangalore is a meticulously designed cultural space with vibrant ambience, where there is a treasure of bestselling titles in English and popular Indian languages as well. The café owns an in-house bakery and serves yummy cookies during book launches and art workshops.

Café Fiction in Gangtok

Reading books and writing stories over cups of smoking hot Sikkimese tea is a pure bliss at Café Fiction in Gangtok. Scenic surrounding, serene atmosphere and availability of books on the Tibetan history make Café Fiction a must visit among the places to see in Gangtok. This book café serves a few authentic Sikkimese dishes as well. Both the reader and the foodie in you will be flattered at the treatment here.

Café Bookworm in Lucknow

Lucknow is a city of biryani and kebab for foodies. A place like Café Bookworm is a new-age hangout for creative and gastronomic recreation on the cityscape of Lucknow. Café Bookworm offers good books and great dishes with equal care. Visit the book café to enjoy the company of books and catch up with other book lovers and have fresh snacks or sweets when you need fuel to get charged.

Cafe Illiterati McLeod Ganj    

Even a hill station like Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh has a book café for book-loving urban travelers. Cafe Illiterati McLeod Ganj at Dharamsala commands breathtaking views of the Dhauladhar Mountains, which makes readers bury themselves in books with indifference to worries and cares of the outer world. You can warm up yourself with sips of masala chai whenever the blows of icy wind disturb your pace of reading.

Book Café Ssong in Pune      

Visit Book Café Ssong in Pune if you feel like breathing in some air of relaxation over reading after a road trip from Mumbai to Pune. Book Café Ssong is a cozy place having reading-friendly ambience where you can quietly spend some time leafing through the pages of your favorite books. Decorated with tasteful Korean artifacts and eased with soft music, this Pune based book café is the right place for pursuing the passion of reading books over sips of creamy coffee.

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What to eat in Lucknow is one of the most important things to know about Lucknow. The City of Nawabs is known for the centuries-old Awadhi cuisine, which is mostly influenced by the culinary culture of the Mughal era because the Mughal Emperors hired officials for administration of the Awadhi Province. The traditional Indian food menu has incorporated Lucknow food from the Awadhi cuisine over years. A paradise for foodies in India, Lucknow City is a labyrinthine trail of food from biryanis to kebabs, chaats and paans. Indian Eagle explores the Lucknow food trail and dares to cut the long list of dishes short so that you don’t feel spoilt for choice.

Biryani is one of the unique things to eat in Lucknow. It is one of the must-have dishes on the traditional Indian food menu. Influenced by the Awadhi cuisine during the era of Nawabs, Lucknow Biryani is unlike the Dum Biryani of Hyderabad in cooking style and flavor. Rice and meat are cooked separately. Both are mixed later and flavored with garden-fresh spices.

Lalla Biryani and Wahid Biryani are the places to eat in Lucknow. The former is famous for mutton biryani and the latter is known for chicken biryani. Among other dishes served at Lalla Biryani, mutton korma and mutton kebab are simply irresistible. Since 1955, Wahid Biryani has been a favorite of foodies. It is a must stop during food tours in Lucknow City. Wahid Biryani has been featured in many newspapers, food shows and travel videos for its USP that is the rare blend of 56 difference spices. Even they serve visitors at the Taj Mahotsav in Agra. You can visit the by-lanes of Aminabad in  the old city for vegetarian versions of Lucknow Biryani.

Galawati Kebab or Galauti Kebab is what to eat in Lucknow during a trip or food tour. It is said that the recipe was invented for a change of taste when a Nawab wished to eat something new that would melt in his mouth. Galawati Kebab does really melt in the mouth as it is made from ground meat. Add Tunday Kababi near Akbari Gate to your list of best places to eat in Lucknow City as it serves authentic Galauti Kebab with paratha. Chicken Korma is another must have at this food joint.

Galauti Kebab is also known as Tunday Kebab (Tunday means handicapped). It is called so because the person who invented the recipe was handicapped. This Lucknow food owes its unique flavor to the blend of 100 spices.

Of the Lucknow Kebabs, Boti Kebab is served as a starter. It is made with tender pieces of meat under intense heat. It is a Mughlai dish from the Awadhi cuisine.

You should add Tokri Chaat to your list of never-tasted-before things to eat in Lucknow. Generally, chaat is an Indian street food and a popular monotony-breaking snack. Tokri Chaat is a Lucknow-special dish of deep-fried basket-shaped dough filled with a mix of boiled peas and potato mash. Unique to the City of Nawabs, it is unlike the varieties of chaat that Delhi, Agra, Nagpur and Indore fare famous for. Royal Café in Hazrat Ganj Market serves the best of Tokri Chaat.

READ MORE Interesting Facts about Lucknow

Sheermal is a sweet version of naan (baked flat bread) savored with anything spicy in contrast to it. Sheermals are made of refined flour mixed with sweetened, warm milk and flavored with saffron. Don’t forget to get your taste buds blessed with contrasting flavors of sheermal and a spicy curry.

Lucknow and Varanasi (or Banaras) are the ultimate stops for paan lovers and paan eaters in India. No meal is complete without a Lucknowi paan, which is not just another experience. Stuffed with several different tongue-teasing ingredients including mango pulp in summer, paan is omnipresent in this Indian heritage city. Mango Paan at Mehrotra Paan Corner is a unique bliss of Lucknow.

The list of things to eat in Lucknow does also have Malai Ki Gilori for those having a sweet tooth. Soft in make, this sweetmeat melts in the mouth within seconds. Pista Barfi is another famous sweet treatment for the taste buds in the city.

Your tour of the best places to eat in Lucknow would remain incomplete without an experience of Prakash ki Kulfi and Chanakya ki Kulfi. These two varieties of kulfi in different flavors including malai, rose, elaichi and kesar-pista will leave an indelible impact on the foodie in you. Parkash ki Kulfi with sweet noodles is a must try in Aminabad, and the place offering Chanakya ki Kufli exhibits food related poems on the walls.

If you happen to visit Lucknow during winter, don’t give a miss to Makhkhan Malai. Known as Lab-e-Mashook in Urdu, the delicacy is sold near Kali Temple at Chowk in the old city.

With Paya ki Nihari, we at Travel Beats are back to the non-vegetarian menu that Lucknow City is famous for. It is a spicy broth of lamb trotters, cooked slowly for 6-7 hours. Lucknow owes this dish to Haji Abdul Rahim Sahib who started serving it with kulche for morning breakfast in the year 1890. Since then, the city has been breaking its fast with a bowl of Paya ki Nihari and a plate of kulche in the morning.

Lucknow Travel Tips

October to March is the best time to visit Lucknow, one of the weekend getaways from New Delhi. The Double-decker AC Train is the best of all Delhi to Lucknow trains. It covers the distance between Delhi and Lucknow in 7 hours. If travel by train is not your cup of tea, book a domestic flight to Lucknow from Delhi.

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Indian Eagle offers the best itinerary to Lucknow including the cheapest flight tickets to New Delhi and the best domestic flight to Lucknow from Delhi. The lowest airfare and the best service are guaranteed!

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“Some beautiful paths can’t be discovered without getting lost.” if you believe in the maxim, you need to get lost in order to explore Lucknow, one of the ancient Indian cities. A cultural potboiler of food, music, art, and handicraft, Lucknow is a heritage city dating thousands of years back. The city has become a mine of interesting facts during its journey from the Sultanate Era till the present decade through the British Raj. Indian Eagle collects the most interesting facts of Lucknow to help you get lost in search of more about the city.

1 The origin of Lucknow is a myth to the common man. It is traced thousands of years back to the Suryavanshi Dynasty. If age-old legends are to be believed, Lakshmana, who accompanied Lord Rama in exile, was the founder of the ancient city of Lucknow, which was built on and around an elevated piece of land near the Gomati River. Then, it was named Lakshmanpur.

2 Lucknow owes its cultural and historic evolution to the Mughal Empire. Lucknow cradled the dynasty of the Nawabs in the first half of the 18^th century when the then Mughal Emperors appointed Nawabs for smooth administration of Awadh.

3 Since the second half of the 18^th century, Lucknow had flourished by leaps and bounds in all areas including poetry, music, dance, and others. The regime of the fourth Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula was the golden period of the city.

4 The seat of administration was shifted from Awadh to Lucknow during the British era of India. The city witnessed many uprisings against the British Rule. However, Lucknow was made the capital of Uttar Pradesh after India gained independence in 1947.

5 Lucknow was one of the hotspots of rebellious activities during the Rebellion of 1857, the first war of freedom from the British Rule in India. The fire of the uprising spread from Lucknow to Kanpur and then to Bengal.

6 When the British gained absolute control over Awadh, Sir Henry Lawrence imprisoned the then Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. The nawab was exiled to Calcutta (now Kolkata) in 1856. His wife Begum Hazrat Mahal had to seek shelter in Nepal.

7 In the beginning of the 20^th century, Lucknow had lent support to the Khilafat Movement, a political campaign by the Muslim community for separation of an Islamic country out of British India.

8 Lucknow is one of the cultural capitals in North India. The bygone regime of the Nawabs in the city is best remembered for cultural extravagance. The Nawabs of Lucknow were the patrons of art and culture. They patronized not only cultural pursuits like music and dance but also construction of historic monuments which still stand today.

9 It is among the interesting facts of Lucknow that the Turkish architecture has a bearing on the heritage of Lucknow. For instance, the Rumi Darwaza (60 feet high), the historic gateway to the city of Lucknow, is similar to the Gateway to Constantinople. That is why the Rumi Darwaza is nicknamed the Turkish Gateway.

10 Among the tourist attractions of Lucknow, Bara Imambara is a colossal edifice. Bara Imambara houses Asia’s largest hall without any additional support of beams or pillars.  About 22,000 laborers were put to work during construction of this landmark monument.

11 Lucknow heritage is a blend of architectural influences from other countries. The University of Lucknow is inspired by the European architecture. Among the historical palaces, Dilkusha Kothi is an example of English Baroque architecture. It was built as a summer resort by a British resident in 1800.

12 Among the things to see in Lucknow, Bara Imambara and Chhota Imambara are an interface between the Mughal architecture and the Turkish architecture. Lucknow’s La Martiniere College was constructed in the Indo-European style.

13 On its list of tourist attractions, Lucknow boasts a stepwell. Shahi Bavali, the royal well at Bara Imambara, is identical to the stepwells of Rajasthan and Gujarat in construction, not grandeur. A fleet of stairs leads to the well at a depth of several feet, and the well is surrounded by bathrooms on the first and second floors.

14 Lucknow’s Awadhi cuisine is unique to the food culture of India. The Awadhi cuisine of Lucknow is known for multiple varieties of biryani, kebab and bread. Shami Kebab, Galawati Kebab, Kakori Kebab, Seekh Kebab, and Ghutwa Kebab are some of the different flavors of Lucknow food.

15 Lucknow Mahotsava is a popular festival of art and culture in the calendar of Lucknow events. Part of Heritage India tourism, the festival is annually held to promote the city’s art and culture at international levels.

16 Lucknow has been the cradle of Kathak, one of the classical Indian dance forms. Kathak gained popularity under patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh. Also, Lucknow is home to Begum Akhtar, an eminent Ghazal singer. The city is the birthplace of a few great Indian musicians: Naushad, Talat Mahmood and Anup Jalota. Legendary Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi and Kathak exponent Birju Maharaj also belong to this city of Nawabs.

17 Lucknow is famous for various types of embroidery work. Chikankari, a 400-year-old embroidery art, is unique to Lucknow, the largest exporter of garments with Chikan embroidery.

18 Lucknow is India’s first ‘CCTV City’. Initially, the cityscape was brought under the surveillance of 4000 CCTV cameras. The number of cameras has been doubled this year. Advanced drones are used to keep a watch on major areas during special occasions.

Jet Airways, Flydubai and Oman Air connect Lucknow with the USA via Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Muscat respectively. E-tourist Visa to India is available at Lucknow Airport for tourists from the USA and Canada. India Tourism has started a double-decker AC train on the Delhi-Lucknow route giving smooth access from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.

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