Lucknow

Lucknow along with Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh was specially blessed by the divine presence of Shri Nathji. This is where He stayed with His favourite devotees, R.R. Khanna and  Nawab Istafa Khan. This was where Shri Nathji’s famous booklet on the life and teachings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad appeared in print in the year  1932. In Lucknow Shri Nathji had many admirers like Chaudhary Hyder Hussein,  Sir Wazir Hasan etc. Shri Nathji came to Lucknow several times. Specially between  1929 – 36.

Lucknow is the capital city of the state of Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow has always been known as a multicultural city and flourished as a cultural and artistic capital of North India in the 18th and 19th centuries. Lucknow covers an area of 310.1 km2. The city is on the northwestern shore of Gomti river, which flows through it. The city's design was heavily influenced by the several emperors and incorporates significant areas of natural imperial that have earned Lucknow the title of the "city of nawabs". It is also known as the Golden City of the East, Shiraz-i-Hind and The Constantinople of India. Be it the cultural charm or the monumental one, all are well conserved here to make Lucknow "The city of many splendours".  It was surpassed in population, as well as economic strength. Today it continues as an important centre of commerce, aerospace, finance pharmaceuticals, technology, design, culture, tourism, music and poetry.

It is popularly believed that Lucknow derives its name from  “Lakhan’,  younger brother of Lord Rama.  Rama ordered his younger brother Lakshmana to establish a town near at the present site of Lakshman Tila. The present Lakshman Teela  in Lucknow is believed to be the site of ancient city of Lakhanpur built by Lakshman.

Since 1350 AD Lucknow and parts of the Awadh region were ruled by the Delhi Sultanate, Mughal Empire, Nawabs of Awadh, and the British Raj. Lucknow was one of the major centres of Indian rebellion of 1857, participated actively in India's Independence movement, and emerged as an important city of North India. Until 1719, 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. The third Nawab, Shuja-ud-Daula, fell out with the British after aiding the fugitive Nawab of Bengal Mir Qasim. He was comprehensively defeated in the Battle of Buxar by the East India Company. 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.

The city was North India’s cultural capital, and its nawabs, best remembered for their refined and extravagant lifestyles, were patrons of the arts. Under them music and dance flourished, and many monuments were erected. Of the monuments standing today, the Bara Imambara, the Chhota Imambara, and the Rumi 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.  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 A small part of Lucknow's society still possesses much etiquette. This sublime cultural richness blends the cultures of two communities living side by side for centuries, sharing similar interests and speaking a common language. It is famous for its rich lineage of music like the Khayal and dance like  the Kathak.

Lucknow is one of the leading cities in India in terms of number of institutions including 7 universities, 1 technical universities and a large number of polytechnics, engineering institutes and industrial training institutes. Today it is a rapidly expanding modern city.