Lucknow

1. River Gomti
2. Area of demolition
3. Imambara
4. Machi Bhavan
5. Residency
6. Quaiser Bagh
7. Shahnajaf Imambara
8. Botanical park
9. Wingfield park
10. Cantonment

Lucknow under the Colonial Rule

Lucknow became the capital  of Awadh and in 1877.

The layout of the city changed under the British rule. Changes included:

• 7 broad roads through the heart of the city.
• Buildings not required between the La Martiner and Gomti were demolished.
• Only a few palaces were left in the core.

• Green lungs were created in the congested part.
• Cantonment and civil lines emerged in eastern parts.
• Cremation grounds were shifted to the edges.
• Hazaratganj was developed as a market place
• Organized municipal govt.’s introduced.
• Architecture of Lucknow witnessed a heavy dose of European influence: Victoria memorial/1887, Lucknow University, Charbagh Railway Station, Clock Tower, Medical College and Council House.

Significant Change in Urban Character

Different ruling powers developed different parts of the city:

• Nawab’s gave the Bagh’s, Ganj’s and Imambara’s to the western and the southern part of the city.
• Britishers gave the cantonment and the railway station to the east and south.

As a consequence of different powers the layering process whereby the new power laid another fabric over the preceding one.

The initial growth of the city started from the west in an area known as the “Chowk” and gradually spread south and south eastwards.

In the early part of the 19th century the city started to grow towards the east with major colonial inputs in terms of the cantonments and the railway station to the south.

During the post independence period a large migrant population settled in the southern part of the city along the Kanpur road.

The 1980’s saw the development of the south-easterly part of the city.

As one travels through the city from the Chowk to the Gomtinagar through Hazaratganj the visual images change.

It is just like travelling in time. One can sharply notice the age old traditions and architectural styles still being maintained in the core of the city- Chowk, these traditions and styles merging with the European styles in Hazaratganj and these styles changing according to modern theories, concept and technologies in Gomtinagar.

CHOWK

1. Gol Darwaza
2. Akbari Darwaza
3. Tehseen Mian Ki Masjid
4. Darul Shafa
5. Phool Wali Gali
6. Firangi Mohalla

• It is the traditional core of the pre-industrial, pre-colonial city lies in the geographical west of the city.
• Parts of it demolished in the aftermath of 1857 for establishing a public park.
• Half a mile stretch between two gateways of Gol Darwaza and Akbari Darwaza was an active commercial route to Kanpur, Agra.

Significant Characteristics

• Strong sense of enclosure is stimulating and is filled with rich aromas and vibrant colour.
• Has mixed land pattern with it’s main spine being fully commercial while the secondary and tertiary lanes being residential.
• The road width–height ratio gradually decreases due to  it’s narrowing from primary, secondary, and tertiary but the height remaining the same.
• Projecting balconies ornamented with carvings remind of the Mughal jharokha.
• Coloured glasses as the fan light show the gothic influence under the British.
• Plain corbelling also depicts the British influence.

HAZRATGANJ

• Predominatly a commercial centre

Many corporate and govt. institutions cinema theatres like Sahu and Capital.

Eating joints and hang out places.

• Residences of elite at a distance in civil lines.
• Institutions like town hall building civil hospitals and the Vidhan Sabha,General post office have been built over a period of time.

Colonnaded European Architecture:

• It’s spacious feel, automobile traffic and the somewhat western ambiance.
• The street width between 25 to 30 mts. the vertical to the horizontal ratio is    1:3.
• Attracts people who come to enjoy it’s vibrant urban feel. Ganjing or promenading is an activity itself.
• Contains a public realm with a centralized network of institutions and facilities  where growth occurs.

• Public spaces here are open and accessible to all.
• The basic idea for the development of this area was it’s close proximity to the cantonment being developed by the British for their own existence.
• Also it’s was close to the previous city centre being the Chowk.

GOMTINAGAR

• Initially the development was only happening to the south of the city, but as time progressed it started spreading towards the north eastern side as well when settlements like Gomtinagar came into existence.
• It is the latest development pertaining to the expansion of the city.

• Lies in the south eastern part of the city on the left of the river Gomti.
• On it’s north lies the locality of Indrangar National Highway 28 (Faizabad Road) divides the areas of Indranagar and Gomtinagar.

It is quite well linked with the rest of the city –

Gomti Bairaj linking the settlement to the main city

Bridge spanning the river connects it to Nishatganj.