Do you know the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, one of the largest states in India, yes the same state where the Monument of Eternal Love, Taj Mahal is located has so much to offer? Okay so you knew about Varanasi, great but then there is more, fine so you know about Allahabad the Kumbh city, but there is still a lot more. Yes, there is much more…. for starters have you heard about Lucknow? Oh great, so you know that this city is the capital of Uttar Pradesh. So that’s it, just capital of a state, nothing more….. My dear friends this is where you are mistaken. Don’t make the mistake which everyone does. While visiting Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, should also feature in your must visit list, it should be a part of your bucket list in terms of tourist destination. Why? Simple, it is a city with a very rich cultural and historical heritage. Infrastructure wise Lucknow has everything which a tourist may want – good air, rail and road connectivity with all the major cities in India, hotels for all ranges – from luxury to budget, you name it and the city has it, ample transportation options in the city, excellent shopping opportunities, entertainment options, food joints dishing out some mouth-watering local cuisine and also world cuisine. The Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport or the Amausi Airport (as it is still known by old Lucknowites) has direct flights to South East Asian Destinations and many Gulf nations. You have some favourite chain of hotels, name it and you would find it here in this city – the Taj Group, Marriott, Radisson, Hyatt, Hilton, Sarovar etc. are all here. The city is also in close proximity with all other favourite destinations in the state – 335 kms (a 4 hour drive via Lucknow Agra Expressway) from Agra, 200 kms from Allahabad, 300 kms from Varanasi, 170 kms from Shravasti, 400 kms from Jim Corbett National Park, 135 kms from Ayodhya; not only this it is quite close to the international border to Nepal (250 kms) – yes you can travel to Nepal by road. In Lucknow one can find a cultural potpourri – the mix of different religions in the city has created a unique flavour for city. On one side the city has deep rooted links with Hinduism – Lucknow or Lakshmanpuri is related to Lord Rama’s brother Lakshman, on the other hand it has been the a strong centre for Shia sect in Islam, not only this the city has major links with Buddhism, Christianity, Sikhism, Jainism and the lesser known Parsi Zoroastrianism. The impact of the same can be seen in everything, from traditional architecture to food to embroidery ..Read More..