Fish Emblem of the Nawab of Awadh (Oudh) on the Gate to the Bara Imambara
Lucknow was, and is, a heavily Shi'ite Muslim city. Historically, it was the seat of the Nawab (provincial governor) of the province of Awadh of the Mughal empire. As that empire and its central control weakened, Awadh effectively became an independent princely state. After 1801 when a treaty was signed with the British East India Company, the Nawabs of Oudh were essentially puppet rulers for the British.
The Second Gate of the Bara Imambara
The Bara (Great) Imambara was built in 1784 by Nawab Asaf-ud-daulah. An Imambara, or Hussaina, is a congregation hall for Shia ritual ceremonies, especially those associated with the Remembrance of Muharram.
In the Courtyard of the Bara Imambara
The Bara Imambara was built in the year of a great famine, and one of the reasons the Nawab had for having the complex built was to provide employment for his people. The common people worked during the day, and in deference to their pride, the noblemen were allowed to work in the night.
Detail of the Second Gate of the Bara Imambara
Here we see the Nawab fish again. The architecture and decoration has clear Persian influences, while on the Imambara itself, some echoes of French architecture can be seen. The design was chosen on a competitive basis. The winning architect, Kifayatullah, is buried in the hall of the Imambara.
In front of the Asfi mosque
Our guide explains a bit about the Bara Imambara complex. Behind us is the Asfi mosque.
The gate to the Afsi Mosque
The mosque was not open to tourists, and we decided that we were unlikely to be able to talk our way in.
Near the Afsi Mosque
A muslim man exits from the mosque. On the left is a balcony that is part of the Asafi mosque. In the background is the Rumi Darwaza gate, built by Asaf-ud-Duala around the same time as the Bara Imambara complex.
View of the Asafi Mosque from the porch of the Bara Imambara
The Bara Imambara itself (which somehow was not so photogenic), is a building containing a hall, largest of its kind, which is 50 meters in length and 16 meters wide. There are no columns to support the ceiling, and there is no external support of wood, iron, or stone beams. The roof is constructed of interlocking bricks without using a beam or a girder.
Entrance to the Bara Imambara
To enter, one must remove one's shoes. That in mind, I hope that all visitors heed the sign on the right, which says: "This is your ancestral and cultural heritage. Kindly don't insult it by spitting". The large windows are testament to the French influence of the architecture.
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