Bara Imambara, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh India

Bara Imambara is the main attraction of Lucknow and the first destination point of tourists. You will get here detailed information about this must-see monument of Lucknow. After seeing these, you may proceed to see Chhota Imambara, Hussainabad Picture Gallery, Clock Tower etc. which are situated upwards on the same road. 

Lucknow’s Bara Imambara is said to the venue where the Nawabs held their public hearings. The construction of Bara Imambara can be traced back to 1784 and is credited to Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulla. The monument has been designed by one Kifayat-ullah who is said to be a kin of the illustrious architect of Taj Mahal. The Nawab commissioned the building of the Bara Imambara in Lucknow as a part of the famine relief programme.

Lucknow’s Bara Imambara has a grand central hall that has already won many appreciations as one of the largest vaulted galleries in the world. A close look at the structure of the monument will reveal many unique features and elements in terms of the architecture. The construction of the halls and the use of vaults are reminiscent of the Islamic influence. The great hall of the Imambara can be approached through dual triple-arched gateways that are brilliant exemplifications of superior architecture. The way the hall has been constructed without any extraneous support of wood, iron or stone beams, is a source of wonder for many.

Bara Imambara, Lucknow has an amazing maze of corridors and labyrinthine passages hidden in between the walls that are almost 20 feet in width. The upper floor, popularly known as the Bhulbhulaiya, is one of the major draws for the tourists. Once you get mired in this labyrinth, it is next to impossible to come out of it without the assistance of an expert guide. Some passages lead to dead ends while the others proceed towards precipitous drops. Some passageways will lead you to either entry or exit points. The imposing structure of Bara Imambara is an impressive amalgam of simplicity of style, symmetry and proportion.

The Bara Imambara is a famous monument of Lucknow with historical, cultural and heritage importance. Bara Imambara was built in 1784 by the then Nawab of Awadh, Asaf -ud-Daula. It is for this reason that it is often known as Asafia Imambara. The structure was built as a part of a relief project for a major famine that took place in the year 1784. The chronicles of History maintain that the famine continued for over a decade and the construction of the building continued for this time.

It is said that the Bada Imambada is the world's largest arched room without any pillars and the Nawabs used to hold their public hearings here. It is also important to know that Imambada are actually the replicas of tombs dedicated to the Holy Prophet and his family members. Bada Imambara is also the venue for the Muslims who come here every year to celebrate the religious festival of Muharram.

The Bara Imambara is a large complex, which houses a mosque, courtyards, gateways and a 'bawali' or step-well used as a summer palace. The sanctum of Imambara consists of a large vaulted central chamber containing the tomb of Asaf-ud-Daula. The hall that is 170 feet long and 55 feet wide stands 50 feet from the ground. It is interesting to note that it has no beams or girders supporting the ceiling. In fact Bara Imambara is one of the largest arched constructions of its kind in the world.

The building, which consists of three huge halls, has an amazing maze of corridors hidden in between its walls that are about 20 feet thick.This dense, dark maze called the 'bhul bhulaiya' is a network of more than 1000 labyrinthine passages, some of which have dead-ends, some end at precipitous drops while others lead to entrance or exit points. The maze is to be explored only with the help of an "approved" guide if one wants a tour of the secret labyrinth without getting lost. It is possibly the only existing maze in India and came about unintentionally to support the weight of the building, constructed on marshy land.