Lucknow, INDIA
DURATION:
ACTIVITY LEVEL:
PRICE:
Lucknow’s royal legacy reflects in its many nicknames like City of Nawabs, The Golden City of India, Constantinople of the East and Shiraz-e-Hind. The purest of Nawabi nostalgia, however, is encapsulated in the ruined palace complex of Kaiserbagh. This enlightening walking tour virtually reconstructs the Versailles-like splendour of Wajid Ali Shah’s palace complex with the help of old pictures and maps. A slice of high life is promised with tea at Kotwara House in Kaiserbagh, the ancestral residence of renowned film-maker Muzaffar Ali and his wife Meera.
The tour offers a glimpse into the life and times of the most colourful character in Lucknow’s royal history, Wajid Ali Shah. The last Nawab of Awadh was a great patron of art and his fine taste is reflected in his palace, Kaiserbagh. After the failed freedom struggle in 1858, when the British recaptured Lucknow and the deposed Nawab relocated to Calcutta, Kaiserbagh was brutally destroyed. Even in a state of disrepair, the site continues to be one of the most coveted architectural symbols of the city today.
In its heyday Wajid Ali Shah’s palatial residence was designed to be an unapologetic show of extravagance. Built at a cost of 80 lakh rupees in 1850, it included opulent palaces, generous courtyards, lush gardens, wide pavilions and royal bazaars making it the embodiment of paradise on earth. Joyous celebrations and ongoing merriment defined the days and evenings, during which the Nawab entertained himself and regaled his guests with Kathak, Thumri and Dhrupad (dance forms) performances as well as opera-like theatrical events.
With a little imagination, you can trace the missing parts of the jigsaw puzzle that was once all eye-candy. Traces of Moorish minarets, pavilions and balustrades stand as silent reminders of glory days. The tombs of NawabSaadat Ali Khan and his wife KhursheedZadi on the northern terrace of the palace courtyard are striking.
The tour includes high tea at Kotwara House, which is the ancestral residence of Muzaffar and Meera Ali, the duo credited with reviving the traditional craftsmanship of Lucknow.
Transport: Private Walking Tour 
Activity level: Easy
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Walking bags, bottled water, wet-tissues, electronic tourist guide system, visit and tea at Kotwara House, Film clip from Muzaffar Ali film shown at Kotwara House. Transportation, entrance ticket (if any) to be included 
Exclusions: Meals, Personal Expenses and Souvenir, meals unless specified 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Hotel Pick Up 
End of tour location: Hotel Drop Off Duration: 2 hours Price: upto 2 adults ₹10560 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹10,560 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
I will begin by saying that I had a FANTASTIC time in India. It was one of the best trips I've ever taken and I'm truly looking forward to hopefully having you book other trips for me in India.
I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!