Thursday, May 27, 2010

Shopping in Lucknow



Shopping in Lucknow
Your trip to Lucknow will remain incomplete if you don't head out to famous shopping places in Lucknow. Shopping in Lucknow is fun as it is an entirely different experience. The city of Lucknow does not have many glittering malls and multiplexes, yet shopping in those little markets for knick-knacks and souvenirs has its own different charm. You wouldn't have to decide what to buy in Lucknow, as the place is very famous for quite some things. For more information on where to shop in Lucknow, read on.

The first thing that comes to mind while talking about shopping in Lucknow is of course the famous Chikan work of Lucknow. No, it has got nothing to do with eating chicken! Chikan is a very famous thread work that is done by the skilled craftsmen of Lucknow. It is combines with Zardosi (embroidery with gold and silver threads) and crystal work and embroidered on clothes for women, men, kids, mats, bed sheets, table mats and just about anything you can think of. They make great gifts and beautiful souvenirs.

Lucknow is also famous for its shops of jewellery and ornaments. Right from the nose pin to the waistband, you name it and they will have it. These exquisite works of jewellery are exclusive and are found only in Lucknow. The jewellery pieces have unique work of metal ornamentation that looks splendid. Another famous type of jewellery found there is the Jadau, which means jewellery in which gems are studded. Lucknow is famous for its big danglers and Jhumkas that are found in the wardrobe of each and every girl.

Lucknow has its own share of shopping places. Although you may not find many big malls, one finds some malls that have sprung up here and there and are often thronged by youngsters who come to shop for branded stuff. Some of the major and famous shopping places in Lucknow are Aminabad, Kapoorthala, Hazratganj and Janpath. For exquisite jewellery, you can go to Gadbadjhala, which is quite reputed for its exquisite jewellery works. Among the malls, one finds some malls like Sahara Ganj, Fun Republic and East End Mall. One also finds some multiplexes like PVR, Waves and Fun Cinemas, which provide entertainment around the clock.

Lucknow chikan
Lucknow chikan is perhaps one of the finest works of embroidery that one can find here in India. It is known for its exquisite style and fine needlework and is unparalleled when it comes to refinement. The Mughal queen Noor Jehan revived this style in 655 A.D. in India. Lucknowi Chikan Kari gained an entirely new look as it was much preferred and supported by the Mughal rulers. This lead to further refinement and improvement of the Lucknow Chikan embroidery work. Today, Lucknowi chikan Kari is synonymous with fashion and is worn by almost every celebrity at least once.

Lucknow Weather



Lucknow Weather
Lucknow is situated on the northern part of India in the state of Uttar Pradesh. It faces some extremities in temperature in summers and winters. The climatic conditions of Lucknow vary in different seasons and there is much difference in summer and winter temperature. Lucknow basically experiences a warm sub-tropical kind of climate. Lucknow weather is quite unpredictable and it may rain or shine brightly at the same time! Read on to know about Lucknow weather and climate.

Summer
Summers are pretty hot and last from April to July. The temperature ranges from 30o Celsius to 45o Celsius and it can get really hot in the month of June. Hot dry winds called Loo make the temperatures go really high and it can get very uncomfortable during afternoons. Summers are usually hot and dry with occasional thunderstorms.

Monsoons
The monsoons last from July to September and Lucknow receives its share of rainfall from the southwest monsoons. On an average, Lucknow receives 101 centimeters of annual rainfall. It becomes quite humid after September and sometimes the temperatures may escalate due to the humidity. The evenings are pleasant with cool winds blowing thus reducing the night temperatures a bit.

Winters
Lucknow experiences cool and dry winter months. Winters usually extend from December to February and the temperatures go really low. The temperature ranges from 20o Celsius to 3o Celsius. It is not uncommon for Lucknow to be enveloped in thick fog during winter mornings and the visibility can literally go down to nil. Winters can be bone chillingly cold so it is recommended that you carry thick woolen clothes with yourself.

Lucknow Photo Gallery




Lucknow Photo Gallery
Lucknow is one of those cities in India that has retained its old world charm till date. You get to see the beautiful amalgamation of the calm life of the yesteryears with the commercialized life of today. A city that has learnt to accept the present but still beautifully preserves its past; such is the beauty of Lucknow. Through this Lucknow photo gallery, we shall try to present before you those Lucknow photographs that are striking evidence of the old world beauty of Lucknow. Time freezes in these Lucknow pictures that bring before you, an entirely new facet of the culture of India. So check out Lucknow photos and treat your eyes.

Lucknow Location



Lucknow Location
The location of Lucknow is in the state of Uttar Pradesh in India. Situated on the northern Gangetic plains of India, Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. The geographical location of Lucknow is between 26.50o North and 80.50o East. Lucknow is located at an elevation of 123 meters above sea level. This city was known by the name of Awadh during ancient times.

Located in the plains of the northern India, Lucknow's location is responsible for the diverse weather patterns and climatic changes. It does not have a uniform weather throughout the year and experiences extreme summers and extreme winters. The total area covered by Lucknow is around 3204 square kilometers. The location of Lucknow is what makes it easily reachable by air, rail and road.

Lucknow is famous for its beautiful gardens, ancient architectural ruins, prestigious educational institutions and rich cultural and historical legacy. It is located in center of the state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is flanked by Sitapur district in the north and Rae Bareli on the south. The Unnao district lies on the west and in the east is located Barabanki district. The city has River Gomti flowing right through it, dividing it into parts.

The city of Lucknow is famous for its educational institutions and has some of the most prestigious institutions located here. Popular ones are Lucknow University, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), La Martiniere College, Rani Laxmi Bai Memorial School, Loreto Convent, Delhi Public School, The Cathedral, etc. The place is also famous for its research institutes like National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI), Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC), Indian Institute of Sugarcane Research (IISR), etc.

Lucknow Local Transport



Lucknow Local Transport
Local transport in Lucknow is easily available round the clock and rest assured that you would never have a problem with moving around in Lucknow. There are a variety of options to choose from for moving around here and there. In Lucknow, local transportation is very affordable and the most convenient way to explore this city. In order to know more about the various means of public transport in Lucknow, read the information given in the following lines.

Buses
Local buses are aplenty in Lucknow and charge nominal rates to cover long distances. These buses are run by the transport department of the state Government. There are tourist buses also that are run specifically by travel agents for tourists to look around.

Autorickshaws
An Autorickshaw is a small vehicle that has one seat in the front for the driver and a larger seat at the back for passengers. The autorickshaw is capable of accommodating around four people at a time. These are available round the clock and anywhere in the city. It is always better to bargain the cost before boarding the vehicle. If the driver agrees to charge by the meter, it is an even better option.

Taxis
Taxis can be hired from any travel agent and is one of the most comfortable options to move around in the city without any hassles. You can also ask the hotel where you are staying to arrange a good taxi for you to explore the city. it is better to fix the cost beforehand than argue later.

Lucknow Holidays

Lucknow Holidays
India is a land of fairs and festivals. Every month has some important festival in some part of the country. Lucknow is a city that has had a rich cultural heritage and historical legacy. Thus it celebrates many festivals, some of which are exclusive to Lucknow only. Such occasions are time for holidays in Lucknow! Given below is a (long!) list of public holidays in Lucknow. So go through it and plan your trip as most tourist attractions are closed on these holidays.
January 1: New Year's Day
January 21: Eid ul Zuha
January 26: Republic Day (National Holiday)
March 8: Maha Shiv Ratri
March 25: Holi
March 25: Good Friday
April 13: Baisakhi, Vishu/Bahag, Mesadi, Maghi
April 18: Sri Rama Navmi
April 21: Milad un Nabi or Eid ul Milad (The Prophet's Birthday)
April 22: Mahavir Jayanti
May 22: Buddha Purnima
August 15: Independence Day (National Holiday)
October 2: Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (National Holiday)
October 12: Dusshera
November 1: Diwali (Deepawali)
November 3 - 5: Eid ul Fitr
November 15: Guru Nanak's Birthday
December 25: Christmas

Lucknow Flights



Lucknow Flights
The easiest and fastest way to reach Lucknow is by air. There are a number of cheap flights to Lucknow from anywhere in India. Lucknow has its own airport at Amausi, which is located at a distance of 20 kilometers from the city center. It caters to flights from all over India. There are many different airlines from Lucknow that cater to the rest of India. There is also an international flight from Sharjah on a daily basis.

The airport of Lucknow offers world class service like Wheel chair for disabled and old, trollies, restaurants, bookstores, internet, telephone booths, etc. The airport is located at a convenient distance from the railway station also. Given here are some popular Lucknow flights that connect Lucknow to the rest of the world.
Air Deccan: Air Deccan offers daily flights to Delhi.
Air Sahara: Air Sahara has daily flights to Lucknow from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Patna and Gorakhpur.
Air India: Air India has daily flights from Delhi to Lucknow.
Jet Airways: Jet Airways has daily flights from Delhi to Lucknow.
Indian Airlines: Indian Airlines has daily flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Patna and Varanasi to Lucknow.