Bara Imambara

About Bara Imambara, Lucknow

Eighteenth-century monument with an intricate labyrinth

• Built in 1784 by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula as a famine relief project, Bara Imambara stands in Old Lucknow near the Gomti River.
• The main central hall measures roughly 50 metres long and spans three storeys without a single central pillar or girder supporting the vaulted ceiling.
• Visitors come primarily to explore the Bhulbhulaiya, a dense network of over a thousand interconnected passageways, identical arched doorways, and rooftop balconies overlooking the courtyard.
• The complex also holds the multi-tiered Shahi Baoli stepwell and the Asfi Mosque.
• Winters between October and March offer comfortable weather for climbing the stairs and upper terraces.
• The complex opens daily from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with ticket counters closing slightly earlier.
• A combined entrance ticket covers access to Chota Imambara and the nearby picture gallery.