The capital of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow has many of the trappings of a big Indian city, with high-rise buildings, massive malls, and a booming IT industry. However, the city is also a major hub for culture and history, and visitors will find plenty of things to do in Lucknow. Along with numerous beautiful old buildings that harken to Mughal and colonial times, the city has thriving culinary and arts scenes that draw in visitors from across India and beyond.
You’re best off planning your visit to Lucknow to coincide with the cooler season, which runs from mid-October through the end of March. The weather this time of year is generally more manageable than in the hot April to mid-June summer season or the humid monsoon period, which starts in late June and can last into December.
There are lots of ways to get around Lucknow, from low-cost public buses to more comfortable auto-rickshaws and taxis. However, the most convenient way to explore the city is by taking a tour that includes pickup from your hotel. Private tours are a particularly good option as they generally allow you the flexibility to spend as little or as much time at local attractions as you choose.
Lucknow is known for its Awadhi food, characterized by rich, spicy meat dishes that are often slow-cooked. The most famous dish is tunde ke kebab, a spicy preparation of buffalo meat. The best place to try it for yourself is at Tunday Kababi in the busy Aminabad Market, where the dish was invented more than a century ago.
