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Chota Imambara (also known as Hussainabad Imambara) is an imposing
monument located in the city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Built as
an imambara or a congregation hall for Shia Muslims, by Muhammad Ali
Shah, the third Nawab of Awadh in 1838, it was to serve as his own
mausoleum and his mother, who is buried beside him.
Overview
It is situated near the Bara Imambara
and on the connecting road stands an imposing gateway known as
Rumi Darwaza. The building is also known
as the Palace of Lights because of its decorations and chandeliers
during special festivals, like Muharram. |
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The
structure has an imposing white colored dome and many pillars or
minarets. The interiors of the monument have been decorated beautifully
with elaborate chandeliers, mirrors with gold frames, the majestic
throne of the King. There are small miniatures of the
Taj Mahal on either side of the
monument. The Imambara is beautifully decorated during the festival of
Moharrum. The whole structure is bordered with thousands of little
bulbs, which give it a royal look when illuminated in the evening.
The chandeliers used to decorate the interior of this building were
brought from Belgium. Also housed within the building, is the crown of
Muhammed Ali Shah and ceremonial tazias. Thousands of labourers worked
on the project to gain famine relief.
It has a gilded dome and several turrets and minarets. The tombs of
Muhammad Ali Shah and other members of his family are inside the
Imambara. This includes two replicas of the
Taj Mahal, built as the tombs of
Muhammad Ali Shah's daughter and her husband. The walls are decorated
with Arabic calligraphy.
Water supply for the fountains and the water bodies inside the Imambara
came directly from the Gomti River.
Satkhanda
Outside the Imambara is the watch tower called Satkhanda or tower of
seven stories. Though it is called Satkhanda, it has only four stories,
as the construction of the tower was abandoned when Ali Shah died.
Satkhanda was built between 1837–1842 in the time of Muhammad Ali Shah.
He wanted to make it the same as Qutub Minar of Delhi and the
leaning tower of Pisa. Its main purpose is lunar observation.
Getting There
Lucknow is
well connected with all metro and other important cities like Bangalore,
Chennai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Mumbai, Jammu Tawi, Guwahati, Chandigarh, Pune,
Jaipur and Bhopal either by Lucknow Charbagh(N.R.) or by Lucknow
Junction(N.E.R.). Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (IATA: LKO, ICAO: VILK),
is situated at Amausi in the city of Lucknow, India.
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