Lucknow – In The Land Of Nawaab

Aditi Ghosh

There are times when life gets difficult and requires a break. Rajesh is the one who nowadays takes the responsibility for planning our vacation, be it an extended weekend or a longer one. And this time, it is none other than Lucknow to fulfil our eternal cravings for Awadhi foods. The ancient monuments, narrow lanes( not so narrow now), and huge and beautiful Imambaras are the charisma of Lucknow. However, this trip was dedicated to delicious Awadhi cuisine and rest/relaxation. Awadhi food is distinctly different from Mughlai cuisine. Long before the invention of a pressure cooker, the culinary geniuses of Awadh invented the Dum-Style of cooking which was unique because it not only retained the flavours and aroma of the food but also unlike the modern pressure cooker, the nutrients as well!

Knowing my love for trains, Rajesh surprised me by booking an ac coupe. I found it comfy and romantic, but a bit of luxury too. We reached early morning at Lucknow Railway Station. I am always awed by the glorious beauty of this station building. We had our breakfast in the railway refreshment room and, for who doesn’t know, these are the old eating places in any railway station to get good food at real cheap prices round the clock. Not only do we like these desi experiences, but it also reminds us of our childhood days and keeps us grounded too.

Rajesh chose Clarks Awaadh for the stay which is no doubt one of the iconic properties in Lucknow, on the bank of the Gomti River. One funny thing is that Rajesh was keen on a river view room, we got one too, but as you can imagine the river nowadays in urban areas, feels like a nallah even in the peak of monsoon season (urbanization!! ). It was a bit disappointing, but this hotel has no doubt a scenic view and it has well preserved its old heritage. It’s not just a hotel, but a never-ending feeling about the city.

For us, Lucknow also means meeting our good friends like families, and Patras. So many memories we have together and also lots to catch up on, we did not realise how the evening just flew over finger-licking legendary food of old Lucknow and full of adds… and the pouring rain outside added an additional dimension to everything…I could feel what a Nawaabiyana is all about. And why not- when we are in the land of Nawabs?

The writer is a globe traveller