Bara Imambara - Through my Lens
Vishwanath Radhakrishna
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It was already afternoon by the time I reached the historical city of Luckow - Known as the city of Nawabs. It was my long-time dream to visit the monuments of the city. It did not take much time to reach the enclosure of Bara Imambara which is the Pride of Lucknow.
The Magnificient Monument Bara Imambara was built in the year 1784 by Asaf-ud-Daula, the fourth Nawab of Awadh, as a major famine relief project. The massive central hall of the imambara (a Shia Muslim meeting hall) is considered to be the largest arched hall in the world built without any kind of external support from wooden, iron, or stone beams.
Apart from the hall and the maze, the Bara Imambara complex also consists of a large freestanding mosque known as the Asafi Mosque, sprawling courtyards, ornate gateways, and a baoli or stepwell.
Baoli
The Baoli was constructed to be used as a water reservoir. Unfortunately, time and circumstances have mostly destroyed this reservoir and it is not in a good condition.
The most spectacular gateway is the Rumi Darwaza with its scalloped arch, which serves as the west entrance to the complex and a portal to the city’s storied past.
When famine struck the area in the late 18th century and lasted for a decade, nawab Asaf-ud-Daula embarked on the project of building an imambara to provide employment as construction workers to his suffering subjects.
Neither a mosque nor a mausoleum, an imambara is a unique edifice used by Shia Muslims for the purpose of religious gatherings during the month of Muharram. Muharram marks the festival of ritualized mourning for the third imam and Muhammad’s grandson Hussain who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Unmatched in its architectural opulence, the Bara Imambara, also known as the Asfi Imambara after its founder, comes alive during the festival of Muharram as believers assemble and take out taziyas, or movable shrines.
Neither a mosque nor a mausoleum, an imambara is a unique edifice used by Shia Muslims for the purpose of religious gatherings during the month of Muharram. Muharram marks the festival of ritualized mourning for the third imam and Muhammad’s grandson Hussain who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Unmatched in its architectural opulence, the Bara Imambara, also known as the Asfi Imambara after its founder, comes alive during the festival of Muharram as believers assemble and take out taziyas, or movable shrines.
The central hall of the imambara, measuring 165 feet in length and 53 feet in width, is an astonishing feat of architecture due to its vaulted ceiling which stands at a height of 50 feet without any supporting pillars or beams.
Its walls are painted in a soothing combination of pistachio green and white and crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, the main hall houses the tombs of the nawab and his talented architect from Delhi, Kifayat-Ullah, their graves lying adjacent to each other.
The entire structure of the imambara is divided into nine chambers, with eight smaller chambers surrounding the main hall. The space above these chambers was cleverly repurposed into a labyrinthine network of interconnecting passages, accessed through 489 identical doorways and the layout collectively known as the “bhulbhulaiya.”
The entire structure of the imambara is divided into nine chambers, with eight smaller chambers surrounding the main hall. The space above these chambers was cleverly repurposed into a labyrinthine network of interconnecting passages, accessed through 489 identical doorways and the layout collectively known as the “bhulbhulaiya.”
Bhool Bhulaiya
The name does justice to the place. No matter which way you turn, right or left – it will lead you to a different direction to confuse you. The labyrinth of corridors is an important feature of the monument as it strengthens the structure.
Know Before You Go
Travelers are strongly cautioned not to venture into the maze without the help of a guide.
Important Information:
- Timings – Open 7am – 7pm Evening
- Accessibility – Located at the heart of the old city, you can easily travel by auto-rickshaw or cab.
- Ticket – INR 50 (which covers Chhota Imambara, Bada Imambara, including Bhool Bhulaiya and Baoli, and Picture Gallery)
