Introduction
Chattar Manzil is a palace standing on the banks of river Gomti. A lot is known about the Nawabs of Lucknow and their culture. But where did the Nawabs resided is still not known by many?
Chattar Manzil is one of the former residential palaces of the Nawabs of Lucknow. It is also known as Umbrella Palace due to its architecture.
The palace has umbrella-like domes or Chttaras which glitter when the sunlight falls on them. The best time to visit Chattar Manzil is from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.
History of Chattar Manzil
The Chattar Manzil or Umbrella Palace was built by Nawab Ghazi-dd-din Haider. However, after his death, it was finished by his child, Nawab Nasir-dd-din Haider.
The Palace was utilized as the Nawabi residence until Nawab Wajid Ali Shah moved base to Qaiserbagh.
The architecture of the palace is a blend of Indo-European and Nawabi developments. The 5-storied Palace is a compositional wonder with two underground floors and three upper high floors.
The underground rooms are enormous and open straightforwardly on the banks of the Gomti River.
How to reach
Traveling to Chattar Manzil from any part of the city is easy as there are many modes of transports available.
- Taxi/Auto
It is one of the most convenient ways to reach Chattar Manzil. Book a taxi or an auto and you are free to sit and relax while they take you there. But it might be a little expensive ranging from Rs. 50 to Rs. 300.
- Metro
It is a cost-effective way of traveling that too with comfort. You can get down at the Vishwavidyalaya station if you are coming from the Munshi Pulia side and if you are coming from the CCS airport side you can get down at K.D.Singh Babu Station. Both the stops are near Chattar Manzil. From there you can get an E-rickshaw easily.
- Bus
This is the best option for those who are staying on the outskirts of the city or are traveling from another city. There are two main bus stations in Lucknow: Charbagh and Kaiserbagh.
Kaiserbagh bus station is the nearest to the Umbrella Palace. Get down at this bus stop and take an auto or an E-rickshaw to reach the destination.
Local Cuisine
Lucknow, the city of Nawabs is well known for its food. The cuisine found there has its uniqueness and specialty. After you have explored this grandeur, you would like to roam around the area and spend some time on the streets of this city.
On the other side of the river where Chattar Manzil is situated, you can spend a quality evening and enjoy the street food of Lucknow with a beautiful sunset.
This area has especially been transformed into a street food zone for the people to enjoy the mouth-watering delicacies with a beautiful view.
All types of street food can be found there and the best time to go there is in the evening.
Accommodation
You can check out these hotels when planning your stay in Lucknow:
- Premium Hotel (Hotel Deep Palace)
Price- Rs. 1314/ per night (approximately)
The hotel is located in the cantonment area which is a secure and peaceful area in itself.
- Deluxe Hotel (Hotel Vills)
Price – Rs.987/ per night (approximately)
The hotel is situated in the Buttler Colony, near to famous attractions and dining places. It is an apartment converted into a hotel. Thus, if required it can also be fully booked by one party.
- Budget-Friendly (Backpacker’s Den)
Price – 720/ per night (approximately)
It is located in the cantonment area. It has a dorm kind of system with a shared kitchen available for the guests to cook (if they want to). All the rooms are air-conditioned.
Suggestions
- Prefer visiting the palace in the early evening so that you can enjoy the sunset from across the river bank.
- Travel light, do not carry big bags along as they might not allow them inside.
- Stay together when you visit the palace as the palace is not in its best condition and it is likely you might get lost in the crowd.
- A must-visit place for a history explorer.
- The interior might not look that great but gives an idea about the habits and likings of the Nawabs.
Conclusion
The road on which the Umbrella Palace is located is quite busy. As it is near some prominent areas of Lucknow which are lively throughout the day. The places which you can explore near Chattar Manzil are Hazratganj, Globe Park, The Residency, and Shri Hanuman Setu Mandir, among a few others. It can be said that Chattar Manzil is a palace with a lot of history, and other activities running around it.
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