A journey through Awadh culture, heritage

Enthusiastic Lucknowites went on a mystical journey on the nippy Sunday morning as a part of Yatra sojourn organised by the city chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach).

The group comprising Intach members, architecture students and others came together at the Chatroi Gali adjacent to Riverfront in Gomti Nagar. Information director Anju Kumar Jha fagged off the Yatra that was led by architect and Intach convener Vipul Varshney.

From Riverfront, the Yatra covered Kashishwar Mahadev Temple in Mohanlalganj, Shivalay at Kakori, historic Kakori Shahid Memorial and concluded at Kudia Ghat in the Old City.

Before flagging off the Yatra, Jha said it was important for locals to visit places of historical importance in and around the city with their children so that they could learn about the city and its monuments.

“People are just limited to Imambara or Residency but there is a lot more to Lucknow. This Yatra is a small effort to take the students and locals to lesser visited place which are of importance — both historically and architecture wise,” said Varshney.

Kashishwar Mahadev Temple at Sassendi was constructed in 1860 and was given a new look in 1926. The temple is a classical example of vaastu shastra. Interestingly, the designs of Shivalaya at Kakori are inspired by chikan motifs such as jaali (net), murri (design form) and keri (mango pattern). They also visited the Memorial that is to mark the famous train robbery incident where revolutionaries looted the British treasure in Kakori. They finally came to Kudia Ghat and spent time there before returning to starting point.

The team at Chatori Gali in Gomti Nagar and (below) at Kashishwar Mahadev Temple, Mohanlalganj.

Kakori Memorial and (above) members relishing makkhan.