LONG TUNNEL COULD BE PART OF ‘ HERITAGE LINK’
UNDERGROUND ROUTE It may be connected with a bigger channel that linked monuments of Lucknow, say historians
LUCKNOW: The long tunnel in the basement of the historic Chattar Manzil Palace could be a part of the bigger channel that connected the monuments of Lucknow, said historians and experts. Some even said that the tunnel was connected to Allahabad or Kanpur. However, there’s no proof of this.
LUCKNOW: The long tunnel in the basement of the historic Chattar Manzil palace could be a part of the bigger channel that connected the monuments of Lucknow, said historians and experts.
Some even said that the tunnel was connected to Allahabad or Kanpur. However, there’s no proof of this.
Historian Roshan Taqui said, “A channel connected monuments of Lucknow. Beginning from Hussainabad, the underground route continued till Moti Mahal. The channel was connected to small tunnels that led to the monuments.”
The Britishers converted the bigger tunnel into a tank sewer and blocked its sub-channels to avoid the seepage of sewer water, said Taqui, adding that the openings of the channels on either sides of the tunnel at Chattar Manzil could lead to the sewage tank (bigger channel).
Bookseller and expert on Lucknow’s history and heritage, Ram Advani shared his experiences of a three-decadeold visit to the Chattar Manzil palace. He said, “I had visited the Chattar Manzil with some of my foreign friends when we were told about the underground tunnel. The guide said that the tunnel was connected to Allahabad or Kanpur, though he wasn’t sure of the links.”
Underground routes weren’t uncommon in the times of the nawabs, said experts. “The tunnels would serve two purposes - they would allow the nawabs to avoid the scorching summer heat and harsh weather conditions while commuting from one monument to another. Secondly, the tunnels served as perfect routes for the women in the times when the purdah system was in practice,” said Yogesh Praveen, another expert on Lucknow’s culture and heritage.
The tunnels and their connectivity to the waterways also served as safety routes during the time of attacks and crisis. The nawabs would take the underground route and then escape on boats through the waterways.
“There is also a marble tank underground. I have a map that defines the areas where marble is lying underground. Digging of the Chattar Manzil’s lawns and Lal Baradari could lead to the marble tank,” added Praveen.
The team of conserva-tion experts and students of the Government College of Architecture came across the 350-ft-long tunnel after de silta- tion of the basement at Chattar Manzil.
“There’s a myth that from the time the building’s construction begun, its basement has been waterlogged. But this isn’t true. Water entered into the basement only due to some fault or floods,” said Taqui.
Experts also endorsed the presence of two basements in the Chattar Manzil. Roshan Taqui said, “There were two basements in the building. The second basement was lower than the level of river Gomti.”
“There were two octagonal towers to which the basement was connected for proper air ventilation. Two telescopes from England were placed at the rooftop of the building for astronomical purposes,” he added.
I had visited the Chhattar Manzil with some friends from abroad when we were told about the underground tunnel. The guide said that the tunnel was connected to Allahabad or Kanpur, though he wasn’t sure of the links.
RAM ADVANI, bookseller and expert on Lucknow’s history