Bara Imambara

Bara Imambara is a historical edifice with a marvelous architecture in Lucknow, the capital of the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh in India. This fort like huge and elegant structure is also called Asafai Imambara. Its architecture is perplexing even for modern architects because of its design. It was built by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784 on the design provided by Kifayat-ullah.

It may not be out of place to mention here that Kifayat-ullah is said to be a relative of the architect of the Taj Mahal. It was built as a part of a famine relief programme.

The structure is design seem to be a mixture of Rajput and Mughal architectures with Gothic influences.

The main structure, a great hall, is built at the end of a spectacular courtyard approached through two magnificent triple-arched gateways. The central hall of the Imambara is almost 50 meters in length and 16-meter wide. The ceiling of this columnless hall is more than 15-meter high. The hall is one of the largest of its kind in the world without any external support of wood, iron, or stone beams. The roof has been put together with interlocking bricks without using a beam or a girder.

The building, which consists of three huge halls, has an amazing maze of corridors hidden in between its walls that are about 20 feet thick. This dense dark maze is also called the ‘bhul bhulaiya’. It is a network of more than 1000 secret labyrinthine passages, some of which have dead-ends, some end at precipitous drops while others lead to entrance or exit points.

There is another another structure at the Imambara called Shahi-Hammam or the Royal Bath. This five-storied baoli (step well) was built even before the Imambara that is in the pre-Nawabi era. This Royal bath is connected with the river Gomti. The three of the storeys are always submerged under water.

Nearby pages
Bara Vidhan Sabha Constituency, Barabani Vidhan Sabha Constituency, Barabanki District, Barabanki Vidhan Sabha Constituency, Barabar Caves