Hello Ghumakkars
In this post, I’ll be covering my hometown i.e. Lucknow. I have always loved Lucknow for its Culture, Food, Traditions, Beauty & Hazratganj. Yes people, Hazratganj is one of the favorite destinations for Lucknowities. It is a busy shopping area, where most of the bazaars of Lucknow are located and is called the Park Avenue of Lucknow. It also houses shopping complexes, restaurants, hotels, theatres, offices and businesses. Hazratganj is small version of Connaught Place, New Delhi. Hazratganj is a major shopping area of the city. It houses showrooms and retail stores of almost all major consumer-goods manufacturers in India. From car-dealers to jewellery stores to antiques, one can shop for almost anything at Hazratganj. Hazratganj also has got many shops selling the famous Lucknow Chikan material. Gurjari, Handloom Emporium, and Gandhi Ashrams, are some of the major handicraft sellers. The British Council Library is also located in Hazratganj, near to Mayfair Cinema.
The newly renovated Ganj
It has a term associated with it “Ganjing“, Ganjing is a term used to describe ambling in the wide lanes and by lanes of city’s ganj market.
The Hazratganj road in Hazratganj was earlier called Queens Way, and was open only to British carriages before Independence. A Hanuman temple also exists in the same place. Many shops in ganj are in narrow winding lanes.
In 2010-11, a major beautification drive took place in Hazratganj and the market now resembles a Victorian era walkway with bright lamps, benches and fountains. I must say that this Mayawati government did an excellent job. The recent changes have drastically transformed an ill looking market to an extremely beautiful one. Now, the shops have uniformity, they are forced to put standard size banners with black background.
A fountain in Hazratganj
Shops in Ganj are not like the bland Gurgaon malls. They are a blend of old and new. Most building housing shops, restaurants, cinemas are almost 100 years, and they present an old world charm about themselves.
The four landmarks about the Lucknow, which stand out in Hazratganj are Mayfair cinema theatre, which always showed the choicest English movies; British Council Library, the Lucknow chapter; Lucknow Coffee House, which the great thinkers like Premchand, Yashpal, Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to frequent and Ram Advani Bookshop – arguably the best managed bookshop in the country. Of these, the first two have shut shop, perhaps, a hint of changing times. Coffee House is struggling hard to make ends meet. Though the old glory and patrons are lost, still it’s trying to hold its own against the attack of Baristas and Cafe Coffee Days.
Shops in Ganj
Hazratganj has many good restaurants and food joints like Royal Cafe, Moti Mahal, Aryan, Shukla Chaat Bhandaar, Tunde ke Kabab, Rover’s, Mark’s Man, Barista, Cafe Coffee Day, Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, Baskin Robbins, Yo! China, Subway etc. One must go to Tundey Kababi and taste its delicious Kababs (heard so from hundreds of people). My hot favorite is Moti Mahal & Royal Cafe. These two offer delicious cuisines at a reasonably good price.
Tundey Kababi, famous for its Kababs.
Saturdays make ganj bustle with activity. How? You ask? Well, it is the hoi polloi, especially the belles and blokes, dressed up in the trendiest outfits, which makes the place, a patch worth exploring, at least for the young generation :P, the place abounds in glittering show rooms, fast food joints and cosmetics shops, which are the favorite haunts of bonny lasses; But is this the sole reason for their frequent visits? No, certainly not! And if you think so, then you have another thing coming! While some gals come for shopping, most just wanna freak out basking in all the attention the guys shower at them. It is the latter that are dressed to kill and make the dudes go weak in their knees. But if one ignores all balderdash these punks indulge in, then Saturday evenings at Hazratganj are a treat to the eyes.
This area is also home to some of the best schools in Lucknow – St. Francis’ College, La Martiniere Girl’s College, Christ Church College, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Naza Market, in Hazratganj, is the second most famous market for computer/IT goods in north India (the first one being Nehru Place in New Delhi). It houses many genuine computer software and hardware retail stores, besides a host of shops selling pirated items. Ganj also houses Sahu and Leela, two of Lucknow’s most visited movie theaters.
Ganj at Night
Renovated Ganj
Though, I have a lot more to write about Hazratganj but for now I’ll stop. If you were visit Lucknow, don’t ever miss out Ganjing. :D
Hope you guyz enjoyed reading. Do write in for any suggestions.
-By Naman
(Follow Lucknow closely on www.facebook.com/OurLucknow)
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Its for u Sandeep
https://www.ghumakkar.com/2011/05/15/sham-e-awadh-lucknow/
Sandeep ji,Lucknow zarur aaye.Bhaut hi sundar jagah hai. :)
I am visiting Lucknow since 1992 , started my carrier from Lucknow only. Since than I am visiting Lucknow at least 3 to 4 times a year. Renovated Hazratganj is looking beautiful, especially in night.
I never have been to “Tundey ke kabab” in Ghanj. Is it newly opened branch?
hi..can u plz help me find some lending libraries in the city.. I am new to lucknow.
Good to know that Mr. Mahesh..! Were you in UPTRON?
Tunded Kabab has many branches,Most famous is in Aminabad,then In Hazratganj…Its been functioning since years….Recently,Alambagh got a branch of TK. :)
Not Uptron , I joined Ranbaxy in 1992 , Shahnazaf road , near church.
hey can anyone help me find some lending libraries in lucknow city?
Hello Tom,
You can get all info here
http://yellowpages.sulekha.com/lucknow/education-training/libraries/114.htm
or justdial.com
I’d recommend Ramkrishna Math & mission >http://www.ramakrishnalucknow.org/library.htm
:)
Good.Thanks a lot Naman.I arrived in Lucknow yesterday,on a posting and had been surfing the net for all possible inputs.I am keen on Ganjing!!Tell me some more on Book Lending Libraries(for english fiction) , Good schools for boys and the dos and donts of Lucknow!
Hello Ma’am….. Nice to know that! :)
You can google for book lending libraries,you’ll get many of them near your place/area. Hmm….most famous school in Lucknow is CMS,though I’m studying in The Lucknow Public Collegiate, (www.collegiate.in).Its also one of the prominent schools in Lucknow.
For the do’s & dont’s catch out my Facebook page… http://www.facebook.com/OurLucknow
Nice Mr. Naman . I live In Lucknow but did not realized the real beauty of Lucknow. Now, By your post only i have realized. Thanx Naman. Doing good job. Plz post all the great beauties of Lko so that we all can develop the feelings for LKO.
Thanks a lot Durgesh Ji.
Ganjing :-). Good. Probably I would get to do some Ganjing since I might be visting Lucknow soon. I have been visiting LKO at least once a year, for last 5-6 years.
Also putting a link of a story which I wrote on Aminabad, about 3 years back.
https://www.ghumakkar.com/2008/04/01/by-the-lanes-of-aminabad-lucknow/
Hello Mr. Nandan,I love the reviews by you. Thanks a lot! :)
Hi everyone!
Almost completing a month in Naman’s city.I like it.The tehzeeb though is certainly getting washed away in the downpours here.I have heard the choicest expletives flying around in the hazratganj area during atraffic snarl here.Whats with this strange fancy with cars- number plates- blue/red beacons- U.P. govt/vidhayak/advocate/ magistrate/police/etc.I even read “vidhayak ke pratinidhi” on one fortuner!!
Anyway, the city is very pleasing.I have yet to find some decent lending libraries.All they are lending near the TOI office are some cheesy magazines.Malls- all very good.Tundey-How do they break even with such low pricing on mutton??Excellent chicken Kali-mirch.I love Mr Brown bakery.
Moti Mahal-good (Lassi excellent).I give all credit to our CM for the facelift to the city.It is impressive-as you drive out of the airport and enter the city.Women are safe in the city.The men are well behaved.What else does a common person want?
Thats all for now.Ciao
Hello Ma’am…
Nice to know that…LOL!U.P’s full with politics! Tundey is great as always…did you try Royal Cafe? Yeah,overall Lucknow is very good…Good to know that your having fun! :)
Adios
What a lovely article Naman, it was life revisited I was in Lucknow untill 1968 and was brought up in the vicinity of Hazarat ganj to be precise next to Butler palace a road called Madan mohan malviya marg (Numer 18 Kothi) next to a place named *Raj Sadan*I am not sure if it is same or changed ,but your article was a revisit.
Hope one day I will come to Lucknow and experience the modernity of Nawabi city,hope I wound not be disappointed.
Thanks a lot John,hope you could make it. Anyways ,Wishing you a very Happy Dussehra. :D
@sushmita
this is not to counter you in any way but if you are talking about tehzeeb lucknowites still greet any stranger as Aap…smoething i didnt find in any part of the globe… as for the expletives it just shows tht we dont bow down tht easily
I really appreciate the way Naman carved out every single and best of Lucknow. I miss Lucknow like anything, being my birthplace, i am attached to this beautiful place. The tehzeeb can only be found here only, its 19 years now being away from this place, but i can cherish all the moments. Thanks
Thanks a lot Sir! :)
Ab ek naye mijaz ka hai Lucknow , Badlao lazmi tha to badla hai Lucknow
Dil se aziz yeh tera andaaz hai Humein , Hum tere jaan Nisar hai yeh Naaz Hai Humein…………Good Job Naman Bhai………………Aap ka Shukrya
Thanks a lot Khalid Bhai. :) :)
I am an author based in Lucknow. I have written two historical novels based on events of 1857 in Lucknow. Thank you Naman for sparing time to write about this beautiful city of ours :-)
Hi,
I am visiting Lucknow for a conference in the month of February. I have few queries:
1. What will be the distance from the Grand Hotel in Lalbagh to SRMU Lucknow campus?
2. Is Lalbagh area safe to stay, especially the Grand hotel?
3. How to reach Lalbagh or SRMU from airport? I am going by flight.
4. What will be the approximate fooding cost for two people?
Thanks if you comment.
Dear Mr. Chakraborty,
I have been visiting Lucknow once every year, for more than 10 years, so let me try to respond to your queries.
I looked up at Google Maps
(https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Shri+Ramswaroop+Memorial+University,+Lucknow,+Uttar+Pradesh,+India/The+Grand+Hotel,+4,+Lalbagh+road,+Hazratganj,+Lalbagh,+Lucknow,+Uttar+Pradesh+226001,+India/@26.8464042,80.9391922,16z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x399bfd043b44fa1d:0xb3de6a6c68472b88!2m2!1d80.949167!2d26.843955!1m5!1m1!1s0x399bfda6713ff433:0x87b775764e9cbe3e!2m2!1d80.93897!2d26.84664)
and it is showing 1.5 KMs, so should be walkable in February when the weather is not too hot.
I do not recall staying in Lalbagh area but considering that its close to Aminabad and other central places, it should be safe. You may want to check the ratings/review of Grand Hotel at http://www.tripadvisor.com, so that you can make a informed decision on this matter. If you choose to stay at Grand then better to negotiate a taxi-deal with them, since you would be new to the city. Airport is not too far though from Lalbagh.
Lucknow is as expensive as any other Tier 2 city and you can find food options at all price-levels.
Hope this is useful for you.
Hello Mr. Chakraborty,
Nandan sir has answered almost everything but I’d like to add a few points. Take a cab from the Airport (Ola & Uber available). Negotiate the fare if you are taking in the local cabs (should cost around Rs 350 max). In case you take an Ola/Uber then instruct the driver to follow the VIP Road-Cantonment Route. The Lalbagh-Hazratganj area will be tight squeeze for vehicles due to the ongoing Metro Construction. If you have tight schedules to follow, then plan your day travels accordingly.
As Nandanji said, the cost of food will be at par with any Tier II cities. I’d recommend you start your day with Sharma Tea (in Lalbagh). Try Chedilal Juices, Marksmen, Royal Cafe (Basket Chaat is a must) for Snacks and Moti Mahal for Lunch/Dinner. If you don’t mind the Street food then have a bite of the Kachoris in LIC Lane (Hazartganj).
I hope you have a good time in Lucknow :)
Wonderful account. Lovely read :)
Travelshoebum