Our plan for the day began with some morning sightseeing in Allahabad, followed by a journey onward to Lucknow, where we hoped to arrive by late afternoon to explore some of its attractions.
We left our hotel around 10:30 am, and on our way to our first destination, we stumbled upon a humorous sight – "Goats on a Car." It was a delightful start to the day, invoking laughter and smiles.
Our first intended stop was Khusro Bagh, and as we navigated the bustling traffic near Allahabad Railway Junction (Station), I halted the car momentarily to capture a photograph of a splendid old Steam Locomotive. Surprisingly, the traffic effortlessly flowed around us, unperturbed by our brief pause.
Upon arriving at Khusro Bagh, our initial impression was underwhelming as we entered what seemed like a simple garden. However, as we ventured further along a path flanked by palm trees, we discovered the exquisite monuments hidden within.
Our next destination was the iconic Allahabad High Court Building, but we quickly realized that reaching it was an insurmountable challenge due to the multitude of motorcycles parked along the road. Nonetheless, we managed to catch a distant glimpse of this renowned structure.
Near the High Court, we encountered All Saint's Cathedral, nestled like an island at a crossroads junction. I parked the car on one of the arterial roads and took a stroll around the church with my camera.
Our next brief stop was Anand Bhawan, but since it was a Monday, the museum was closed. Nevertheless, I captured an image of the famous building from outside the gate.
Our journey then continued towards Lucknow. As we left the city, we passed through an extensive Army Cantonment area before reaching the River Ganges. The railway bridge alongside was of particular interest, as it also served as a road bridge for motorcycles.
Despite the relatively short distance to Lucknow, approximately 200 kilometers, the road did not resemble the highway we had traversed the previous day. It was a narrow single-lane road, and our progress was hindered by a traffic jam caused by an overturned truck, which delayed us for over an hour. Even after clearing the congestion, the road conditions offered little respite, and our pace remained slow.
Around 3:00 pm, we made a roadside tea stop to stretch our legs after enduring challenging driving conditions. Following the tea break, we pressed on, finally reaching the outskirts of Lucknow an hour later. However, it took an additional two hours to arrive at our hotel by approximately 6:00 pm.
The unexpected delays disrupted our plans for sightseeing, as most places had already closed by the time we checked in at the hotel. What was initially anticipated to be a 3-3.5 hour drive had stretched into a nearly 5.5-hour journey.
Nevertheless, we were determined not to be discouraged. Unable to explore the city's historical sites, we decided to savor Lucknow's renowned culinary offering – the iconic Tunday Kababi. After freshening up at the hotel, we hailed an Auto Rickshaw to take us to the famed "Tunday Kababi." The auto driver suggested a newer branch closer by, but we insisted on experiencing the original and asked him to take us to the heart of Lucknow.
We arrived at a bustling, crowded location with narrow streets that our auto rickshaw deftly navigated until we reached our destination – the "original Tunday Kababi." What followed can only be described as a heavenly feast: plate after plate of paratha and kabab.
After our satisfying meal, we returned to our waiting auto rickshaw. Before parting ways with our friendly driver, we couldn't resist taking a selfie, which attracted some onlookers. Although we didn't explore the famous historical sites of Lucknow, we certainly relished its cuisine.
Our Ertiga's odometer now read 1039 kilometers, and the #Kolkata2Kutch journey was becoming increasingly intriguing.
Khusrau Bagh is a large walled garden and burial complex located in muhalla Khuldabad close to the Allahabad Junction Station, in Allahabad, India. It is roughly two miles from the Allahabad Fort (built by King Akbar (r. 1556-1605). Situated over forty acres and shaped as a quadrangle it includes the tombs of Shah Begum (born Manbhawati Bai) (d. 1604), Jahangir's Rajput wife and the daughter of Maharaja Bhagwant Das and Khusrau Mirza's (d. 1622) mother; Khusrau Mirza, Jahangir's eldest son and briefly heir apparent to the Mughal throne; and Nithar Begum (d. 1624), Khusrau Mirza's sister and Jahangir's daughter. It is listed as an Indian Site of National Importance.
All Saints' Cathedral, also known as Patthar Girja (Church of Stones) is an Anglican cathedral located in Allahabad, India. Modeled after 13th-century Gothic style churches, it is among the Gothic Revival buildings built by the British during their rule in India. British architect Sir William Emerson, who also designed the Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, designed the cathedral in 1871. It was consecrated in 1887 and was completed four years later. The church celebrates its anniversary on All Saints' Day (1 November) and is part of the Church of North India. The cathedral is at the centre of a large open space at the crossing of two of the principal roads of Allahabad, MG Marg and SN Marg.
The Anand Bhavan is a historic house museum in Allahabad,
India focusing on the Nehru Family. It was constructed by Indian political
leader Motilal Nehru in the 1930s to serve as the residence of the Nehru family
when the original mansion Swaraj Bhavan (previously called Anand Bhavan) was
transformed into the local headquarters of the Indian National Congress.
Jawahar Planetarium, the planetarium is situated here, which has been striving
to inculcate scientific temper among masses through its sky shows on astronomy
and science.
Anand Bhavan was donated to Indian government in 1970 by the
then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the granddaughter of Motilal Nehru and
daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru.
