Lucknow

Best time to visit

October to March

Lucknow's climate is characterized by hot and humid summers, with temperatures often soaring during the peak summer months. The city experiences a distinct monsoon season from July to September, bringing relief from the heat and humidity.

Before you go

• Machine-made 'chikankari' is sold widely as hand work - check the reverse, which on real work is close to a mirror of the front, where machine work shows loose threads and bobbin lines. Bargain hard in Chowk and Aminabad and not at all in branded showrooms. During Muharram, processions are acts of mourning, not spectacle
• photograph with restraint or not at all.

Famous eateries & specialties

• Galouti kebab
• kakori kebab
• Awadhi pukki biryani, where rice and meat are cooked separately then layered and sealed
• nihari with ghilaf kulcha
• basket chaat
• kachori-sabzi
• shahi tukda
• malai gilori
• makhan malai
• kulfi falooda

Emergency numbers