Nice Lucknow

In Lucknow I met my Malaysian friend Sheng and we started our traveling. ;)))) We were gonna travel to Varanasi, Agra and Delhi.

Lucknow, the capital of the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh is a modern city that can boast of having magnificent historical monuments. Situated at the banks of river Gomti, tributary of the Ganga, Lucknow is known for its gardens, parks and unique archaeological monuments. Famous as the city of Nawabs, Lucknow has retained its charm as a bastion of culinary and cultural delights. The people of this city are known for their exquisite charm, courtesy and flair of the Urdu language. Lucknow is also famous for its exclusive 'chikan' embroidered dress materials.

First we had a time in Lucknow, that is why we visited the most important places of the city, so to say “tourist places of interest”, but the funny thing that we hadn’t met any tourist in this city ;))) haha may be not season ;))) But may be tourism is not so developed there, because people around us very –very curious about us, to friendly, to many attention, so may be they don’t have a lot of tourists ;)))

First my impression was not good, because I was looking for hotels and there were long process, all hotels were booked, somewhere they didn’t want to take foreigner.And also it seems to be a city but it is like big busy village, but very nice city, there are a lot places to visit.

By words of my friend Ritesh in Lucknow they have perfect, very tasty non-vegetable food, so different variety of chicken, mutton, beef. He likes to come to Lucknow even just to eat good food ;)))

Where I stayed:

Kukreja Group Hotels (Hotel Mandakini Merzbaan), very nice hotel, very simple at the same time very good in vicing, very good people work there ;))) At any time possible to order food ;))) I had room without AC, it costed 500 Rs that was very good price, in other hotels rooms of this price were already booked.

Possible to check out even later then 12 pm.

The same chain of hotels there is in Delhi, jaipur, Kanpur, Agra, Hyderabad, so if you want to go somewhere and don't know where to stay try this hotel ;)))

What we visited:

We went to the center of the city and started from the most popular place in Lucknow - Chota Imambara and there a lot of places of interests that possible to visit, they all close to each other ;)))

We bought one ticket, it costed something like 200-300 Rs and it included different places of interests like:

- Picture gallery, Clock Tower;
- Shahi hammam Chota Imambara;
- Bara Imambara - Labyrinth;
- Bouli & Ruma gate



It was shooting of TV show, these women were cooking something ;))) hehe I like this photo, it is so colorful ;)))


Labyrinth Bara Imambara
It was built in 1784 by Asaf-ud-Daula as a famine relief project. The central hall of the Imambara, 50 metres long and 15 metres high, is one of the largest vaulted galleries in the world and the roof has been put together with interlocking bricks without using a beam or a girder.
This is the labyrinth Bara Imambara. Here it is better to take a guide in order not to get lost ;)))


On this photo we are near the labyrinth Bara Imambara
This was very funny ;)))) we asked to take a photo of us and one may was staying with us ;))) he understood that we want to take a photo with him too ;))) haha

Rumi Darwaza gate is one of the most impressive gateways not only in Lucknow or India but also the whole world. The gateway lays Northwest of Bada Imambara. It is interesting to note that Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula, like the Bada Imambara, also commissioned Rumi Darwaza. Both were commissioned under the 'Food for Work' program initiated by the Nawab to bring respite to the city populace that was suffering from famine.

Chota Imambada
Chota Imambara is the landmark of Lucknow. This monument is also known as Husseinabad Imambara in Lucknow as this place was the office of the erstwhile Husseinabad trust that owned the city once. Chota Imambara is an imposing monument located in the Old City area of Lucknow close to Chowk.


hehe so funny, yes, this city of cows, they are everywhere, I was surprised that they don't sleep till late night, walking and walking, chewing some garbage ;))) hehe they are all so big ;))))

Where did we eat:

We followed Lonely Planet and went to one place named "Muman & Royal Cafe" (Mahatma Gandi Road), near this place, on this road there are a lot of place with cafes, restaurants and stores with clothes ;))) So you will find something for you ;))) This is popular family restaurant, there are a lot of dishes, tasty food ;))) The only thing that I regret is that we didn't try their spicy snach - Chaat - they serve it at the front of the restaurant - it mixed chaat served in aloo (potato) basket, looks very good, suppose that it should be tasty ;))) Definitely try it ;)))

So different Kathmandu ;))

So I was in Kathmandu, it was amazing ;))) Can write a lot about it ;)))) But I will write just the most important ;))) So I I was in Kathmandu only 3 days but they all were very different.

I came to Nepal by car, first came by flight from Kolkata to Lucknow, then from Lucknow I went to Nepal by car. The flight costed me for 2 way like 4 800 Rs, that much cheaper in comparison with the direct flight Kolkata-Kathmandu ;))) And my friend advice me to come exactly like that because the surroundings of Kathmandu amazingly beautiful ;))) and it is really so ;)))
So in Lucknow my friend Ritesh met me and we went by car to his city Nepalganj ;))) There I met his family, very nice parents and extremely nice brother Nitiesh. Everyone was so kind to me, food was great ;)) Next morning we went to Kathmandu ;)) We were supposed to be in the way there approximate 10 hours, but because of stone falls "short" road there were blocked and we had to go by another way and it took us 19 hours. So were very tired but happy when at 04.00 in the morning cam to Kathmandu.

Where I stayed:

I stayed in very cute guest house - "Tibet guest house", it is very well known hotel, atmosphere and everything were like in Tibet ;)) so of course after this guest house I am really thinking about Tibet, want to visit this country.
Also was good that I was almost in the center of the city, there were a lot of stores with different souvenirs, colorful clothes and a lot-lot choice... I was so attracted by it ;))) I spent a lot of many for presents for my friends, there were so many accessories from bone... and everything is so cool ;))) I bought something for me too ;))) I have medallion of Ganesh and bracelet with Buddhist symbols of luck ;))) haha so nice ;))
About the city - it is really nice and hospital city, there are a lot of tourist, tourist offers about excursions ;))) So don't be scared to go there without special preparation... you will find what to do, what to visit ;))

Kathmandu is now the premier cultural and economic hub of Nepal and is considered to have the most advanced infrastructure among urban areas in Nepal. From the point of view of tourism, economy and cultural heritage, the sister cities of Patan(lalitpur) and Bhaktapur are integral to Kathmandu. Even the cultural heritage recognition under the World Heritage list of the UNESCO has recognized all the monuments in the three urban agglomerates as one unit under the title "Kathmandu Valley - UNESCO World Heritage Site".

What I visited ;)))

I visited a lot of temples ;))) They are very nice, all of them ;)) But I was really surprised at how they charged foe it ;))) For Indian the entrance is for free, for foreigners - 200 Rs-750Rs, once I was charged 500 Rs. and they even didn't let me in. Ok, I understand that for foregners it is not allowed to enter some temples, I respect it, but then why they charged so much??!! But it is ok ;))) It is really worth visiting ;))

Bhaktapur

also Bhadgaon or Khwopa is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley. It is located in Bhaktapur Distroct in the Bagmati Zone. It is the third largest city in Kathmandu valley and was once the capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom until the second half of the 15th century.

Bhaktapur is listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO for its rich culture, temples, and wood, metal and stone artwork.

The entrance fee - 750 Rs

Swayambhunath

Swayambhunath, also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west, is among the oldest religious sites in Nepal. Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus.
The stupa consists of a dome at the base. Above the dome, there is a cubical structure present with eyes of Buddha looking in all four directions with the word "unity" in the main Nepali dialect between them.

Entrance fee is 200 Rs.

Pashupatinath temple

The Pashupatinath Temple is the largest Hindi temple of Lord Shiva (Pashupati) in the world and regarded as the most sacred. Located on the banks of the Bagmati River in the eastern part of Kathmandu, Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu and was established in the 5th century, and served as the seat of national deity, Lord Pashupatinath, until Nepal was secularized. However, a significant part of the temple was destroyed by Mughal invaders in the 14th century and little or nothing remains of the original 5th century temple exterior. The temple as it stands today was built in the 19th century, although the image of the bull and the black four headed image of Pashupati are at least 300 years old. The temple is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. Shivaratri or the night of Lord Shiva is the most important festival, attracting thousands of devotees and sadhus.

Entrance fee - 500 Rs.

Here is not allowed entrance for foreigners.
I advice to visit evening ceremony that they make every evening at 18.30-19.00. It is really amazing ;))) And it is so positive, people dance, sing ;)))) very cute performance ;)))

Also I was walking a lot about the city and understood that Kathmandu is very different, somewhere is very rich, some districts are poor... Don't be afraid to go alone about the city ;))) It is real understanding of the city ;))) On the way you can take velo-rickshaws and of course don't forget bargaining everywhere ;)) they all will try to sell very expensive ;))) For example if they say 1000 Rs, you have to pay half price - 500 "-" 100-200 Rs, so they real price is 300-400Rs, don't be shy bargaining ;)) It is game ;)) And Nepalese people like it too like Indian ;)))

About people

Nepalese people are very fiendly and even more hospital at least I had such imprssion, but still be very careful ;)))

City of motobikes ;)))
Traffic is crazy ;)))
Colorful shopping is everywhere
There were so many people ;))) a and a lot of tourists ;))
a lot of Temples, big, small, Hindu, Buddhist ;))) sowhere in the city I found these cute children ;)) they playes with their teacher ;))



small markt
Italian tourists ;)))

Dourbar squre... very nice place
Dourbar squre...The literal meaning of Durbar Square is a place of palaces. There are three preserved Durbar Squares in Kathmandu valley and one unpreserved in Kirtipur. The Durbar Square of Kathmandu is located in the old city and has heritage buildings representing four kingdoms (Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur), built over centuries, the earliest being the Licchavi dynasty. There were further additions and refurbishments during the reign of Mallas (9th century) and then the Ranas. The complex has 50 temples and is distributed in two quadrangles of the Durbar Square. The outer quadrangle has the Kasthamandap, Kumari Ghar and Shiva-Parvati Temple while the inner quadrangle has the Hanuman dhoka and the main palace.




On this photo my friend Ritesh (in the middle) with his 2 brothers ;))) He is eldest ;))
Last evening in Kathmandu
for these photo they asked me money, but I just smiled ;)))
We went back to Ritesh's city - Nepalganj also by car, on the way we stayed to have a lunch ;))) variety of fish and see products was amazing ;)))



mmmm
This landscape of Napalese nature ;))) on the way to Kathmandu and back I enjoyed the view of this beauty ;)))
It was stone fall that is why we had to wait 15-20 minutes till they cleaned the road ;))) so many cars, buses ;)


It was already India ;))) I was coming back by car to Lucknow ;)))
these people were so nice, smiled a lot ;)))

Nepal, Kathmandu... Part 2 ;))) and it is not all the photos ;)))

Bhaktapur...

With my friend Ritesh ;))) who was in Moscow, now he showed me around and told me a lot about their culture, it was nice ;)))) at least after that I have more understanding of all their Gods and myths ;))))











With friend Ritesh and new friend Masha, who lives in Kathmandu 9 year ;))) she is from Moscow, nice meeting ;))))

The view from Swayambhunath, Monkey temple

With new friend Nitesh, he is Ritesh's brother ;)))





Stupas... that is instead of icons or states