Chota Imambara, Tahseen Ganj, Husainabad, Lucknow

Chota Imambara History

Chota Imambara, one of the beautiful historical monuments in the City of Nawabs, Lucknow, was built in 1838 under the reign of Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah. Also known as Imambara Hussainabad Mubarak, it is located in the west of Bara Imambara (or Asif Imambara) and was initially used as a congregation hall for Shia Muslims for offering prayers. This 183-year-old monument holds the graves of Nawab Ali Shah and his mother. Chota Imambara is beautifully adorned with golden dome, several turrets, and chandeliers, due to which it was often called “Palace of Lights” by European visitors.

Architectural Style of Chota Imambara

Chota Imambara has a unique structure with a blend of Charbagh, Indo-Islamic, and Persian architectural styles. There are five arching doorways emphasizing on the importance of the Pantejan (or Pentagon) which signifies religious leaders of Islam. The exterior walls of the monument are complete with Quranic verses written in Islamic calligraphy. Inside of the building are two halls namely Azakhana and Shehnasheen having beautiful décor of green and white. The halls get an adorable look by two types of chandeliers used – floor lamps and hanging chandeliers, which are said to be imported from Belgium. Among the tombs of Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah and his family members, situated inside the Imambara, there are two tombs which are replicas of Taj Mahal. These two tombs are of Princess Zinat, daughter of Nawab Muhammad Ali Shah and her husband.
 

Chota Imambara Timings and Entry Fees

Chota Imambara is open all weekdays and weekends between 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. The entry fees for Indian adults is INR 50 per head, INR 25 per head for Indian children, and INR 500 per head for foreign tourists.

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