Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Chota Imambara

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Phone
  
094544 51263

Chota Imambara

Address
  
Husanabad Rd, Daulatganj, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226003

Similar
  
Bara Imambara, Rumi Darwaza, Chattar Manzil, Husainabad Clock Tower, Ambedkar Memorial Park

Hiz tv documentary chota imambara flv


Chota Imambara (Urdu: چھوٹا امامباڑا‎, Hindi: छोटा इमामबाड़ा), also known as Imambara Hussainabad Mubarak (Urdu: امامباڑا حسین آباد مُبارک , Hindi: इमामबाड़ा हुसैनाबाद ) is an imposing monument located in the city of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. Built as an imambara or a congregation hall for Shia Muslims, by Muhammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of Awadh in 1838, it was to serve as his own mausoleum and his mother, who is buried beside him.

Contents

The significance of Panjetan, the holy five, is once again emphasized here with five main doorways.This Imambara consist of two halls and a Shehnasheen (A platform where the Zarih of Hazrat Imam Husain (a.s.) is kept.) {Zarih is the replica of that protective grill or structure which is kept on the original & pious grave of Hazrat Imam Husain (a.s.) at Karbala, Iraq.} The large green and white bordered hall of Azakhana is richly decorated with chandeliers and a good number of crystal glass lamp-stands. [In fact, it was for this profuse decoration that the Imambara was referred by European visitors and writers as The Palace of Lights']. The exterior is very beautifully decorated with Quranic verses in Islamic calligraphy .

Chota imambara in lucknow india


Overview

It is situated near the Bara Imambara and on the connecting road stands an imposing gateway known as Rumi Darwaza. The building is also known as the Palace of Lights because of its decorations and chandeliers during special festivals, like Muharram.

The chandeliers used to decorate the interior of this building were brought from Belgium. Also housed within the building, is the crown of Muhammad Ali Shah and ceremonial tazias. Thousands of labourers worked on the project to gain famine relief.

It has a gilded dome and several turrets and minarets. The tombs of Muhammad Ali Shah and other members of his family are inside the imambara. This includes two replicas of the Taj Mahal, built as the tombs of Muhammad Ali Shah's daughter and her husband. The walls are decorated with Arabic calligraphy.

Water supply for the fountains and the water bodies inside the imambara came directly from the Gomti River.

Tomb of Princess Zinat Algiya, daughter of King Mohammad Ali Shah Bahadur (3rd King of Awadh)./ Taj Mahal Replica

This structure serves as a mausoleum for four graves, of the son, daughter and son-in-law of the King Mohammed Ali Shah and one of the lady. This is the small scale copy of the TAJ MAHAL.This tomb is smaller in area of the TAJ MAHAL.

Treasury.

This other structure facing the tomb was built for the architectural symmetry and balance of the Imambara. It was used as a treasury.

Husainabad Mosque

This Mosque is Built on high platform with two grand minaret on the edge of the platform. This Mosque is very beautifully decorated with Floral designs and Quranic Calligraphy.

Satkhanda

Outside the imambara is the watch tower called Satkhanda or tower of seven stories. Though it is called Satkhanda, it has only four stories, as the construction of the tower was abandoned when Ali Shah died. Satkhanda was built between 1837–1842 in the time of Muhammad Ali Shah. He wanted to make it the same as Qutub Minar of Delhi and the leaning tower of Pisa. Its main purpose is lunar observation.

Improper restoration

The building has been renovated, however the process has been criticized. In 2016 The Economist wrote that "[this building] was recently “repaired” with modern cement, wrecking its subtle plasterwork".

References

Chota Imambara Wikipedia