Shivam Singh at 04:14, 7 September 2025

2025-09-07T04:14:00Z

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{{Short description|Islamic congregation hall in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Bara Imambara
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| image = Bara Imambara Lucknow.jpg
| image_upright = 1.4
| alt =
| caption = The imambara in 2012
| religious_affiliation = [[Shia Islam]]
| tradition =
| sect =
| deity =
| rite =
| festival = 
| organisational_status = [[Imambara]] and [[mosque]]
| ownership =
| governing_body =
| leadership =
| bhattaraka =
| patron =
| consecration_year =
| functional_status = Active
| religious_features_label =
| religious_features =
| location = [[Lucknow, India|Lucknow]], [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| country = India
| map_type = India Uttar Pradesh
| map_size = 250
| map_alt =
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location of the imambara in [[Uttar Pradesh]]
| grid_name =
| grid_position =
| sector =
| territory =
| administration =
| coordinates = {{coord|26|52|09|N|80|54|46|E|region:IN-UP_type:landmark|display=title,inline}}
| coordinates_footnotes =
| heritage_designation =
| architect = Kifayatullah
| architecture_type = {{nowrap|[[Islamic architecture]]}}
| architecture_style = {{ubl|[[Mughal architecture|Mughal]]|[[Indo-Islamic architecture|Indo-Islamic]]}}
| founded_by = [[Asaf-ud-Daula]]
| creator =
| funded_by =
| general_contractor =
| established =
| groundbreaking = 1780
| year_completed = 1784
| construction_cost =
| date_demolished = 
| facade_direction =
| capacity =
| length =
| width =
| width_nave =
| interior_area =
| height_max =
| dome_quantity = Three {{small|(mosque)}}
| dome_height_outer =
| dome_height_inner =
| dome_dia_outer =
| dome_dia_inner =
| minaret_quantity = Two {{small|(mosque)}}
| minaret_height =
| spire_quantity =
| spire_height =
| site_area =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity = Two {{small|(tombs of the founder and architect)}}
| shrine_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| materials =
| elevation_m = 
| elevation_footnotes =
| nrhp =
| designated =
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| delisted1_date =
| website =
| module = {{Infobox historic site
| embed = yes
| designation1 = MANI | designation1_offname = Imambara of Asaf-ud-daula | designation1_type = | designation1_criteria = | designation1_date = | delisted1_date = | designation1_partof = | designation1_number = N-UP-L276 | designation1_free1name = | designation1_free1value = | designation1_free2name = | designation1_free2value = | designation1_free3name = | designation1_free3value = }}
| footnotes =
}}
The '''Bara Imambara''' ({{langx|ur|{{nastaliq|بڑا امامباڑہ}}}}), also known as the '''Asafi Imambara''', is a significant [[imambara]]{{efn|A [[Shia]] shrine for [[Mourning of Muharram]] rituals.}} and [[mosque]] complex located in [[Lucknow, India|Lucknow]], in the state of [[Uttar Pradesh]], India. Built by [[Asaf-ud-Daula]], the [[Nawab of Awadh]], in 1784,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-07-21 |title=Muharram mournings begin with 'Shahi Zari Ka Juloos' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/muharram-mournings-begin-with-shahi-zari-ka-juloos/articleshow/102001595.cms |access-date=2024-03-20 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> it is the world's second largest imambara, after the [[Nizamat Imambara]].

The imambara building is among the grandest buildings of Lucknow,<ref name=laxys/> and is a [[List of Monuments of National Importance in Lucknow circle/North|Monument of National Importance]], administered by the [[Archaeological Survey of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://asi.nic.in/asi_monu_alphalist_uttarpradesh_lucknow.asp |title=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of Lucknow |date= |publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]] |access-date=2016-11-19}}</ref>

== History ==
The construction of Bara Imambara started in year 1780, a year of devastating famine. One of Asaf-ud-Daula's objectives in embarking on the grandiose project was to provide employment for people in the region for almost a decade while the famine lasted. It is said{{by whom|date=March 2025}} that ordinary people used to work during the day building up the [[edifice]], while [[noblemen]] and other elite worked at night to break down anything that was raised that day. It was a project that preceded a [[Keynesian]]-like intervention for employment generation. Construction of the imambara was completed in 1784. The estimated cost of building the imambara ranged between half a million rupees to a million rupees. Even after completion, the Nawab used to spend between four and five hundred thousand rupees on its decoration annually.<ref name="CHMI">{{cite book |author=Khanna, Meenakshi |title=Cultural History Of Medieval India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZbKv3zyIFD8C&pg=PA82 |date=2007-07-01 |publisher=Berghahn Books |isbn=978-81-87358-30-5 |page=82 }}</ref>

== Architecture ==
[[File:Roof seen from bhul- bhulaiya.jpg|thumb|View from the roof of the labyrinth of Bara Imambara]]
The building complex also includes the large Asfi [[mosque]], the Bhul-bhulaiya (the labyrinth), and Bowli, a steep well with running water. Two gateways lead to the main hall.{{Citation needed|date=February 2019}}

The architecture of the complex reflects the maturation of ornamented [[Mughal architecture|Mughal]] design, namely the [[Badshahi Mosque|Badshahi]] Mosque; it is one of the last major projects not incorporating any European elements or the use of iron.

The main imambara consists of a large vaulted central chamber containing the tomb of Asaf-ud-Daula. At {{convert|50|by|16|m}} and over {{convert|15|m}} tall, it has no beams supporting the ceiling and is one of the largest such arched constructions in the world.

There are eight surrounding chambers built to different roof heights, permitting the space above these to be reconstructed as a three-dimensional [[labyrinth]] with passages interconnecting with each other through 489 identical doorways. This part of the building, and often the whole complex, may be referred to as the ''Bhulbhulaiya''. It is a popular attraction among the locals as well as the tourists and is possibly the only existing maze in India. It came about unintentionally to support the weight of the building, which is constructed on marshy land.

Asaf-ud-Daula also erected the {{convert|18|m|adj=on}} high [[Roomi Darwaza]] outside the complex. The portal, embellished with lavish decorations, was the imambara's west-facing entrance. The Bara Imambara is among the grandest buildings of Lucknow.<ref name=laxys>{{cite web |url=http://www.laxys.com/lucknow_taxi.html |title=Lucknow City |work=Laxys.com |date= |access-date=2014-02-08 |archive-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016204313/http://www.laxys.com/lucknow_taxi.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The design of the imambara was acquired through a competitive process. The winner was a Delhi architect Kifayatullah,<ref name="CHMI" /> who also lies buried in the main hall of the imambara. It is another unique aspect of the building that the sponsor and the architect lie buried beside each other.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
The simple grave of Asaf al-Daula under a canopy inside the Imambara - British Library Add.or.4758.jpg|The simple grave of [[Asaf-Ud-Dowlah|Asaf ud-Daula]] under a canopy inside the imambara; a watercolor by Seeta Ram, {{circa|1814–15}}
Imambara of Asaf-ud-daula interior.jpg|The imambara interior
KITLV 91964 - Unknown - Gateway to Husainabad Imambara in Lucknow in India - Around 1860.tif|[[Rumi Darwaza]], the gateway to Husainabad Imambara, {{circa|1860}}
Bada Imambada(Outer view).jpg|The outer view of the imambara
Asfi masjid.jpg|The Asfi mosque, located within the imambara complex
</gallery>

== See also ==
{{stack|{{portal|Shia Islam|India}}}}
* [[Imambaras of Lucknow]]
* [[Shia Islam in India]]
* [[Roomi Darwaza]]
* [[Chhatar Manzil]]
* [[List of Monuments of National Importance in Lucknow circle/North|List of Monuments of National Importance in Lucknow]]
* [[List of mosques in India]]

== Notes ==
{{noteslist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bara Imambara}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Asfi Mosque}}
* {{Commons category-inline|Bhool Bhulaiya, Lucknow}}
* [http://www.trodly.com/destination/3073/bara-imambara-lucknow Bara Imambara more facts]

{{Lucknow division topics}}
{{Lucknow}}
{{Mosques in India}}

[[Category:1784 establishments in India]]
[[Category:18th-century mosques in India]]
[[Category:Husayniyyas]]
[[Category:Imambaras of Lucknow]]
[[Category:Indo-Islamic architecture]]
[[Category:Monuments of National Importance in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Mosque buildings with domes in India]]
[[Category:Mosque buildings with minarets in India]]
[[Category:Mughal architecture]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Uttar Pradesh]]
[[Category:Religious buildings and structures completed in 1784]]
[[Category:Shia mosques in India]]
[[Category:Shia shrines]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Lucknow]]

Bara Imambara - Revision history

Shivam Singh at 04:14, 7 September 2025