Bara Imambara

The Bara Imambara is the grand architectural centrepiece of Lucknow, a vast and ingenious 18th-century complex built by the Nawab of Awadh, famous above all for its astonishing central hall and its labyrinth. The main hall is one of the largest arched structures of its kind in the world, an immense vaulted space built without any supporting beams or pillars. Above it winds the celebrated 'Bhulbhulaiya', a bewildering maze of more than a thousand narrow interconnecting passages and stairways, designed into the building's structure, where it's famously easy to get lost without a guide. The complex also includes the beautiful Asfi Mosque, a stepwell (baoli), and grand gateways.

It was built as part of a famine-relief project, giving work to thousands. It's the must-see monument of Lucknow, blending engineering marvel, intriguing design, and Nawabi-era grandeur. Hire the official guide to navigate the labyrinth safely. Allow a couple of hours, and combine it with the nearby Chota Imambara and Rumi Darwaza.

Don't miss

• The vast central hall with no supporting beams
• The Bhulbhulaiya labyrinth of passages
• The beautiful Asfi Mosque
• The stepwell (baoli) and grand gateways
• 18th-century Nawabi engineering and grandeur

Tickets & tours

Ways to visit Bara Imambara

Cheapest way inHeritage & Cultural Walk of Lucknow (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour)4.3★ · 10 travelers~2 hoursFree cancellationFrom$12 per personSee dates →Most bookedBest of Lucknow (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car)5★ · 25 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$73 per personSee dates →Private & flexibleLucknow tour in one day - Private & guided tour4.9★ · 15 travelers10–11 hoursFree cancellationFrom$86 per personSee dates →

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Know before you go

• Hire the official guide to navigate the Bhulbhulaiya labyrinth.
• The vast central hall is built without supporting beams.
• Dress modestly; shoe removal applies in the mosque area.
• Combine with the nearby Chota Imambara and Rumi Darwaza.

A bit of history

The Bara Imambara was commissioned in 1784 by Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula of Awadh, partly as a famine-relief public works project that employed thousands. An imambara is a hall for Shia commemorations; this one became renowned for its vast unsupported hall and its intricate labyrinth.