Lucknow

Capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh, India, on the Gumti River, 70 km/46 mi northeast of Kanpur on a railway junction; population (2001 est) 2,266,900. Industries include engineering, chemicals, textiles, and many handicrafts. The city has many beautiful mosques including the Great Mosque and the Pearl Mosque. It was capital of the Nawabs of Oudh in the 18th century. During the Indian Mutiny against British rule, the British residency was besieged 2 July–16 November 1857.

The city probably dates back to the 13th century and became an important centre in the 16th century under the Moguls. It was capital of Oudh from 1775 until annexation by the British in 1856. The city's most notable buildings date from this period: the Imambara, the mausoleum of the Nawab Asaf-ud-Dowla, the Chattar Manzil pavilions (1820), and the former British residency. Lucknow University was founded in 1921; other scientific and cultural institutes include a university of Indian music.