
Chota Imambara, also known as Imambara Hussainabad Mubarak is an imposing monument located in the city of
Lucknow
Lucknow (, ) is the capital and the largest city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is also the second largest urban agglomeration in Uttar Pradesh. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous district and divisio ...
, Uttar Pradesh, India. It took 54 years to finalize it. Built as an
imambara
A ḥosayniya or hussainiya (Arabic: حسينية ''husayniyya''), also known as an ashurkhana, imambargah, or imambara, is a congregation hall for Twelver Shia Muslim commemoration ceremonies, especially those associated with the Mourning of M ...
or a congregation hall for
Shia
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam
Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the ...
Muslims, by
Muhammad Ali Shah, the
Nawab of Awadh
The Nawab of Awadh or the Nawab of Oudh was the title of the rulers who governed the state of Awadh (anglicised as Oudh) in north India during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Nawabs of Awadh belonged to a dynasty of Persian origin from Nish ...
in 1838, it was to serve as a
mausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be con ...
for himself and his mother, who is buried beside him.
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 Imam Husain is kept.) Zarih is the replica of that protective grill or structure which is kept on the grave of Imam Husain 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 .
Overview

It is situated near the
Bara Imambara
Bara Imambara, also known as Asfi Imambara is an imambara complex in Lucknow, India built by Asaf-ud-Daula, Nawab of Awadh in 1784. ''Bara'' means ''big''. This imambara is the second largest after the Nizamat Imambara.
Building composition ...
and on the connecting road stands an imposing gateway known as ''
Rumi Darwaza
The Rumi Darwaza (Hindi: रूमी दरवाज़ा, Urdu: , and sometimes known as the Turkish Gate), in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, is an imposing gateway which was built by Nawab Asaf-Ud-Daula in 1784. It is an example of Awadh ...
''.
The building is also known as the ''Palace of Lights'' because of its decorations and chandeliers during special festivals, like
Muharram
Muḥarram ( ar, ٱلْمُحَرَّم) (fully known as Muharram ul Haram) is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year when warfare is forbidden. It is held to be the second holiest month after ...
.
The chandeliers used to decorate the interior of this building were brought from
Belgium
Belgium, ; french: Belgique ; german: Belgien officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. The country is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to ...
.
Also housed within the building, is the crown of Muhammad Ali Shah and ceremonial ''
tazia
Ta'zieh ( ar, تعزية; fa, تعزیه; ur, ) means comfort, condolence, or expression of grief. It comes from roots ''aza'' (عزو and عزى) which means mourning.
Depending on the region, time, occasion, religion, etc. the word can sig ...
s''.
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
The Taj Mahal (; ) is an Islamic ivory-white marble mausoleum on the right bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1631 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan () to house the tomb of his favourite wife, Mu ...
, 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
The Gomti, Gumti or Gomati River is a tributary of the Ganges. According to beliefs, the river is the son of Rishi Vashishtha and bathing in the Gomti on Ekadashi (the 11th day of the two lunar phases of the Hindu calendar month) can wash a ...
.
Tomb of Princess Asiya Begum, daughter of King Mohammad Ali Shah Bahadur (3rd King of Awadh)
This structure serves as a mausoleum for the grave of Nawab Janab Asiya Begum Sahiba, daughter of the King Mohammed Ali Shah and two other graves. This is a small-scale copy 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 a high platform with two grand minarets 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
The Qutb Minar, also spelled Qutub Minar and Qutab Minar, is a minaret and "victory tower" that forms part of the Qutb complex, which lies at the site of Delhi’s oldest fortified city, Lal Kot, founded by the Tomar Rajputs. It is a UNESCO Wo ...
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
''The Economist'' is a British weekly newspaper printed in demitab format and published digitally. It focuses on current affairs, international business, politics, technology, and culture. Based in London, the newspaper is owned by The Econ ...
'' wrote that "
his building
His or HIS may refer to:
Computing
* Hightech Information System, a Hong Kong graphics card company
* Honeywell Information Systems
* Hybrid intelligent system
* Microsoft Host Integration Server
Education
* Hangzhou International School, in ...
was recently “repaired” with modern cement, wrecking its subtle plasterwork".
Gallery
Image:Chotaimambara1.jpg, Details of the Arabic calligraphy
Image:Chotaimambara6.jpg, The crown of Muhammad Ali Shah, 3rd King of Awadh, (1837-1843)
File:Chota Imambara twin tombs2.jpg, One of the twin toms within the complex
Image:Chotaimambara2.jpg, Chandeliers
Image:Chotaimambara3.jpg, Tazia in the main hall
Image:Chotaimambara4.jpg, Chandeliers
Image:Chotaimambara5.jpg, Floor chandeliers
Image:A statue holding chain for earthing purpose.jpg, A statue holding chain for earthing purpose at main gate
Image:Anemometer in the from of fish at main gate.jpg, An anemometer
In meteorology, an anemometer () is a device that measures wind speed and direction. It is a common instrument used in weather stations. The earliest known description of an anemometer was by Italian architect and author Leon Battista Alberti ...
in the form of fish at main gate
Image:A pond inside chota imambara.jpg, A pond in the courtyard
Image:The name of 12 Imams.jpg , The name of The Twelve Imams
The Twelve Imams ( ar, ٱلْأَئِمَّة ٱلْٱثْنَا عَشَر, '; fa, دوازده امام, ') are the spiritual and political successors to the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Twelver branch of Islam, including that of the Alawi ...
in Arabic language
Image:The Islamic calligraphy.jpg, The word "Allah" written in the form of Pigeon, an example of Islamic calligraphy
Islamic calligraphy is the artistic practice of handwriting and calligraphy, in the languages which use Arabic alphabet or the alphabets derived from it. It includes Arabic, Persian, Ottoman, and Urdu calligraphy.Chapman, Caroline (2012). ...
Image:The Throne of Muhammad Ali Shah.jpg, The Mimber used for Majlis (Mourning Congregation) during Muharram.
Image:The prototype of chota Imambara made of elephant ivory.jpg, A Tazia made with Elephant ivory
Image:Lively display of colourful glass work in the main hall of Chhota Imambada.jpg
See also
*
Chattar Manzil
The Chattar Manzil ( ur, , hi, छतर मंज़िल), or Umbrella Palace is a building in Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh which served as a palace for the rulers of Awadh and their wives.
Coordinates:26°85′N 80°93′E
Construction and ...
*
Imambara Shah Najaf
Shah Najaf Imambara is one of the several imambaras in Lucknow. It is located centrally in the city and is less known than Asafi and Hussainabad Imambara.
Location
Shah Najaf Imambara is located in heart of the city on the Rana Pratap Road. ...
*
Hussainia
A ḥosayniya or hussainiya ( Arabic: حسينية ''husayniyya''), also known as an ashurkhana, imambargah, or imambara, is a congregation hall for Twelver Shia Muslim commemoration ceremonies, especially those associated with the Mourning ...
*
Imambaras of Lucknow
Lucknow is a city of imambaras as it has a large number of imambaras among which are some very famous.
Lucknow the center of Azadari in India
Lucknow is the center of Azadari in India because of the large number of Imambaras in the city. Th ...
*
Azadari in Lucknow
Azadari in Lucknow or ''Mourning in Lucknow'', is name of the practices related to mourning and commemoration of the anniversary of the death of Imam Husayn ibn Ali at the Battle of Karbala in 680, particularly in ''period of Muharram'' (in the ...
*
Buland Darwaza
References
{{Lucknow
Imambaras of Lucknow
Indo-Islamic architecture
Buildings and structures completed in 1838
Mausoleums in Uttar Pradesh
Shia shrines
Awadh
History of Lucknow
1838 establishments in India