Chota Imambara

Also known as the Palace of Lights, this ornate 19th-century monument in old Lucknow served as a congregation hall and mausoleum for a Nawab of Awadh and his mother. Gilded domes, delicate minarets and Arabic calligraphy adorn the exterior, while the interior gleams with chandeliers, mirrors and silver-plated thrones. During festivals the building is illuminated by countless lamps, giving rise to its popular name. Reflected in a formal water channel out front, it ranks among the most photogenic examples of Awadhi architecture.