Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India. Lucknow is also the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division. According to Government of India, the district of Lucknow is one of the ninety Minority Concentrated Districts in India, shown by 2001 census data on population, socio-economic status and basic amenities status.

Lucknow is located in the historical region known as the Awadh and the city has always been a multicultural one. Courtly manners, beautiful gardens, poetry, music, and fine cuisine promoted by the Persian-loving Shia Nawabs of the city are the common traits that actually depict the Indian city of Lucknow. Lucknow is popularly known as the The City of Nawabs and the Golden City of the East, Shiraz-i-Hind and The Constantinople of India. Lucknow is a vibrant city that is undergoing an economic boom and is one among the top ten fastest growing non-major-metropolitan cities of India. Lucknow is a center of Hindi and Urdu literature and is the second largest city in Uttar Pradesh, after Kanpur.

The ancient history of Lucknow is believed to begin after the Suryawanshi king Lord Rama decreed his younger brother Lakshmana to establish a town at the present site of Lakshman Tila. Lucknow was named Lakshmanpuri, Lakhanpuri, or Laknamau after him. Slowly the name Lakhanpuri became `Lakhnau` and then named `Lucknow` by the British. Lucknow is strategically situated in the heart of the great Gangetic plain, surrounded by its rural towns and villages with heritage spots like Malihabad, Kakori, Mohanlal ganj, Gosainganj, Chinhat and Itaunja. On the eastern side of Lucknow lies Barabanki District and on the western side is Unnao District, on the southern side Raebareli District, and on the northern side the Sitapur and Hardoi districts. The Gomti River meanders through the city, dividing it into the Trans-Gomti and Cis-Gomti regions.

Lucknow enjoys warm subtropical climate with cool, dry winters from December to February and dry, hot summers from April to June. The rainy season starts from mid-June to mid-September, when Lucknow experiences an average rainfall of 1010 mm (40 in) mostly from the southwest monsoon winds. In winter the maximum temperature is around 21 degrees Celsius and the minimum is in the 3 to 4 degrees Celsius range. The majority of Lucknow`s population includes people from eastern Uttar Pradesh.

The Bara Imambara, the Chhota Imambara, Residency, and Shah Najaf are the popular monuments of architectural importance drawing thousands of tourists round the year. The famous `Bhul Bhulaiyan` (Labyrinth) is part of Bada Imambara complex. Some other places of interest are the Chattar Manzil, Picture Gallery, Lucknow Zoo, Shaheed Smarak, Planetarium, Ambedkar Memorial, Dilkusha, Baradari and Ram Krishna Math.

Lucknow has succeeded in retaining the old world charm while at the same time supporting a modern lifestyle. Regarded as one of the finest cities of India, Lucknow represents a culture that includes emotional warmth, a high degree of classiness, courtesy, and a love for gracious living. The Pehle-Aap (after you) culture popularised as a tagline for the Lucknow society still prevails. This sublime cultural richness famous as Lakhnawi tehzeeb combines the cultures of two communities living side by side for many centuries, thus sharing similar interests and speaking a common language.

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