Chota Imambara is a historic monument in Lucknow’s Husainabad area, close to Rumi Darwaza and Husainabad Clock Tower. The three landmarks make a compact old-city visit, with the Imambara’s courtyard and architectural details at its centre. A hotel in Charbagh is a starting point for planning a trip to these monuments.
- Location: Husainabad, Lucknow.
- Nearby landmarks: Rumi Darwaza and Husainabad Clock Tower.
- Visitor rules: Follow monument and security instructions; filming inside the Imambara premises is prohibited.
- Starting point: Charbagh.
Chota Imambara and its setting
Chhota Imambara, also called Hussainabad Imambara, is a monument commissioned by Mohammad Ali Shah, the third King of Oudh, during his reign from 1837 to 1842. Lucknow Smart City gives 1838 as the year it was built.
The complex combines a courtyard, a raised central tank crossed by an iron bridge, twin white-domed mausoleums and a nearby mosque. Its Charbagh design and Persian-style glasswork shape the building’s distinctive appearance. The complex also contains the tombs of Mohammad Ali Shah and his mother. For a related monument visit, the Bara Imambara guide covers its labyrinth.
Inside, the district administration describes gilding, mirrors and Belgian crystal chandeliers, alongside the King’s embossed silver throne, the Queen’s divan and two illuminated copies of the Quran. The chandeliers are illuminated during Muharram and other significant religious observances. The Archaeological Survey of India protects the monument and undertakes its repair and conservation.
Rumi Darwaza from the street
Rumi Darwaza stands close to Asaf-ud-Daula Imambara in the Hussainabad area, making it a natural stop alongside Chota Imambara. Its public-street setting lets you take in the gateway’s exterior as part of a walk through the monument district.
Keep the focus on the surrounding streetscape and the gateway itself. The nearby clock tower provides another architectural landmark without needing to leave this part of the old city.
Adding Husainabad Clock Tower
Husainabad Clock Tower stands adjacent to Rumi Darwaza, so you can include both in the same stretch of sightseeing. The Uttar Pradesh government gives the tower’s height as 67 metres and identifies Roskell Payne as its designer.
Built in 1881 by Nawab Nasir-ud-din Haider, the tower marked the arrival of Sir George Couper, Lieutenant Governor of the United Provinces of Avadh. Its Victorian and Gothic design includes a 14-foot pendulum, a clock dial shaped like a 12-petalled flower and clock parts made of gunmetal.
Entry, timings and visitor etiquette
Follow the monument rules, security guidelines and instructions from Hussainabad Trust authorities while visiting the Imambara. Filming inside the premises is prohibited; filming on the road outside requires permission from the Police, District Magistrate or Chairman of the Husainabad and Allied Trust, Lucknow.
Opening hours
- Monday to Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 7:00–18:00
- Friday: 14:00–18:00
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
For current opening hours and entry arrangements, check the official site before you go. The district administration identifies Charbagh as the nearest railway station, Kaiserbagh as the nearest bus station and Amausi as the nearest airport.
Getting to the old city from Charbagh
Charbagh gives you a starting point for planning a trip to Lucknow’s old-city monuments. The district administration identifies Charbagh as the nearest railway station to Chota Imambara.
Once in Husainabad, group Chota Imambara with Rumi Darwaza and the adjacent clock tower. The monument rules apply within the Imambara premises, so keep any photography or filming plans in line with the Trust’s requirements. A one-day route through Lucknow’s old city puts these monuments in a broader sightseeing plan.
FAQs
What is another name for Chota Imambara?
It is also called Hussainabad Imambara.
Are Rumi Darwaza and Husainabad Clock Tower close to Chota Imambara?
Rumi Darwaza is in the Hussainabad area, and Husainabad Clock Tower stands adjacent to the gateway.
Can you film inside Chota Imambara?
No. Filming inside the Imambara premises is prohibited. Filming on the road outside requires permission from the specified authorities.
Who built Husainabad Clock Tower?
Nawab Nasir-ud-din Haider constructed it in 1881 to mark Sir George Couper’s arrival.