Residency – An Enigma of 90 Days
हम भी बीते हुए को जी लेते हैं.
और एक दिन हम न होंगे … पर हमारा निशां होगा.
It was my second trip to Lucknow. UPSTDC guys settled for a guide for me for Rs.700 and overwhelmingly he came in tie and in full enthu next morning in his bike. Since I was alone he offered to accompany me in bike for my convenience.
Now we are at Residency at 3.30 PM. Took the entry ticket. Guide told me that it is 33 acres area and now is in complete ruins.
Where to stay
I normally stay at state tourism guest houses and my experience has been good at all guest houses in entire India. For Uttar Pradesh you can book online using https://online.up-tourism.com/booking
Nawabs of Awadh completely submitted to East India Company in battle of Buxar in 1774. They ordered Nawabs to construct Residency (office cum residence) at Lucknow. That is how residency started in 1774 by Nawab Saadat Ali Khan and completed in 26 years.
As we know the war of independence in 1857 this place was attacked. Out of 3000 Britishers including Indian soldiers, two thousand were killed. They were trapped for 90 days.
Bailley Guard Gate : Entrance is from Entrance direction and is welcomed by Baillie Guard Gate.
Sikh Square : The memorial of Indians who fought for support of British from inside the residency and lost their lives. This memorial is just next to Baielley Gate.
Treasury House: Built in 1851. Situated right across Baillie Guard Gate. Design of Rajput art and arches can be seen here. In 1857 war it was converted into ordinance factory.
Banquet Hall : Furnished with costly chandeliers, mirrors and silk diwans those days. Broken fountain, marble works were there. During was it was converted to field hospital.
The banquet hall was having costly chandeliers. Fireplace was in first floor.
The fine fountain in black and white “inlaid” marble is at the entrance of the banquet hall.
Dr. Fayrer’s House : Tehkhana in this gave shelter to women. Sir Henery Lawerence died here on July,4,1857 who had lead battle of Chinhat in April,1857.
Main Residency Building : It was 3 storeyed. One storey was underground (Tehkhana). During seize ground floor was occupied by 32nd Regiment and officiers which underground portion was occupied by women and children.
Church and cemetery : Now only ruins upto 2-3 feet remain.
Begum Kothi : Built by Asaf-ud-daula. Initially it was used by European businessman to sell european good. Later here lived the european wife of Nawab Naseer-uddin-Haider. Step sister of european wife built a mosque here.
Bahu Begum Mosque
Anderson Post :
Hose of Captain Routleff during seize of 1857
Epilogue
This place is the tale of 3000 lives trapped for 90 days under continuous shell bombings. This is one of the very few monuments which mark 1857 revolt so vividly. It was the 1857 revolt when british crown took the reign in their hands from East India Company.
There are many other points inside the residency like House of martin Gibbon, Kanpur battery, Duprat’s house, Martiniere Post and Sheep and Slaughter House which I missed to ask from the guide.This place is important in history of India while Chhota and Bara Imambara are important on Awadh map.
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