Lucknow (pop. 2,817,105) is a city in north-central India. It serves as the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Lucknow stands along the Gomati River. The city’s minarets and gilded cupolas present a striking appearance from a distance. An old commercial district lies in the northwest part of Lucknow. The old district has many silversmith shops and the stores of other handicraft workers. Modern offices and shops lie southeast of the old commercial district. Lucknow’s products include aircraft engines and other aircraft equipment; cotton fabrics; embroidery; and silver, gold, and brass wares. Mangoes and melons are grown in rural areas that surround the city.
Muslims built a fort on the site of what is now Lucknow during the 1200’s. The Lucknow area became part of the British Empire in 1856. In 1857, during the Indian Rebellion, Indian soldiers seized Lucknow. But British forces recaptured the city in 1858. In 1947, Lucknow and the rest of India gained independence from Britain.
