Five Historical Buildings of Nawabs to be built as Heritage Hotels in Lucknow

• 22 Feb 2023

Why In News?

On February 21, 2023, Dr. Renu Dwivedi, director of the Uttar Pradesh Archaeological Department, said that the government has approved the proposal to convert five historical buildings of the city into heritage hotels to promote tourism in the capital of the state, Lucknow.

Key points

• Director Dr. Renu Dwivedi said that after the proposal was approved, the Tourism Department has put them in the unprotected category and pasted a notice to develop a heritage hotel here. These buildings will be de-notified and the hurdles in the way of their heritage hotels will be removed.
• It is believed that giving these buildings the look of a hotel will not only boost tourism but will also increase the income of the tourism department. In Rajasthan, it has been a great benefit to convert all the historical buildings into hotels. Tourists are increasingly attracted to them.
• Director Dr. Renu Dwivedi told that at present preparations are on to convert Lucknow's Chattar Manzil, Roshan-Uddaula Kothi, Kothi Gulistan-e-Iram, Kothi Darshan Vilas and Farhad Bakhs into heritage hotels.
• He said that if any person has any objection in the matter of unprotected these buildings, he can file an objection with the department and only those objections which will come within a month of the cancellation of this notification will be considered.
• Dr. Renu Dwivedi said that this model of converting buildings into hotels in other states has helped a lot in saving heritage and made them self-reliant. This will also help in protecting these monuments from being dilapidated.
• The conversion of these historic buildings for commercial use will go a long way in preserving them. The state ASI will ensure that the renovation and reconstruction of the building is carried out without affecting the heritage.
• Principal Secretary, Tourism and Culture Department Mukesh Meshram said that converting these buildings into heritage hotels on the lines of other states will help in their conservation. Also, it will help in increasing the number of tourists in the state capital.
• Chhatar Manzil Building - This building was built by Nawab Saadat Ali Khan between 1798-1814 in the name of his mother Chhatar Kunwar. After this, this building was decorated during the reign of Emperor Ghaziuddin Haider from 1827-1837. The roof floor building is made up of Indo-Italian architecture. Gomti water used to hit the walls of its ground floor, which kept the building cool. This building was used for the residence of the Begums of Awadh. It is also believed that when the Nawab assumed the umbrella at the time of the ascension, he also installed an umbrella on this palace. In the freedom struggle of 1857, the chhatar manzil was used by revolutionaries.
• Gulistan-e-Iram - It was built in the early 19^th century by Nasiruddin Haider, the second Nawab of Awadh. It was Naseeruddin's personal library. In the British era, it became the farmhouse of the government. After the freedom struggle in 1857, the British ordered the demolition of Kaiser Bagh, as it was the stronghold of the Nawabs. Gulistan-e-Iram was also demolished under the same order.
• Kothi Darshan Vilas - The building in which the Directorate of Health is now located was once a palace. Its construction started during the reign of Nawab Ghaziuddin Haider.
• It was built by Roshan-ud-Daulah during the reign of Nawab Nasiruddin Haider (1827-1837) of Awadhi's Prime Minister. It was soon taken over by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah. Its architecture shows signs of both British and Mughal art.
• Farhat Baksh Kothi - The original name of this kothi was Martin Villa. It was built by Major General Claude Martin in 1781. It is a wonderful specimen of Indo-French architecture. It used to be their place of residence.