By Navneet Bansal
Lucknow: The City of Nawabs, as it’s affectionately called; Lucknow is one of those cities that embodies a rich blend of history, culture, and heritage. It’s not just a geographical location but a living testament to the grandeur of its past.
The changes Lucknow has witnessed over the years are reflective of the broader shifts in India’s cultural, political, and social landscapes. From its days under the Mughal Empire to its prominence during the era of the Nawabs and British rule thereafter to being a vital center in post-independence India, Lucknow has continuously adapted, preserving its heritage while embracing modernization.
It was the British who assigned the original names to many roads after the annexation of 1856 but still streets/ Roads of Lucknow—where every corner tells a story, and each road holds a memory of the city’s rich past. It’s fascinating how many roads in Lucknow still carry the weight of their old names, but now with new identities, reflecting the changes in the city’s dynamic history.
Take, for example, as a lesser-known piece of history, Hazratganj was once referred to as Queen’s Way. While the name still evokes the old-world charm of the 19th century, Hazratganj is now a bustling commercial hub, lined with colonial-era buildings, shopping arcades, and cafes. Despite the modernization, Hazratganj has always been a witness to the city’s cultural metamorphosis, blending the traditional with the contemporary.Despite the renaming, it’s likely that HazratGanj retains its iconic character and remains a popular and bustling location for both locals and tourists. The dual identity of the area could mean that it is still colloquially referred to as Hazratganj by the people, while officially it may be recognized as Mahatma Gandhi Marg
Here are some of the other old roads in Lucknow and their new names:
Past…………………………………….. Present
Queen’s Road (Hazratganj) ……………….. Mahatma GandhiMarg
Abbott Road…….………………………………. VidhanSabhaMarg
OutramRoad………………………………… Ashok Marg
Barrow Road …………………………………. Hanuman Setu
Butler Road…… ………………………………….. TilakMarg
Colvin Road ………………………………………… Lalbagh Road
Wellington Road ……………………………..Lalbagh
Cantonment Road………………………….. Bisheshwarnath Road
Camberlain……………………………………. MotiMahal Road
EdwarsRoad …………………………………. Moulviganj
Clyde Road……………………………………. RanaPratapMarg
Daliganj Road ……………………………………. Maharishi DayanandSaraswatiMarg
Hewett Road………………………………… ShivajiMarg
La Touche Road……………………………. GautamBudhMarg
William Road ……………………………………. Shah Mina Road
Lawrence Road…………………………….. Newal Kishore Road
Aminabad Road ……………………………….. Sarojini Naidu Marg
Neill Road…………………………………….. Rani LaxmiBaiMarg
Allenby Road ……………………………………. Babu Ganesh SinghMarg
Oliver Road……. ………………………………… SapruMarg
Canning Road …………………………………… Sardar Patel Marg
Saunder’s Road……………………………… Madan Mohan MalviaMarg
Victoria Street ……………………………… Tulsi DasMarg
Even with these changes, there’s a sense of continuity—like old stories being retold in new ways. The new names are a reflection of Changes and progress, but the old names still linger in the air, like whispers from another time. The essence of the city remains, with its winding lanes and the legacy of the Nawabs still imbibed in its very streets.
It’s a fascinating journey, to walk through Lucknow and trace its history through the names that have both changed and endured. Happy Reading !!
Note: The contents of this work are the result of research from various Books, Articles, and other sources. Author has tried to give best of the information collected by him.
