The Lucknow Trip - of Chiken Cloths and search for Tunday Kabbi
Had been to Lucknow for some office related work for a week. Before starting from here, had asked couple of friends about some "must dos" in Lucknow. Two names popped up every time, Chikan sarees and chichkan kabab @ "Tunde Kababi"
Lucknow is a amalgamation of old city charms and the urban "shopping mall" charms. We stayed at La Place Park Inn which is a three star hotel. But was not satisfied with the services.
The very first day we ventured out to have a look around the city. Hired a Cycle rick which are the most convenient way of transport in Lucknow. He took us directly to SEWA shopping center which is a famous chikan work goods. Was planning to buy 2 sarees but ended up buying nine. Later when discussing with the locals got conflicting opinions about where to buy original yet reasonable chikan work cloths. Some suggested us to buy at chowk, others cautioned us that the quality at chowk is not guaranteed. Others told us that SEWA guaranties the quality where as others told us that they were big time cheaters and sold cloths at a very high price to tourist.
The second day decided to search for for Tunde Kababi. There was also a lot of confusion over which one was the authentic Tunde Kababi. There were four Tunde kababis that we found. One was just in front of the Park Inn hotel called "Grand son of Tunde Kababi", second one was in the Sahara Gunj Mall. The third was in Aminabad and the last and the authentic one was in Chowk area. The one in Chowk serves only the "bada" (beef) dishes. The one in Aminabad is the only sister consern of the original Tunde Kababi. Not sure about others. Taste wise only the one in Aminabad tasted really good. Did not taste the "bada" dishes at Chowk.
When ever we used to hire any rick or taxi they used to take us to one Chikan shop or the other and force us to buy something or the other. It is no secret that they had a commission in the purchase.
The other thing that caught my attention was the completely useless parks build by Mayawati, CM of UP. Its a utter wast of the hard earned tax payers money in self glorification.
Watch a Video i found on You Tube.
Lucknow is a amalgamation of old city charms and the urban "shopping mall" charms. We stayed at La Place Park Inn which is a three star hotel. But was not satisfied with the services.
The very first day we ventured out to have a look around the city. Hired a Cycle rick which are the most convenient way of transport in Lucknow. He took us directly to SEWA shopping center which is a famous chikan work goods. Was planning to buy 2 sarees but ended up buying nine. Later when discussing with the locals got conflicting opinions about where to buy original yet reasonable chikan work cloths. Some suggested us to buy at chowk, others cautioned us that the quality at chowk is not guaranteed. Others told us that SEWA guaranties the quality where as others told us that they were big time cheaters and sold cloths at a very high price to tourist.
The second day decided to search for for Tunde Kababi. There was also a lot of confusion over which one was the authentic Tunde Kababi. There were four Tunde kababis that we found. One was just in front of the Park Inn hotel called "Grand son of Tunde Kababi", second one was in the Sahara Gunj Mall. The third was in Aminabad and the last and the authentic one was in Chowk area. The one in Chowk serves only the "bada" (beef) dishes. The one in Aminabad is the only sister consern of the original Tunde Kababi. Not sure about others. Taste wise only the one in Aminabad tasted really good. Did not taste the "bada" dishes at Chowk.
When ever we used to hire any rick or taxi they used to take us to one Chikan shop or the other and force us to buy something or the other. It is no secret that they had a commission in the purchase.
The other thing that caught my attention was the completely useless parks build by Mayawati, CM of UP. Its a utter wast of the hard earned tax payers money in self glorification.
Watch a Video i found on You Tube.
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-Shashi