New Delhi: Nobody wants to get lost in a maze, both literally and metaphorically, except if it is for entertainment and the person is assured of getting out of it in the end. Now what if we tell you that there is a maze which is both thrilling simply from a ticket value and is also historically significant? Well, the Bhool Bhulaiya in Lucknow is precisely that place.
What is the Bhool Bhulaiya?
The Bhool Bhulaiya is a part of the famous Bara Imambara in Lucknow and is made up of over a thousand corridors and around 489 similar entrances. The Bara Imambara and the Bhool Bhulaiya were built by Nawab of Awadh, Asaf-ud-Daula in 1784. It is the second largest Imambara in India after the Nizamat Imambara. The Bhool Bhulaiya is a labyrinth of intricately intertwined tunnels where one path has several branches. It is a unique structure with strategically placed windows so there is always enough light and ventilation during the day.
Interesting tale behind the construction
In 1784, famine struck Lucknow which was then known as Awadh. The severe famine not only made the life of the common people extremely miserable but also troubled the noble class with barely any food available to eat. Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula was a man with eccentric interests, but he also had the reputation of being generous.
And the Nawab stayed lived up to the reputation. Instead of ignoring the plight of the common people, he resorted to a unique way. He commissioned the construction of Bara Imambara to give employment to the poor and unemployed people. The construction of the grand structure with a grander motive went on almost till the end of the famine. It is said while the labourers built the structure during the day, the noblemen and other elite worked at night to break down anything constructed that day to prolong the work at a time of crisis. For the construction of the Bara Imambara, almost 20,000 people were employed.
But, why Bhool Bhulaiya?
Nawab Asaf-ud Daula was a central hall without any supporting columns so that a maximum number of people could pray together. But then, the monument needed something to bear the load of the ceiling and the mammoth dome. The chief architect of the construction, Kifayatullah came up with a plan to reduce the weight of the ceiling by making it hollow and it gave birth to Bhool Bhulaiya which was made to accommodate the design of the central hall.
The puzzle of the place
One has to enter Bhool Bhulaiya by ascending 45 stairs and there are only two real exits. It is said to find the right route, one has to follow the direction of light. But then again, that becomes difficult due to the placement of the windows. Its walls, which enable one to hear someone speaking from a distance, were cleverly constructed. Today, Bhool Bhulaiya is visited by thousands of tourists. And all of them need experienced guides to explore the puzzle of this wonderful place.
The Bhool Bhulaiya is a part of the famous Bara Imambara in Lucknow and is made up of over a thousand corridors and around 489 similar entrances. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
