Bara Imambara, Mausoleum and mosque complex in Lucknow, India.
Bara Imambara is a religious complex with a mausoleum and mosque in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The main building contains a large vaulted hall connected to a labyrinth of passages and staircases.
Nawab Asaf-ud-Daula commissioned the building in 1784 to provide work during a famine. Architects from different regions developed solutions to realize the construction without metal beams.
The building serves as a gathering place for Muslim congregations and holds special importance during Muharram ceremonies throughout the year.
The complex opens most days of the week in early morning and closes in late afternoon. Visitors should allow time to explore the labyrinth, where multiple levels are connected through narrow passages.
The main hall measures roughly 50 meters (164 feet) in length and uses a system of interlocking bricks instead of metal supports. This technique creates an open space that ranks among the largest of its kind.
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