Vivanta by Taj Gomti Nagar

Sitting on the banks of the River Gomti and set in beautiful landscaped gardens, Vivanta by Taj is secluded and peaceful while enjoying an unrivalled location in the heart of Lucknow.

Rooms and suites at Vivanta by Taj Gomti Nagar are spacious and luxurious, with an elegant, contemporary design. Deluxe Allure Suites, located on the ground floor, feature beautiful wooden floors and large French windows overlooking the garden and pool, and the indulgent Premium Temptation Suites, also with sweeping views of the lawn or pool, offer the ultimate in comfort and luxury with a stylish, contemporary aesthetic.

International, Indian and Chinese cuisine is on offer at Latitude, a chic, lively restaurant which is open all day. Oudhyana showcases authentic Awadhi cuisine: rich, often meat-based dishes heavily influenced by Mughal cuisine, which includes the famous korma cooking method. Other meat dishes on offer include melt-in-the-mouth kebabs and Nahari Ghosht, featuring lamb bone marrow. The hotel’s stylish bar, Saqi, is the place to go for an expertly mixed, original cocktail, with specialities including the Apple Jack Martini and Kafirlef Margarita. At the weekend, a DJ takes to the decks and turns the bar into a buzzing club popular with fashionable Lucknowites.

The hotel has a fully equipped fitness centre and gym, with the rich, wood-panelled walls creating an old-world, colonial atmosphere. The outdoor swimming pool is beautiful, surrounded by palm trees in the hotel’s garden, and there are sports facilities including a tennis court. To keep you looking at your best, the hotel has a salon where you can head for a haircut, manicure or pedicure.

Lucknow is justly renowned as a city with a rich history and one of India’s cultural capitals, which is reflected in its abundance of historical and cultural attractions. Bara Imambara, a vast tomb complex dating from 1784, is one of the grandest buildings in Lucknow and features an ornate labyrinth of tunnels and doorways on its upper levels. The ruins of the Residency, meanwhile, the former home of the British Resident General, serve as a symbol of the downfall of the British Empire. Lying untouched in the middle of the city, the cannon-scarred walls are in much the same state as they were left in after the decisive Siege of Lucknow in 1857.