Hussainabad Picture Gallery - History, Timings & Entry Fee

At a distance of 7 km from Lucknow Junction, Hussainabad Picture Gallery is an art gallery located in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. Situated near Chhota Imambara and the Hussainabad Clock Tower, it is one of the famous tourist places in Lucknow.

The Hussainabad Picture Gallery is a major landmark in the city of Nawabs. This magnificent building was constructed in the year 1838 as a summer house by Nawab Mohammad Ali Shah, the third Nawab of erstwhile Awadh. The building used to be named 'Baradari', which literally means 'having 12 doorways'. The majestic building overlooking a pond also had a mosque. During the Nawabi era, the front of the building had a market by the name of ''Mina Bazaar'', an inn and stables for elephants and horses. The distinguishing feature of this imposing terracotta edifice is the presence of iron pillars in the upper storey pavilion used for the first time in the construction of the Nawabi buildings.

Today, this magnificent Nawabi era building serves as a gallery for the display of life-size portraits of the Nawabs of Awadh that had been painted between 1882-1885 by visiting European artists such as Dawling, Gravet, and Harrison as well as an Indian artist, D.S.Singh. . The entrance to this magnificent Hussainabad Picture Gallery is through a series of steps leading to the main hall which has on display full-length portraits of the Nawabs which indicate the contemporary grand costumes and jewellery used in those days. It also houses pictures of the administrators and officials of the British age.

The most striking assets of the imposing Hussainabad Picture Gallery are the magnificent portraits that exhibit a high level of detailing while portraying the subjects. You might notice that the eyes, head, and accessories worn by them such as shoes appear to be oriented towards you as you walk past them, keeping you mesmerized. Legend has it that these paintings, which are said to have been done on elephant skin in such a way that the different parts seem to move with the angle of view.

Timings: 10 AM - 5 PM, Closed on Friday

Entry Fee: Rs. 20 for Indians & Rs. 200 for Foreigners