Modern Lucknow: India’s Underrated Capital of Soft, Experiential Travel
- Blogs
- August 1, 2025
To most, Lucknow is either a political battleground where electoral legends are made and unmade, or a quaint city where an old aunt once attended Loreto Convent, visited the Imambara, and shopped in Hazratganj during her summer holidays. In short, it’s often dismissed as a charming but timeworn city saddled with crumbling infrastructure and stuck in the past.
And for many years, that perception wasn’t entirely unfounded.
This image, frozen in time, is perhaps why Lucknow has long remained on the periphery of India’s mainstream travel destinations.
But that was then.
Today, Lucknow is one of the fastest-growing cities in India and has quietly emerged as one of the country’s most dynamic and sought-after domestic travel destinations.
A New Wave of Travel
Contemporary travel trends in Lucknow reflect a striking shift. Groups of senior citizens fly in to celebrate milestone birthdays with themed costume parties, private fashion shows, and curated shopping trails. Forty-something girlfriends reunite for heritage walks led by scholars, while college friends relive nostalgia through architecture and culinary tours. Seasoned travelers are increasingly choosing Lucknow over Goa, drawn not just to its heritage, but to one-on-one dining experiences in local homes and private performances by classical musicians.
What Sparked the Transformation?
“At its core is a group of skilled local storytellers — experts in history, architecture, and culture — who bring the city’s layered past to life. We spend an inordinate amount of energy to train the right people” says Samir Kher of Deepdive India.
A big part of the change lies in infrastructure. “Lucknow’s compact layout makes it ideal for immersive, experiential travel,”. “Its rich history and culture offer endless possibilities for engagement, especially during the winter months.”
The city’s friendly, laid-back atmosphere is another draw. Long known to locals, this trait is now becoming more widely recognized. Solo women travelers have rated Lucknow as one of India’s safest cities. Foreign visitors are often surprised by how clean, green, and accessible it is.
Lucknow has always had a strong intellectual tradition, rooted in its renowned schools and colleges. This tradition of erudition continues to inform its cuisine, art, architecture, and everyday etiquette, all underscored by the city’s long-standing secular and liberal ethos.
Where Heritage Meets Hospitality
Lucknow is home to one of the highest urban concentrations of heritage monuments in India — a testament to its layered and expansive past. Over the past two decades, a new wave of luxury hotels, stylish cafes, and high-end restaurants has sprung up across the city, meeting the expectations of an increasingly discerning, urban crowd.
The city’s culinary traditions — already famous — have reached new heights. Lucknow was recently nominated for the prestigious UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, a recognition of its exceptional contribution to India’s food heritage.
An Unexpected Leader in Experiential Travel
All these developments have quietly positioned Lucknow as an unexpected leader in what is now being called “experiential soft travel.” With its blend of old-world elegance and modern amenities, it’s no longer just a footnote in India’s travel story — it’s becoming a compelling destination in its own right.
