From Royal Pleasure Garden to Sacred Crucible of Freedom
Tucked beside modern Rana Pratap Marg, Sikandar Bagh is hallowed ground in India's struggle for independence. Originally established in 1848 by Nawab Wajid Ali Shah as a tranquil royal orchard for his queen Sikandar Mahal Begum, this walled garden was destined to become the focal point of the epic 1857 siege of Lucknow.
The Battle of November 16, 1857
During the relief expedition led by British Commander-in-Chief Sir Colin Campbell, Indian sepoys and local Awadhi warriors fortified the enclosed high walls of Sikandar Bagh. When British artillery breached a narrow corner of the brick wall, desperate hand-to-hand combat erupted inside the courtyard. Over 2,200 Indian freedom fighters, including fearless sniper Uda Devi, fought to their last breath, refusing surrender.
The Grand Ornamental Gateway Today
Today, the majestic double-arched gateway of Sikandar Bagh still stands intact with its authentic Awadhi twin fish symbols, ornate jharokhas, and bullet pockmarks from 1857. The serene interior now houses the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) exhibition gardens, where rare medicinal herbs bloom peacefully over ground sanctified by courage.
