Gulab Bari

Gulab Bari is surrounded by an enclosure wall, built of Lakhauri bricks lime plastered and decorated with plaster mouldings. The enclosure contains the tomb of Shuja-ud-daula along with mosque Imambara, Shahi Hammam, Baradari and a well approached through triple-arched gateways.

The tomb of Shuja-ud-daula (1753–1775) was constructed by himself during his lifetime which is approached through an imposing gateway. The central chamber contains the cenotaph which houses the graves of Nawab Shuja-ud-daula and his mother. The tomb proper stands in the centre of a Charbagh Garden accompanied by fountains and shallow water channels. The square double-storeyed structure of the mausoleum has an arched verandah on each side, while its upper storey has a three arched façade adorned by minarets on the corners. The dome of the central chamber is crowned by inverted louts and metal finial.

Gulab Bari is not only a spot that needs to be visited; it is a place of worship and various cultural events. The locals treat it as a holy place. It is said that the monument is connected to a boali in Lucknow and used to be hiding place for the successors of the Nawab Shuja-ud-daula. The fragrance of roses in the Gulab Udyaan brought relief to the busy mind of the nawab and allowed him to work and take decisions. It might have served as soldier's cabin and a house for the servants (not the main monument but the structures around).

Today Gulab Bari is though in a poor condition, it still is very important for the locals (mostly of the Muslim Community). It remained very important, remains important and will remain important only if its tourism is boosted and the people become a little more conscious about its importance.

Gulab Bari is open 4.00 am – 7.00 pm, year-round.

Getting There

Gulab Bari can be reached by taking a cycle rickshaw from any part of the city.

Faizabad is situated on National Highway 28 and has good connectivity with Kanpur(213 km), Lucknow (127 km), Varanasi (202 km), Allahabad (161 km) and Gorakhpur (165 km). The state government's Road Transport Service runs regular and frequent buses to and from these cities. NH27 connects Lucknow to Barauni via Faizabad and Gorakhpur whilst NH330 connects Faizabad to Allahabad via Sultanpur. Nawab Yusuf Road connects Faizabad to Varanasi via Jaunpur, NH330A connectes Faizabad to Raibareli via Kumarganj & Jagdishpur.

The Indian Railways network connects Faizabad (Faizabad Railway Station) directly with Kanpur (4 hours) Lucknow (3 hours.), Varanasi (4 hours.) and Allahabad (5 hours). Ayodhya Junction is the second major railway station within the Faizabad city which is situated at south end of the city.

Faizabad has an old airport named Faizabad Airport and it is use as flying school at Naka along National Highway 28 (NH28). No commercial scheduled flights operate in this Airport.

The nearest airport from Faizabad is Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport at Lucknow, about 128 kilometers from Faizabad. The Airport is well connected to other cities in India such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Agra, Chennai and Bangalore. From the Airport you can hire cabs or take a train to reach Faizabad.