About Lucknow Charbagh
Lucknow Charbagh (station code LKO), which stands right beside Lucknow Junction (LJN), is the main railway station of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, and is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful railway stations in India. It is run by the Northern Railway zone, is the headquarters station of the Lucknow division of Northern Railway, and is graded NSG-2. It handles more than 180 mail and express trains as well as many passenger trains.
The name
Charbagh means four gardens, after the formal Mughal-style garden laid out in four quarters that once occupied the site. The station's landscaped forecourt keeps that idea alive.
How Lucknow Charbagh began
The foundation stone was laid in March 1914 by Bishop George Herbert. The building was designed by British architect J. H. Horniman, with engineer Chaubey Mukta Prasad. Construction was completed in 1923 at a cost of about ₹70 lakh, and the station was formally inaugurated in 1926.
In the 19th century Lucknow was considered the second most important railway centre in north India after Delhi. Popular accounts also say that Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru first met here, on 26 December 1916, at the time of the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress.
Architecture
Charbagh is a showpiece of Indo-Saracenic design, blending Mughal, Awadhi and Rajput styles. Its red-and-white façade is crowned with domes, chhatris (pavilions), turrets and minarets. Seen from above, the rectangular building with its domes and turrets is often compared to a chessboard with its pieces laid out, one of the station's most talked-about features.
Lucknow Charbagh's layout
The Northern Railway station has 9 platforms, with 2 more under construction, on 26 tracks, around 124 m above sea level.
Two stations side by side
Right next to Charbagh is Lucknow Junction (LJN), which belongs to the North Eastern Railway. The two are separate stations with separate platforms, although many people call both of them Charbagh. Check whether your ticket says LKO or LJN.
Modernisation
Charbagh is being upgraded under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme in a project of about ₹420 crore, with completion expected around the end of 2026.
Lucknow Charbagh by metro, bus and road
- Lucknow Metro Red Line: Charbagh metro station is right outside.
- Road: the Charbagh bus stand is nearby; autos, e-rickshaws and app cabs operate from the forecourt.
- Nearby rail: Kanpur Central is about 75 km away, with frequent trains and buses.
Travel tips
- The façade is best seen and photographed from the forecourt gardens.
- Leave time to find the right station: LKO and LJN have different entrances.
- Charbagh departures are in our train timetable; make sure the station code on your ticket is LKO, not LJN next door.