Jun 10, 2025
Lucknow Bids to Become UNESCO’s Next ‘City of Gastronomy'
Lucknow, known as the “City of Nawabs,” has been officially nominated for UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network under the gastronomy category
The city’s cuisine blends royal Awadhi delicacies like Tunday and Galouti kebabs with street snacks like khasta kachori,
Iconic dishes like Kakori kebab, slow-cooked nihari, and aromatic Awadhi biryani are central to the nomination dossier
The nomination highlights that Lucknow’s culinary heritage thrives across diverse communities—Brahmins, Kayasthas, Khattris, Baniyas, and working-class families
Heritage consultant Abha Narain Lambah led the nomination, underscoring cuisine as “storytelling through food”—from royal kitchens to street markets
Alongside kebabs, Lucknow offers rich vegetarian foods (Bajpai ki Puri, puri-sabzi) and sweets like jalebi, motichoor laddu, and kulfi falooda
With ~48 million annual tourists, UNESCO recognition could further boost Lucknow’s global appeal and cultural tourism potential
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