Chota Imambara

Built as an imambara, or a congregation hall for Shia Muslims, by Muhammad Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh in 1838,[1] it was to serve as a mausoleum for himself and his mother, who is buried beside him.

Zarih is the replica of that protective grill or structure which is kept on the grave of Imam Husain at Karbala, Iraq.

The large green and white bordered hall of Azakhana is richly decorated with chandeliers and a good number of crystal glass lamp-stands.

In fact, it was for this profuse decoration that the Imambara was referred by European visitors and writers as The Palace of Lights.

This includes two replicas of the Taj Mahal, built as the tombs of Muhammad Ali Shah's daughter and her husband.

The word Satkhanda means seven-storeyed but this beautifully proportioned tower would never live up to its name as construction was halted at level 4.