'Mosque inside Asophoo Dowlahs Emambara - now used as a Hospital, Lucknow', 1858

Photograph by Felice Beato (1825-1907), Indian Mutiny (1857-1859), 1858.

The Great Imambara complex was built by Nawab Asaf ud-Daula (r. 1775-1797) for Shi'ite religious meetings in 1784. It included the Great Mosque, the great hall (or Bara Imambara), courtyards and gateways. It was an attempt by the nawab to imitate and surpass the Mughal palace complexes of Delhi and elsewhere and was built as part of a famine relief programme.