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Lucknow, India

Safety

Safety in Lucknow, India
What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?

People’s Opinions

  1. There are spies in Lucknow looking for Christians, especially national Christians. Be cautious when you interact with local believers and use safe language if you happen to contact home while in a public area =).
  2. Lucknow is relatively safe during the day. Make sure you have somewhere that locks up for the night. Do not be on the streets out past 10pm. If you are female, make sure you are with a male, since women do not walk the streets. You will see them in the tuk tuks or rickshaws, but not alone.The laws in Uttar Pradesh are changing constantly. Be cautious and Holy Spirit-led when speaking to people about Jesus, as there have been numerous unwarranted attacks on Christians.If traveling during the Hindu festival season (October/November) be especially careful. During these times, Hindu Radicalism is at its peak.

Ministry Summary

Ministry Summary in Lucknow, India
Breakthroughs? Suggestions? Concerns? On a scale of 1-4 (1 being not at all, 4 being absolutely) how strongly would you recommend another World Race team go to this ministry location & why?

People’s Opinions

  1. 3 – I rate this place a 3 because I think there are a lot of opportunities here, but I am not sure of the safety for an all-female team. We had a mixed team and it worked out fine. We had a lot of success with Lucknow University. Classes are mostly taught in English so there are many English speakers. We also made friends with the international students and spent a lot of time roaming the city with them. There are many different sites to see, so students can take you around–great opportunity for ministry! We had a contact in Lucknow, but he did not have time to arrange anything for us to do. He is well connected in Lucknow and surrounding cities such as Faizabad and initially had four or five different ministry opportunities including a leper hospital and working in a local school.

Lodging

Lodging in Lucknow, India
Where did you stay? What were the accommodations (sleeping arrangements, toilets, showers, etc.)? Cost (per person per night in USD), Contact info.

People’s Opinions

  1. Be mindful of the area in which you are getting lodging. Places like Mahanagar Colony, Gomti Nagar, and near Lucknow University are safer than Charbagh Bus Station, where we stayed. That is not to say that you can’t stay at Charbagh, (it will be cheaper) but you should not be walking alone after nightfall, and try to be in mixed company if you are female.
  2. We had trouble finding hostels within the budget. We booked a hotel that said it had free food for 1300 Indian Rupees/night, but when we arrived we found out Expedia hadn’t confirmed the booking–long story short, don’t use Expedia when booking in India.We ended up in a homestay. It would be worth looking into again since it is in budget. It is near the Syona Residency. Look for Abhilasha Gupta on AirBnB. Her father interacted with us mostly, because she was off getting a PhD, but they are a superhost and IN budget!

Food / Meals

Food / Meals in Lucknow, India
What did you eat? Where did you get the food? Cost (per person per day in USD)? Contact info (if applicable).

People’s Opinions

  1. For travel in and out of the city, our host recommended buses over trains. They are usually more expensive but they don’t take as long, since there is construction on the train lines. If you go from Lucknow to Agra, this is especially important. You CAN get a sleeper bus! Our friends recommend them over the trains.
  2. You have a few options for transportation around the city:1. Lucknow’s Metro is really nice, very safe, and actually relatively cheap. It would cost you 80Rps/perosn to get from one side (CCS airport) to the other (MunshiPulia). From our station (Charbagh), it took a max of 30 Rps to get to everything we wanted to visit, and then only on rare occasions. Usually it was 20Rps/person. Lucknow only has one line, so it is easy to navigate.Time: 6am – 10pm, trains depart every 5 minutes.That said, the metro does not reach everything, and especially not the more touristy places like Aminabad, the Imambaras, and the parks. We often took the metro and walked to our location OR took an uber/tuk-tuk instead, if our destination was far enough away from the line. They are in the process of constructing a second line, but no work has been started as of this post.2. India has uber!!! The same app you use in America will work in India. You can download the app and create an account without a card so your treasurer can use cash to pay. If so, be sure to note the amount before getting in the car–we had one driver cancel the trip en route and try to charge us 4x the amount. Most uber drivers were honest, however.India also has Ola, which is another app similar to Uber or Lyft. You have more options with this app–our international friends used this more than uber.Price: ~120Rps for 5 people**, depending on where you need to go.**Most ubers only seat 4. You can usually shove five in the back if you just pile in and don’t ask questions, although some uber drivers do not like this.3. Tuk-tuk/E-Rickshaw – price is negotiable, but you will almost always get the foreigner price. Always ask for about half of what they’re suggesting. Generally, it should cost about 50Rps for one person to get from Charbagh Bus Station to Aminabad. You can use that distance on the map to estimate what the cost should be for other things.
  3. We took a taxi from Sunauli (Nepal border town) into Lucknow. Taxis were a better option because the bus was hard to find and the roads are dusty. It is possible, but you would have to make a connection in Gorakhpur. If you do this, you can take a green bus with a blue stripe from the border to Gorakhpur, then get a train to Lucknow. Be sure to book early since they fill up. There is an app that will track India trains, but you can’t book without an Indian SIM.

Transportation

Transportation in Lucknow, India
What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.

People’s Opinions

  1. If you’re shopping, find a Big Bazaar in one of the malls. You can find most things here and the fruit is cheaper than on the street. Otherwise, Aminabad (area of town, off of KD Singh metro station) is your best bet for shopping. Go during the day because it gets crazy busy at night! In terms of eating out, you MUST eat at Tunday Kababi at least once. It is slightly out of budget but worth it. Everyone in Lucknow will recommend this place to you, so it’s not hard to miss. Get the Afghani Chicken, or the Mutton/Chicken Kababs. Neither are spicy =). Royal Cafe by Sahara Ganj mall is expensive but SUCH GOOD FOOD. Definitely get the butter chicken here. Street food: – Definitely try chaat (25Rps)! This will be at almost any sweet shop you find. – Juice made with what looks like large limes & pineapple (30Rps) – Lucknow’s signature dessert (similar to yoghurt). Can’t remember the name! – Pandipuri (40Rps/6 pieces) – I’m a fan of sour, not sweet. Most street places we went in Charbagh (where we stayed) had half orders of food and a few pieces of roti or rice for less than 90Rps, which was our per meal budget. If you are in one of the nicer areas I don’t know that you could find this.
  2. There are many good vegetarian places within a few minutes walking distance from the homestay we were in. Generally you can find good food all around! Harder to find is a vegetable market or somewhere to buy groceries.
  3. There are many good vegetarian places within a few minutes walking distance from the homestay we were in. Generally you can find good food all around! Harder to find is a vegetable market or somewhere to buy food.

Medical

Medical in Lucknow, India
Information on local hospitals / doctors / pharmacies. Where would someone go in a medical emergency? (addresses and contact info).

People’s Opinions

  1. There are only three registered hospitals with our insurance. The Haranya Clinic is only pediatric and does not do adult check-ups. This is not displayed anywhere on the map, so be careful! We had to go to Sahara hospital (which is not where maps.me says it is, be sure to check Google for the actual location), to see the regular doctor.
  2. Sahara Hospital in Gomti Nagar is very nice. You have to register with the hospital but they give you a ticket that is good for 7 days so that you can come back within that time and see the doctor free of charge if anything further happens.When you enter, go to registration and fill out a form to become a registered patient. They will help you take it to general check-up. If they don’t, take the form back there and ask the clerk. She will give the form to a doctor. The cost was 700Rps and we paid up at reception.

Communication

Communication in Lucknow, India
Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?

People’s Opinions

  1. If you don’t have wifi, go to Coffee Culture: 150Rps/Latte — 100%, 5 star recommend! Unlike other cafes it has password wifi (not phone #). They also don’t mind you hanging out for a while.
  2. Our host gave us a JioFi, which is a portable wifi device. Cafes have wifi, but most places it requires an Indian number.Indian sims are very complicated to get, not worth your effort, and you will need an Indian friend to purchase them even if you have all the paperwork (which includes something proving your address in India)If you want free wifi, check out Coffee Culture in Mahanagar Colony. It is a short walk from the Badshah Nagar metro station.

Financial

Financial in Lucknow, India
Location of banks or ATMs, notes about transaction fees, best places to exchange money, and other money related advice.

People’s Opinions

  1. If coming from Nepal: EXCHANGE CURRENCY BEFORE YOU LEAVE NEPAL. Very few places will exchange Nepali money to Indian, and the rates were expensive. We were charged a 10% exchange rate(!!!). Our host said to expect at least 5%. My card (Charles Schwab) worked in most ATMs. Sometimes they run out of money. We found most banks work, but we especially like SBI.

Translators

Translators in Lucknow, India
List any local translators – name and contact information, languages spoken

People’s Opinions

  1. Not super necessary, enough people speak English to get your point across. Even if the person you are talking to does not speak English, we always had someone walk up who was able to translate for us.

Off Days / Fun Activities

Off Days / Fun Activities in Lucknow, India
What activities did your team experience? Recommendations? List locations/contact info. Any locations to be avoided? Any extra safety tips for off days?

People’s Opinions

  1. There are so many things to do here! IMAMBARAS: Lucknow has a bunch of Imambaras, which are basically beautiful commemorative tombs for Muslim martyrs. Notable ones to visit are Chota Imambara (very beautiful) and Bara Imambara, which has a labyrinth inside! Chota Imambara: 200Rps/person Bara Imambara: 500Rps/person (This one is 100% worth it!) If you go to Bara Imambara you will need 500Rps for an entrance fee and then money to pay a guide. Prices for guides are posted at the ticket office. Depending on how many people you have, you will need to pay more to the guide. For 6 people our cost was about 30Rps/person. The guide will take you through the labyrinth, and at the end you can stay up at the top and take pictures of the entire mosque area–just let your guide know. We also maaaayyyy have gone back into the labyrinth and tried to get lost… not super dangerous since there are tour groups going through there all the time. Highly recommend, especially as something to do with friends you meet in the city! If you go, go around sunset. The lighting is beautiful! You will need to take a tuk-tuk from the metro station (get off at KD Singh); alternatively, it is a 50 minute walk. If you walk, take extra time, as there are many beautiful mosques and parks along the way from the metro and you will want to spend more time visiting them! Chota Imambara is a short walk past Bara Imambara. Not sure if it was worth the 200Rps to get in, but it was very beautiful there as well! PARKS/ZOO: In Gomti Nagar there are a few parks that are nice to visit. Janeshwar Park: 10Rps entrance fee. This park is HUGE. There is boating available in a small section of the lagoon and bicycles you can rent for 20Rps/Hr. Highly recommend the biking, since the park is big, but be careful about which bike you pick! This is also a great place to bring a hammock and chill out for an afternoon Sabbath. Biking is a great activity to do with friends. Ambedkar Memorial Park: 15Rps entrance fee. This is a huge monument to the writer of the Indian constitution. Great views of the city. There is also a line of elephants and some cool history about the area. Definitely recommend coming here as well! There is also a zoo, but we didn’t have a chance to visit. MALLS (cinemas, coffee shops, shopping): There are malls all over the city. This is your place to find cinemas for popular movies. Be forewarned, there is a fifteen minute intermission in all movies. There is no warning for this, the movie will just stop playing halfway through, but don’t be alarmed! Coffee shops in malls are great, but you will need an Indian sim for free wifi. See coffee shops below for more info. In most malls there will be an arcade, like Dave & Busters. This could be a great team bonding thing, or a way to hang out with friends from the university. Malls also usually have good shopping. Sahara Ganj was our favorite, it’s a short walk from the Hazrat Ganj metro and it has a good coffee shop on the top floor (Chocolate Room), as well as a cinema and a Big Bazaar (like Walmart/Target) for all your shopping needs. CAFES: Most cafes do not have free wifi. You will need an Indian sim, or someone willing to give their phone number. ALSO cafes have strange rules about staying for a long time. If you are there longer than 3 hours they will start giving you looks, and if you play cards that will make them extremely uncomfortable (we had one manager come and ask us to stop???). So just be sure that at least one person (preferrably more) in your group buys something. Coffee Culture: 150Rps/Latte — 100%, 5 star recommend! Unlike other cafes it has password wifi (not phone #), the manager is GREAT, and they don’t mind if you stay and work for a while. They have a room in the back for large groups as well so if you make friends and want to play cards, this is a great place to do it! It is a short walk from Badshah Nagar metro station. Sheroes Cafe: 60/Latte — Cafe run by acid attack survivors, directly across from Ambedkar memorial in Gomti Nagar. This place was so cool! All outdoor seating, so no plugs, and phone # wifi, but it was really cool to learn more about acid attacks, why they happen, and interact with some of the workers. Definitely worth going, and it seems popular with the locals! Cafe Coffee Day: 120Rps/Latte — These are all over the city. It’s also fine to stay and work in these, but try to avoid playing cards. We did our DBS/3D Gospel meetings in these coffee shops all over the city. Hazelnut Cafe: 90Rps/Latte — Near the university, frequented by students, and fairly cheap. They really did NOT like cards here, but it has a good vibe and great food! The Chocolate Room: 150Rps/Latte — in Sahara Ganj mall. Good vibes, good place to come one-on-one to work, but maybe not with a big group. They will also give you strange looks if you stay longer than 3 hours.

Other Important Contacts

Other Important Contacts in Lucknow, India
Additional ministry opportunities, local pastors, etc. Relationship & follow up suggestions

People’s Opinions

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Tips

People’s Opinions

  1. Whenever you navigate somewhere by tuktuk, make sure you say a landmark near where you are going (unless it’s a landmark itself) and the area of the city which you are trying to get to. (e.g. “Can you take me to Janeshwar Park, Gomti Nagar?”). If your driver hesitates, odds are he doesn’t know where the place is. There have also been rumors of girls getting into tuktuks and being taken to a chikan (fabric) store instead of to their desired location, so make sure you confirm with the driver! Even if you have Google maps navigation in front of their nose, they probably will not trust it and will stop to ask directions. You will have to hold google maps in your hand and give them directions at major junctions.

Additional Info

Additional Info in Lucknow, India
Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?

People’s Opinions

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