Guide
About Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh. At the 2011 census the Lucknow Municipal Corporation area had 2,817,105 residents, and Lucknow district as a whole had 4,589,838.
As the seat of the state government, the city has a large administrative, legal and education sector. Its best-known craft is chikankari, a fine hand embroidery on cotton and other fabrics, which supports a large network of artisans, traders and showrooms. The old markets of Chowk and Aminabad remain the main places to buy in bulk.
Economy and main industries
Government administration, courts, education and healthcare employ a large share of Lucknow's workforce, and they create demand for professional services, printing, stationery, catering and transport. Retail and wholesale trade serve the city and the surrounding districts of central Uttar Pradesh.
Chikankari is the city's most distinctive industry. Embroidery is done largely by home-based artisans, with traders and manufacturers in the old city handling design, cutting, finishing and sales to retailers across India. Manufacturing is otherwise modest in scale and is concentrated in government-developed industrial areas such as Amausi, near the airport, and the smaller Talkatora estate.
Main business areas and markets
Chowk is one of Lucknow's oldest markets and the best-known centre for chikankari. Wholesalers, workshops and showrooms line its lanes, and many retailers from other cities source their stock here.
Aminabad, another of the city's oldest markets, is the commercial core of the old city, with wholesale and retail shops selling clothing, fabrics, cosmetics, footwear and household goods. Hazratganj, often compared with Delhi's Connaught Place, is the main upmarket shopping and office street, with showrooms for chikankari, sarees and handmade fabrics alongside banks and offices.
For manufacturing, the Amausi industrial area covers about 237 acres near the airport, and the Talkatora rural industrial estate about 49 acres.
Chikankari and textiles
Buyers of chikankari usually deal with traders in Chowk or Aminabad who coordinate work by artisans across the city and nearby villages. Orders can be placed for finished garments or for embroidered fabric by the metre. Prices vary widely with the fineness of the stitching and the base fabric, so it is common to ask for samples before placing a bulk order.
Finding businesses in Lucknow
Common searches in Lucknow include chikankari manufacturers and wholesalers, garment shops, lawyers and legal services, coaching institutes, hospitals, caterers and wedding services. Government contractors and suppliers are also widely sought. IndiaYP lists Lucknow businesses by category and locality.
Frequently asked questions
What is the STD code for Lucknow?
Lucknow landlines use the STD code 0522. From abroad, dial +91 522 before the number.
Where is the best market for chikankari in Lucknow?
Chowk is the best-known centre for chikankari, with Aminabad and Hazratganj also home to many sellers.
What is the name of Lucknow's airport?
It is Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, formerly known as Amausi Airport.
Which industrial areas are in Lucknow?
The main government-developed areas include the Amausi industrial area near the airport and the Talkatora rural industrial estate.