My association with Lucknow begins with my great-great-grandfather, Khan Bahadur Chaudhry Rasheed uddin Ashraf, the Taluqdar of Karkha, who built my family’s ancestral house in Barabanki, situated 25 kilometres away from the main city.

More than half of my maternal and paternal family lives in India and I travel to Lucknow almost every year to visit my grandmother, cousins and other relatives.

What is significant about this delightfully picturesque city is its marvelous juxtaposition of the buildings and structures of the day’s bygone alongside its modern charm. A walk through Lucknow’s streets will give you a glimpse into history. - Text and photos by Zuha Siddiqui for Dawn.com