Imambara Sibtainabad Mubarak, (Imambara Jannat Nasheen). Compound. (Lucknow)

 tomb(s), islam, imambara

The construction of Imambara was commenced by 'His Majesty King Amjad Ali Shah' (4th King of Awadh) and was completed by his son 'His Majesty King Wajid Ali Shah' (5th King of Awadh) when he ascended the throne in 1847. Imambara Sibtainabad Mubarak [named as such by the King for holding majlis and mourning the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain (A.S.)].
The Imambara was surrounded on all four sides by two enclosures with gateways at the middle of the ghulam gardish (Sehanchi), which are arched cloisters meant for attendants. [The outer enclosure encircled the inner one]. Only two of these gateways, one on the front, opposite the Halwasiya market and the other at the entrance of the Imambara are extant today. A mosque was attached to the Imambara.
The Imambara structure was later referred to as maqbara, for bearing the mortal remains of King Amjad Ali Shah. It also has the grave of one of his grandsons, Mirza JavedAli and the grave of Najm-un-Nissan Begum, a queen of Wajid Ali Shah, who was formally addressed as Aashiq Mahal.
The structure was under attack and occupied by Sikh troops of the British army on March 13, 1858, on their way to the assault on Begum Hazrat Mahal and her loyal freedom fighters at Qaiser Bagh, that finally led to the recapture of Lucknow.
The Archaeological Survey of India (A.S.I.) has done an excellent job in restoring part of the main Imambara structure in its control, in the form of a hall with decorated archways and indication of graves within it [which actually lie below, in the basement]. However, the wings on both sides of the hall are still under unauthorised occupation and both the ghulam gardish (Sehanchi) have been illegally put to use as shops and residences with the connivance of the Lucknow Development Authority.

Source:
Hindustan Times, City Scan, A Time in History
Wednesday 27.5.1998 — Maqbara Sibtainabad