Lucknow UNESCO Gastronomy City 2025: India's 2nd After Hyderabad

Lucknow Joins UNESCO's Prestigious List: India's Second Creative City of Gastronomy After Hyderabad

Last Updated: November 4, 2025 | Reading Time: 10 minutes

Historic UNESCO Recognition

On October 31, 2025, UNESCO designated Lucknow as a Creative City of Gastronomy during World Cities Day celebrations at the 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. This makes Lucknow the second Indian city after Hyderabad (2019) to receive this prestigious honor, joining an elite group of 70 gastronomy cities worldwide.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated the achievement, stating that Lucknow is synonymous with vibrant culture, at the core of which lies great culinary tradition. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat added that this recognition enhances Lucknow's global stature as a premier destination for food and culture.

Understanding UNESCO Creative Cities Network

The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), established in 2004, connects 408 cities across 100+ countries that use culture and creativity as drivers for sustainable development. The network covers seven creative fields: crafts, film, literature, music, media arts, design, and gastronomy.

To earn this designation, cities must demonstrate:

● Well-developed culinary traditions characteristic of the region
● Vibrant food communities with traditional restaurants and chefs
● Use of indigenous ingredients and traditional cooking methods
● Active food markets and gastronomic festivals
● Commitment to environmental sustainability
● Heritage preservation and culinary education programs

Journey to Recognition

The Uttar Pradesh Directorate of Tourism submitted Lucknow's nomination on January 31, 2025. The Ministry of Culture selected it as India's official entry on March 3, 2025, after comprehensive evaluation. The final UNESCO approval came on October 31, 2025.
Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh emphasized that culinary tourism has attracted visitors to Uttar Pradesh for generations, and this designation will amplify international visibility exponentially.

Tourism Impact: The Numbers

Lucknow's culinary appeal is already impressive:

● 8.27 million tourists visited in 2024
● 7+ million visitors in first half of 2025 alone
● Expected 30-40% increase in culinary tourism post-UNESCO recognition
● Projected 5,000-10,000 new jobs in hospitality sector

Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat highlighted that Lucknow's food ecosystem—from royal kitchens to street markets—has always been a major draw. The UNESCO tag will serve as a catalyst for unprecedented growth.

The Soul of Awadhi Cuisine

What makes Lucknow exceptional is its Awadhi cuisine—a 300-year-old culinary tradition perfected in Nawabi royal kitchens. This sophisticated blend of Mughal, Persian, and North Indian influences is characterized by:

The Dum Pukht Technique

The signature cooking method invented by Awadhi chefs is dum pukht (slow cooking). Food is sealed in heavy pots, often with dough, and cooked over low heat for hours. Ingredients cook in their own juices, creating deep, layered flavors while retaining nutrients. This technique distinguishes Awadhi cuisine from all other Indian cooking styles.

Legendary Kebabs
Galawati (Galouti) Kebab - The crown jewel of Awadhi cuisine, created for a toothless Nawab. These melt-in-mouth kebabs use over 150 spices and achieve silky texture through hours of meat pounding.
Tunday Kababi - Created by one-armed chef Haji Murad Ali with a secret mix of 125+ spices. The original shop in Aminabad has served this since 1905.
Kakori Kebab - Silky smooth seekh kebabs that literally melt on the tongue, requiring no chewing.
Where to try: Tunday Kababi (Aminabad), Dastarkhwan (Hazratganj)
Awadhi Dum Biryani
Unlike Hyderabadi biryani where raw meat and rice cook together, Awadhi biryani is more refined:
1. Rice and meat cooked separately
2. Layered in a pot
3. Sealed with dough
4. Slow-cooked for 2-3 hours

The result is subtle, aromatic, with perfectly separated rice grains and incredibly tender meat.
Where to try: Idris Biryani (Chowk)
Other Iconic Dishes
Nihari - Slow-cooked overnight stew traditionally eaten for breakfast
Sheermal - Sweet saffron-flavored flatbread that pairs perfectly with kebabs
Malai Gilori - Cream-filled sweet rolls, a winter specialty
Basket Chaat - Unique Lucknow street food creation

Lucknow vs Hyderabad: Tale of Two Cities

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Hyderabad (2019)

India's first UNESCO gastronomy city boasts:

● 2,200+ registered restaurants
● 12% of population employed in food industry
● 700 tonnes daily chicken consumption (2,000 during festivals)
● Famous for bold, spicy Hyderabadi biryani and GI-tagged Haleem
● Fusion of Kakatiya (12th century) + Turkish (15th century) + Mughal influences

Lucknow (2025)
India's second gastronomy city offers:

● 1,800+ traditional eateries
● 8.27 million annual tourists
● Famous for subtle Awadhi biryani and 150-spice Galawati kebabs
● Emphasis on restraint and refinement
● Pure Mughal and Persian influences from 18th century Nawabi courts

Key Difference: Chef Sadaf Hussain explains, "Lucknow showed me that refinement comes
from subtraction, not excess. Just enough ghee, just enough spice, just enough flame."

Street Food Paradise

Lucknow's magic extends beyond fine dining. The vibrant street food scene in Chowk, Aminabad, and Hazratganj offers:

● Khasta Kachori - Crispy breakfast favorite at Bajpai ki Puri
● Kulfi Faluda - Dense ice cream at Prakash Kulfi
● Paani ke Batashe - Crispy puri in spiced water
● Makhan Malai - Cloud-like winter-only dessert (November-February)

The Tulsi Theatre food lane bustles every evening with kebab aromas, where restaurants like Naushijaan and Idris Biryani serve crowds waiting eagerly for tables.

Voices from the Culinary World

PM Narendra Modi: "I call upon people from around the world to visit Lucknow and discover its uniqueness."
Chef Ranveer Brar (Lucknow Native): "This honor brings an obligation to showcase our cuisine with even greater authenticity."
Chef Sadaf Hussain: "UNESCO's recognition simply tells the world what Lucknow has quietly known for centuries—its culinary identity is a refined language of balance and slow cooking."
Tim Curtis (UNESCO Regional Director): "This designation honors Lucknow's rich cultural legacy while opening new avenues for international collaboration."

Heritage Preservation Efforts

The 2024 exhibit "Lucknow ke Bawarchikhane" (Lucknow's Kitchens) at the State Museum recreated traditional kitchens and displayed historical cooking vessels. Such initiatives document culinary heritage for future generations.
Urgent efforts are underway to document ustads (master chefs) who've perfected single dishes over lifetimes. Many guard family recipes never written down, passed only orally through generations.

Sustainable Gastronomy

UNESCO emphasizes environmental sustainability. Lucknow's cuisine naturally aligns with these principles:

● Locally sourced ingredients and seasonal produce
● Indigenous spices like cardamom, saffron, and mace
● Slow cooking that minimizes energy waste
● Whole-animal utilization reducing food waste

Future opportunities include strengthening urban-rural producer connections, supporting organic farming of traditional ingredients, and promoting water conservation in food preparation.

What This Means for Food Lovers

Lucknow's UNESCO recognition is an invitation to discover one of the world's most refined culinary traditions. Experience:

● The legendary texture of Galawati kebabs
● Delicate layers of Awadhi Dum Biryani
● Vibrant street food in old city bazaars
● 300-year-old recipes from royal kitchens
● Stories of history, culture, and craftsmanship in every bite

Conclusion

Lucknow's designation as UNESCO's second Creative City of Gastronomy in India marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. This recognition validates centuries of culinary excellence while opening doors to tourism growth, economic development, cultural preservation, and international collaboration.
For Lucknow—where food is poetry, art, and identity—this UNESCO honor is both deserved acknowledgment and renewed responsibility. As evening falls and kebab grills light up across Hazratganj and Chowk, Lucknow continues creating culinary magic that transcends time and borders.
For anyone passionate about food, culture, and history, Lucknow officially beckons as a must-visit destination where every dish tells a story and every bite connects you to centuries of artistry.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy mean?
A prestigious designation for cities demonstrating outstanding culinary traditions, vibrant food ecosystems, sustainability commitment, and use of food as a driver for urban development.
2. How many gastronomy cities exist globally?
70 cities worldwide hold this designation as part of UNESCO's 408-city Creative Cities Network across seven creative fields.
3. What is Awadhi cuisine famous for?
Subtle flavors, dum pukht slow-cooking technique, exceptional kebabs (Galawati, Kakori), aromatic biryani, and perfect balance of 150+ spices.
4. How does Lucknow's biryani differ from Hyderabad's?
Awadhi biryani is subtle and delicate with rice and meat cooked separately then layered. Hyderabadi biryani is spicier with ingredients cooked together from start.
5. When did Lucknow receive UNESCO recognition?
October 31, 2025, during World Cities Day at UNESCO's 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
6. What are must-try dishes in Lucknow?
Galawati kebabs (Tunday Kababi), Awadhi Dum Biryani (Idris), Kakori kebabs, Nihari, Sheermal, Khasta kachori, Malai gilori, Basket chaat.
7. How will UNESCO recognition benefit Lucknow?
Boost culinary tourism, create 5,000-10,000 jobs, facilitate international collaborations, support small businesses, preserve traditional cooking methods.
8. What is dum pukht cooking?
Slow-cooking where food is sealed in a pot (often with dough) and cooked over low heat, allowing ingredients to cook in their own juices for deep flavors.
9. Which area is best for Lucknow street food?
Chowk, Aminabad, and Hazratganj in old city, featuring Tunday Kababi, Tulsi Theatre food lane, and numerous traditional eateries.
10. How many tourists visit Lucknow annually?
8.27 million in 2024, with over 7 million in just first half of 2025—numbers expected to grow 30-40% post-UNESCO recognition.

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