Lucknow: Imambaras may open next week, more wait for Bhool Bhulaiya

LUCKNOW: After a shutdown of nearly seven months, Bada Imambara, Chhota Imambara and Husainabad Picture Gallery are likely to open for visitors from next week with safety precautions.
However, visitors will have to wait a little more for the reopening of ‘Bhool Bhulaiya’ at Bada Imambara.
The decision was taken by officials of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) Lucknow Circle, Husainabad and Allied Trust and UP Tourism as part of Unlock-4, wherein they submitted standard operating protocols (SOPs) to the district magistrate in view of the reopening of monuments.
According to the SOPs, only 2,000 visitors in a day will be allowed in a monument. Entry will be barred for those without a face mask. At a time, only seven visitors will be allowed to enter the monuments.
The second group will enter 10 minutes after the first group.
Visitors will have to maintain social distancing at all times. Tourists will be able to stay inside the monuments for a maximum period of two hours. Timings for the monuments will be from 6am to 5pm. “Every visitor entering will be thermally scanned and we will ensure proper sanitization. Booking of tickets will be done online. We have submitted all guidelines to the higher authorities and as soon as we get a nod, we will reopen the monuments,” said Manoj Saxena, ASI superintendent, Lucknow Circle.
Earlier, ASI-protected monuments like Residency, Clock Tower, Satkhanda, among others were reopened for visitors on July 6 amid precautions. Entry at Bada Imambara, Chota Imambara and Picture Gallery was only allowed for religious purposes.
There are 328 monuments of importance that fall under Lucknow jurisdiction.