No city-except Bombay, the queen of all-was more beautiful in her garish style than Lucknow," wrote Rudyard Kipling in Kim. Located on the banks of the Gomti River, Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh. From ancient times, the city is known for its silks, perfumes, jewellery, mouth-watering cuisines, and nawabi etiquettes. In fact, Lucknow could be termed the cultural centre of northern India where people are so polite that anyone would feel at home. The classic example of 'pehle aap' (after you) shows how etiquette or tehjib runs in the blood of the people of Lucknow. But the city is very much able in accommodating the modernity, keeping the tradition and culture alive altogether.