In northern India's Uttar Pradesh state, a team of workers is carefully restoring a centuries-old royal kitchen that once fed the rulers of the former princely state of Awadh.
Tucked within the sprawling complex of Chota Imambara - a mausoleum and congregation hall - this kitchen in Lucknow is a reminder of a different kind of royal legacy. Built in 1837 by former Awadh ruler Muhammad Ali Shah, the site once served not just the elite, but the public too.
At its peak, the meals here were prepared for both the royal household and ordinary people, especially during religious gatherings and special occasions. India no longer has royals and Awadh, once a princely state ruled by semi-autonomous Muslim nawabs, now exists only as a historical region in central Uttar Pradesh.
Yet some traditions have outlived the kingdoms that created them. Nearly 200 years on, the kitchen is not just a relic but is still in use. It continues to serve food to thousands during the holy months of Ramadan and Muharram, continuing a practice of community service.
According to historians, in 1839, Muhammad Ali Shah gave 3.6m rupees - considered a vast sum in those days - to the East India Company, then a British trading enterprise, on the condition that it would be responsible for maintaining the monuments built by the Awadh nawabs, while the kitchen would continue to run on the interest earned from the fund.
After India became independent in 1947, this money was transferred into a local bank. Today, the kitchen is managed by the Hussainabad Trust - a state government-monitored body - which continues to use the interest to fund and manage the kitchen's operations.
That legacy lives on in the meals still served here, prepared to the same standards laid down generations ago. But step beyond the food and the building tells a different story. The intricate patterns and iconic brick walls that once defined the kitchen have fallen into disrepair, with plaster peeling from cracked walls and sections of the floor beginning to cave in. It was this worrying decline that prompted a group of local residents to approach the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The ASI began restoration work last October and hopes to complete the project by the end of March. What makes this restoration stand out is its focus on returning the kitchen to exactly how it once was, from recreating its original lime-based mortar to preserving intricate wall carvings.
For members of the Awadh royal lineage, the restoration is deeply personal. Yasir Abbas, a descendant of the former rulers, says the work is crucial not only to preserve a historic structure but also to uphold the centuries-old tradition and culture that the kitchen represents.
Every Ramadan, the kitchen feeds the poor, widows, and others unable to provide for themselves. Around 700 coupons are distributed daily, and cooked food is sent to 16 nearby mosques to serve both the needy and the faithful. The meals include meat curries, flatbreads, kebabs, fruits, and sweets, reflecting Lucknow's rich culinary tradition. This continuity feels quietly familiar as the restoration is not just about repairing a building, but sustaining a tradition that has endured for generations.
