The Majestic Junction
Written by
Sachin Pandey
The train slowed
down with the sound of tossing and
screeching of brakes and I peeked out
for station. It was 6:35am in the
morning and I was on the side lower berth, I swiftly slide the curtains, the
raindrops were all over the window as It was mizzling steadily outside
and I could see my train approaching the platform, increasing my avidity to know the
station.
The sound of
stirring train approaching the platform was the same as a small hammer hitting
the iron rod and through the blurred view of my window, I could see coolies
running parallel to my train wearing bright Redshirt and copper armband and
then slowly the soaring excitement of my eyes, to know the station was finally over.
I saw the yellow concrete signboard which was
123.50 above sea level with some station name
and wait I could see.....
MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
I
felt the jostle of passengers towards the exit gate but I finally managed to get
off the train. I could still feel the commotion and rush everywhere on the
station. The Clamouring voice of porters carrying the luggage and the whistle
of Railway police force was the loudest among them all. The station was teeming
and it was
just 7 in the morning, I can recall the counter of MAY I HELP YOU which
was helplessly flooded with people.
I
finally found the exit gate at platform no.1 where people were hustling on the opposite side as it was the entry point of the station. On seeing the high roof
and aesthetic walls of red and white bricks, I suddenly felt myself standing in
a hall of some great old palace. I was agog to see the railway station and in
no time I headed out from the exit hall in curiosity.
The
entrance and architecture of railway station warmly welcomes the passenger to
the City of Nawabs.
I
came outside and saw the army trucks on my left side and a huge palace made of
red and white brick surrounded by people and auto-rickshaw. The beauty of Lucknow
Junction cajoled me for knowing more
about it and I googled out everything.
CHARBAGH
RAILWAY STATION
LUCKNOW JUNCTION is one of the Oldest Railway Station in the country.
The
beauty of this station is magnificent and is not less than any monument.
Lucknow
Junction (LKO) is one architectural masterpiece
which was built back in 1914, designed by J.H.Horniman and it took
around 9 years to complete with the cost
of around 70 lakhs.
The
station has a unique name and besides everything unique in Lucknow there is a
hidden story to everything as well.
Lucknow
railway station is called as Charbagh
Railway Station which derived
its name from the place Charbagh which is in the south of the city and it refers
to four gardens which existed in that place. The campus holds two Major station
Lucknow Junction (Lko) and Lucknow City(LJN) and is one of the busiest railway
station with more than 300 trains running
from the station and connecting to almost all parts of the country.
The
premises of the station represents brotherhood
and passes on the message of communal harmony to every passenger who walks through this
station. As on the left side of
station one can see the 900 years old Mazar Sharif of Khamman Peer Baba , situated between the railway lines and is a symbol of
faith as it is thronged by the devotees of all religion on Thursday, and on the right side we could see a Beautiful Hindu
temple.
The station has a park which also comes with a
hidden story as it was the sight of a first personal meeting between Mahatma
Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. An engraved stone has been placed outside
the Railway station marking this special meeting.
The sprawling structure of Charbagh Railway
station is a blend of the beautiful architecture of Mughal and Rajasthani style
with a British touch on it. This architectural marvel appears like a chessboard
from the sky with turrets and domes resembling chess pieces and from the front it
resembles a magnificent Palace. This
building is much more than a Railway station as earlier it was a built as a
beautiful garden by the Nawabs and subsequently it changed to Railway station
by Britishers. The most striking feature
of this station is that it is nearly impossible to hear the sounds of the
trains from outside the station building.
A Platform is one of those places where one can
experience a mixture of joy and sorrow
at the same time, as it sometimes fills you with happiness and at times leaves
you with teary eyes.
There are moments when we eagerly wait for someone with joy in heart and nervousness running throughout the body with dancing
brain just waiting for that train to arrive and we finally let out a whoop of delight
when we see them,
And then
There are moments when we hate listening to the
train announcement and setting up our luggage in the coach. With a heavy
heart we had to say goodbye to some trains and we could see that face slowly getting
blurred with the moving train and then in a second of time emptiness spreads
all over the platform with the voice of that person piercing through our ears and
we hardly hear the din of platforms.
The platform witness the hour of joy and sorrow
everyday.
But the moment we come out of the platform, The Cupola structure feels like a huge
palace standing with open arms warmly welcoming visitors to the city and at the
same time consoling the people who are leaving.
So the next time when you plan to visit Lucknow
make sure that you feel this city at the monumental station of Charbagh and
receive the grand welcome from the palace to the beautiful City
of Nawabs- A city which makes you feel at home even when you are an outsider.
And don’t miss
asking the hidden stories to everything you see here!
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