Lucknow, a city in northern India, is situated on the banks of the Gomati River, a left tributary of the Ganges. Lucknow is the administrative center of the state of Uttar Pradesh. With a population of 2.4 million people (2004), Lucknow is also a major transportation, industrial, commercial, and services industry hub of India.

The city has a well-developed textile (cotton), metal, leather and footwear, food processing, and paper and printing industry. Lucknow is also known worldwide for its traditional artistic handicrafts (embroidery (Chikan and Lakhnawi Zardozi), fabrics and pottery manufacturing, wood carving, and ivory).

It is also an educational and research hub: Lucknow University was established in 1921; the Central Research Institute of Pharmacy, Art School of ancient crafts (silver, copper, weaving artistry); art gallery, Uttar Pradesh museum (a collection of ancient sculptures from various parts of the state), a botanical garden.

In the past, Lucknow was the capital of the principality of Avadh. It was one of the main centers of the Indian national uprising of 1857.Lucknow is also known for its historical monuments and decorative gardens and parks, which include the architectural complex Bara (Big) Imambara (1784), the mausoleum of Asaf ud-Daula, graves of the righteous Muslim, and the gorgeous Asafi Masjid mosque with lots of minarets. The complex is famous for three vaulted halls, one of which is the largest in Asia (length 49.4 m, width 16.2 m, height 15 m).

Lucknow, with its fast-emerging development, has been ranked at number 6 in India for fastest job creation. In recent years, it has emerged as a major center for goods manufacturing and the services industry.

Till recent times, its middle class was mainly employed with the Government departments and the public sector companies in the city. Post 1991, the city has witnessed tremendous growth in terms of opportunities in the business and service sector, thereby giving the city a completely new outlook.

Headquarters of many central and state enterprises are situated in Lucknow: The Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI); The Pradeshiya Industrial and Investment Corporation of Uttar Pradesh (PICUP).

It is also home to the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII).Major public and private manufacturers of India that have their production facilities in Lucknow are Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Tata Motors, Eveready Industries, Omax Auto, and Scooters India Ltd.

Since historic times, Lucknow has generally been a trading hub for mangoes, melons, grains, and sugarcane. In 1855, Edward Dyer started Dyer Breweries, which was Asia’s first commercial brewery. The company was later renamed Mohan Meakin Brewery in 1967.

Lucknow has a well-developed infrastructure suitable for modern-day sectors like education, commercial, banking and legal activities, information technology, retailing, construction, and other service industries.