With only one short day to rush around Lucknow, how much of the city could I see thanks to overpriced Rickshaws and a general sense of making the most of this flying visit to India?

I was here in Uttar Pradesh for the Kumbh Mela festival, which had turned into a trip of challenges and mistakes, including the 12-hour bus ride that meant we arrived in Lucknow hours after we had intended to. The Kumbh Mela is the largest human gathering on earth, and it had been quite the experience.

Exhausted and suffering a bout of Delhi-belly, Vicky and I soldiered on in exploring the most of Lucknow with just the one day we had in the city, jumping between driver to driver on Rickshaws, and happily paying the over-inflated prices to see the sights quickly. It’s a city known for its food and architecture, and you can see a surprising number of sights in a small amount of time. Let me take you through them.

How to get to Lucknow?

Lucknow is the capital of the Uttar Pradesh Region, so has regular domestic flights connecting with Delhi and other parts of India. It also accepts a few international flights from the likes of Oman, Dubai and Bangkok, among others. There are buses from Delhi, around 9 hours, or Agra if you are coming from the Taj Mahal – a train station is also in Lucknow.

Do you need a visa?

Important! Don’t forget you do need a visa for India on a UK passport, and although you might hear about a visa on arrival, don’t fall foul like my friend Vicky did when she turned up at Gatwick and got turned away from her flight, luckily managing to join us a day later than she had hoped.

You do need to apply in advance for the e-visa so check for the right type of Indian visa when planning your trip. To be honest, it’s one of the more confusing and difficult visas I’ve applied for. While you can do the process on the official website, I have used an agency in the past which can sometimes help with expediting the process too, so consider using the supported Indian visa application for a few £ more if you want help with the process.

Where to go after Lucknow?

Whatever you do, do not miss the chance to visit Varanasi while you are in Uttar Pradesh, even if you just spend one day in Varanasi, you’ll be amazed by how special this spiritual destination is!

Where to stay in Lucknow?

I stayed in the Hyatt Regency (as this was a work trip) which although a bit pricey it was a beautiful hotel. If you want somewhere more budget-friendly, there are a few hostels in Lucknow, and one of my friends stay at Poshtel Lucknow and said it was perfect for the price.