Awadh, Uttar Pradesh: India is restoring a centuries-old royal kitchen that never stopped serving food

The royal kitchen still serves food, but the complex has been worn down by time.

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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.