Satkhanda Lucknow

Satkhanda in Lucknow

The word ‘Satkhanda’ means Seven-Storeyed. Initially, this building was intended to comprise seven storeys but it’s construction work was later abandoned and thus, only 4 level of it could be completed. Incomplete but nevertheless splendour of heritage architecture, Satkhnada, a red-brick watch-tower, constructed by King Mohammed Ali Shah, is situated near the Chota Imambara. Satkhanda, a four-storey tower, has got its architectural design influenced from ‘The Leaning Tower of Pisa’, one of the seven wonders of world. The tower is constructed in a blend of Greek and Islamic architecture. Its framework and pediments reflect Greek structural design whereas arches of the gates and windows show influence of Islamic structural design. The height of the octagonal ground floor of this structure is almost 10 feet, making it the highest floor of this tower. One of the distinctive feature of this structure is that each of its successive storey has been constructed in the decreasing order of height and breadth of its base floor. The total height of Satkhanda is 35 feet approximately. The tower has numerous triple-arched huge windows and compartments. A flight of spiral steps leads to the different storeys of the building. From the uppermost storey of the facade, one can see the beauty of the city’s adjacent