The Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Mediaeval India c6.s6.115

c6.s6.115

Lucknow--Situated on the river Gumtî. It is said to have been founded by Lakshmaṇa, the brother of Râmachandra of the Râmâyaṇa, on an elevated spot now known as Lakshmaṇṭilâ or Lakshmaṇapura, where a mosque was afterwards built by Safdar Jang, Subadar of Oudh. It is now within the Machchhibhawan fort, overlooking the Asfi (stone) Bridge. Asaf-ud-dowlah made Lucknow his capital, the capital of his two predecessors being at Fyzabad. The Great Emambarah with the Raumi Gate and the Masjid were built by Asaf-ud-dowlah; the old Residency, Dilkhosha and the Lal Bâradâri were built by Saadat Ali Khan; the Moti Mahal and Shah Najaf were built by Nasir-uddin Hyder; the Chutter Manzil was built by Nasir-uddin Hyder; the Hossenabad buildings were constructed by Mahomed Ali Shah, the Chhoṭa Emambarah by Amjad Ali Shah, and the Kaisarbagh by Wajid Ali Shah. Mannua or Manpore, about 24 miles north of Lucknow, has a very high and extensive mound called the fort of Mândhâtâ. Nagrâon, in the district of Lucknow, is said to have been the city of Râjâ Nala, a descendant of Râmachandra (see Vâyu Purâṇa, II, ch. 26) whose episode is given in the Mahâbhârata (P. C. Mukerji's Pictorial Lucknow).