might survey the extent and magnificence of his palatial domain, but the tower only reached its fourth story when the king died and the work remained unfinished.
28.—DAULAT KHANA.[1]
Proceeding westward from the Rumi Darwaza, we have, on our right, the Daulat Khana, or old palace of Nawab Asuf-ud-daula, which is north of the Clock Tower, and to which you gain access through the gateway on the right of the Baradari facing the tank. Under this name (Daulat Khaua) is included a number of large houses, irregularly placed, which formed the residence of Asuf-ud-daula and his Court when he transferred the seat of Government from Fyzabad to Lucknow. The principal house, the Asfee Kothi, was named after him. Sadat Ali Khan, his successor, however, relinquished this place for the Furhat Buksh. The Daulat Khana is now occupied by two wealthy Nawabs, Baker Ali and Jafar Ali.
The Baradari facing the tank was erected by Mahomed Ali Shah, and has recently been repaired and improved at a great cost. This building is now used as a place of conference for the native nobility and also as a picture gallery, or repository for the portraits of all the Kings of Oudh, which were formerly kept in one of the side rooms of the Husainabad Imambara.
29.—HUSAINABAD IMAMBARA.
(The Palace of Lights)
The Husainabad Imambara is the only architectura work completed by Mahomed Ali Shah, the third King of Oudh; and though inferior in grandeur to some of the works of his successors, it is the rival of many of them in beauty of detail. It contains the tomb of this monarch and his mother. The garden, which occupies the quadrangle, is somewhat disfigured by being crowded with a bad model of the Taj of Agra on the west, (in which is buried the King's daughter) and, on the east, there is a building of similar dimensions. On the right of the Taj is a small Mosque for the exclusive use of the surviving heirs and successors of departed royalty. The Husainabad presents a very grand appearance when illuminated, and in the time of the native rulers it formed the chief attraction during the Mohurrum.
It is munificently endowed by Mahomed All Shah, who left a very large sum to keep up the splendour of the Imambara, which is grandly illuminated on the anniversary of the King's death and for several nights during the
- ↑ Daulat Khaua literally means the residence of a Nobleman.
