Lucknow gets 'Creative City of gastronomy' tag from UNESCO

UNESCO has declared Lucknow a “Creative City of Gastronomy”. With this, the city, associated with vibrant culture and rich Awadhi cuisine, enters 70 gastronomy cities worldwide and is the second Indian city to win the title after Hyderabad.

The Uttar Pradesh Government had submitted Lucknow’s nomination to the Ministry of Culture on January 31, this year, and the Union Government selected the city as the country’s official entry on March 3, 2025.  The Awadhi cuisine finds its root in Mughal cooking techniques but gained prominence by 1770s under the nawabs. 

The historical-cultural region of Awadh is situated in the heart of the Gangetic plains of India -- the region that had come under the Mughals in the 16th century. In the 18th century, it was rule by the Nawabs of Awadh. In 1856, Awadh passed into the hands of the British who sent Nawab Wajid Ali Shah to exile in Calcutta (now Kolkata). The dynamics of power also influenced Awadhi cuisine. 

According to Indian Culture, a government-run site, “One of the most important differences that make Awadhi food distinct from Mughlai food is that while the latter is marked by a zealous use of spices, nuts, milk and cream, the former is known for its subtle and delicate flavours and nuanced use of spices. The desire for achieving a unique style is reflected in the dumpukht style of preparation, which is considered to be the hallmark of Awadhi cooking. It is believed that the dumpukht style has its origins in the cooking techniques of Persia and Central Asia. This method usually involves cooking in a heavy-bottomed vessel with its lid sealed (with dough) and left over a low fire for several hours, sometimes even overnight, to cook. The word dum means to breathe in and pukht means to cook.” 

This year, a new theme, architecture, has been added to the seven existing ones: crafts and folk art, media arts, design, film, gastronomy, literature and music. These cities stand out for their active commitment to culture and creativity, as well as their innovative approaches to urban planning.

“From Kisumu (Kenya) and New Orleans (United States of America), chosen for the vitality of their music industries, to Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) for Design, Matosinhos (Portugal) for Gastronomy, Giza (Egypt) for Film, Cuenca (Ecuador) for Gastronomy, Rovaniemi (Finland) for Architecture, Malang (Indonesia) for Media Arts and Aberystwyth (United Kingdom) for Literature, each city promotes a distinct cultural expertise, rooted in its territory and generating social cohesion and economic dynamism,” UNESCO said. 

The members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network will have the opportunity to learn, get inspired, and partner with other member cities in sharing experiences, knowledge, and best practices, pilot projects, partnerships, and initiatives associating the public and private sectors, and civil society.