UNESCO has officially designated Lucknow as a 'Creative City of Gastronomy' during its 43rd General Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, joining just 70 elite food cities worldwide and becoming India's second after Hyderabad. Announced on World Cities Day 2025, this accolade adds Lucknow to a prestigious network now encompassing 408 cities across more than 100 countries. The 'Cities of Gastronomy' category welcomed nine new members including Zaragoza in Spain, Songkhla in Thailand, and Quanzhou in China, but Lucknow stands out as a beacon of India's rich culinary heritage rooted in Nawabi traditions.

This prestigious title coincides with Lucknow's 250th anniversary as Awadh's capital, spotlighting its legendary galouti kebabs—tender patties of minced meat melted with papaya and royal spices—aromatic Awadhi biryani layered with saffron and slow-cooked dum, vibrant tokri chaat served in edible baskets, crisp puri-kachori stuffed with lentils, and indulgent desserts like malai gilori and the frothy makhan malai that dissolves on the tongue. These dishes aren't mere meals; they are edible chronicles of Mughal refinement blended with local ingenuity, drawing connoisseurs from across the globe to the city's bustling Chowk bazaars and historic imambaras.

Tourism Minister Jaiveer Singh hailed the recognition as a monumental boost to Uttar Pradesh's 'Viksit' vision under PM Narendra Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath, predicting a surge in culinary tourism, job creation, and entrepreneurial ventures in food processing and heritage dining. He emphasized how the tag validates years of strategic promotion of Uttar Pradesh as a cultural powerhouse, where every spice-laden gravy narrates tales of royal banquets and communal harmony, further aligning with national goals of economic empowerment through tourism.

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Officials revealed that 7.02 million visitors flocked to Lucknow in the first half of 2025 alone—nearly matching 2024's full-year total of 8.274 million—proving food's magnetic pull on global travelers who now seek authentic experiences over generic sightseeing. Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat described each plate as a storytelling medium uniting royal kitchens with street vendors, forecasting enhanced global outreach, sustainable practices like farm-to-table initiatives, and a boom in food festivals that could position Lucknow as Asia's next gastronomic hub.

The rigorous bid, spearheaded by the Directorate of Tourism under former Principal Secretary Mukesh Meshram, involved a comprehensive dossier submitted to the Union Culture Ministry, detailing preservation efforts, community involvement, and innovation in Awadhi cuisine. Now positioned alongside gastronomic giants like Zaragoza, Matosinhos in Portugal, and Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah in Saudi Arabia, Lucknow is poised for sustainable growth through its unique fusion of royal opulence and street-side vibrancy, inviting the world to savor its flavors while fostering cultural exchange and economic vitality.

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