Key Highlights
- Lucknow has been inducted into UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network as a City of Gastronomy.
- The designation acknowledges the city’s storied Awadhi cuisine and composite cultural heritage.
- The award enhances Lucknow’s profile on the global culinary map and supports sustainable food tourism.
- A collaborative dossier by state tourism, chefs and heritage experts secured the nomination in 2025.
- India now boasts nine cities in the UCCN, with Lucknow joining Hyderabad as a second gastronomic capital.
Detailed Insights
UNESCO announced the honour at its 43rd General Conference held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking a milestone for Lucknow and India’s cultural diplomacy.
The nomination dossier was assembled by the Directorate of Tourism, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and submitted to the Ministry of Culture on 31 January 2025. India officially nominated Lucknow for the City of Gastronomy title on 3 March 2025, highlighting the city’s culinary diversity, innovation and sustainable food traditions.
The designation brings manifold benefits: it promotes sustainable and cultural tourism, supports local chefs, artisans and small food businesses, helps preserve traditional recipes and cooking methods, strengthens India’s cultural diplomacy and soft power, and encourages knowledge exchange and innovation with other UNESCO creative cities.
With Lucknow’s inclusion, India now has nine cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, reinforcing the nation’s diverse culinary heritage and its integration with modern innovation.
Key Concepts
- UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN): an international framework linking cities that harness culture, creativity and innovation for sustainable development.
- City of Gastronomy: a UNESCO designation for cities possessing extraordinary culinary heritage, innovation and food‑based sustainability.
- Awadhi cuisine: the traditional gastronomy of Lucknow, noted for royal lineage, aromatic spices and delicate preparation.
- Ganga‑Jamuni tehzeeb: the syncretic cultural tapestry blending Hindu and Muslim traditions that characterizes North‑Indian society.
- Culinary tourism: travel centred around eating experiences, local gastronomy and food‑related cultural practices.