This Saturn-shaped building is situated at Surajkund Park and is a major attraction of the city. The planetarium boasts a state-of-the-art projection system that is renowned for special effects that thrill children and adults alike. A must-watch is the Cosmic Journey show, which dives into the Chandrayaan mission to the Moon, provides an explanation as to why Pluto has been removed from the solar system, and even showcases different galactic structures and various nebulae. It is also known for its art projecting system, digital sound and lift-ramp for the specially-abled. 

The Indira Gandhi Planetarium is especially crowded on the weekends and during the summer holidays, when children from all over Uttar Pradesh come to see the galaxy come alive before their eyes. The first show on Saturday and Sunday is in English, while the rest of the shows are conducted in Hindi. There is a nominal entry fee, which is waived for the specially-abled. 

The Kukrail Reserve Forest is famous for housing a nursery of endangered species of crocodiles, along with a deer park. The forest area is covered with a lush canopy of trees that shade the various pathways, which provide walking avenues for visitors. The forest also shelters a variety of birds and a small population of blackbuck. Tourists can also picnic at the forest that houses a children's park, a cafeteria and a rest house. You can relax and enjoy the animals while learning about amazing crocodiles, and the means being employed to bring them back from the brink of extinction. 

The Kukrail Reserve Forest was set up in 1978 for the breeding of endangered species of crocodile, and was funded by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. This initiative was a direct consequence of a study conducted in 1975 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources that determined that there were only 300 crocodiles left in Uttar Pradesh, all of them found in River Chambal and other smaller rivers that run through the state. The need to preserve and protect these creatures, while also taking measures to increase their number, was recognised. 

Spread over a vast area of 29 hectare, the zoo, popularly called Lucknow Zoo, houses as many as 1000 animals across more than 100 species. This zoological garden is home to carnivores like tiger, white tiger, fishing cat, Indian wolf and leopard, as well as a hybrid lion. It also has species like sloth bear, Indian black bear, jackal, common fox, jungle cat etc. Herbivores like giraffe, hippopotamus and various kinds of deer are also housed here. Many endangered species of primates, like Hoolock gibbon and rhesus monkey are also protected by the zoo. Other than these, a multitude of bird species, like white peacock, hill myna, Indian parakeet etc, as well as various kinds of reptiles like Indian python, cobra, viper, crocodile and many more, can also be found here. Visitors can also explore the well-equipped aquarium and the cool nocturnal house, where different types of owls and other nocturnal animals, including porcupines, are cared for. 

The zoo is also known for its “Bal Rail”, a toy train that takes kids around the park. You can also go paddle boating in the man-made lake here. Since this place is quite vast and there is a lot to see, there are a number of pollution-free battery-operated vehicles for moving about the zoo.

The bustling markets of Lucknow are a delight for any shopper as the city is home to many unique and beautiful handicrafts and handloom. Street shopping in Lucknow includes buying chikankari, jewellery and a host of other handicrafts. Head to the century-old Hazratganj to get a fine selection of chikan embroidered items, branded clothes, khadi, ornaments and footwear. Rubbing shoulders with its traditional market are high-end showrooms, cinema halls and factory outlets, all in one place.

If you love handicrafts and artificial jewellery, head to Aminabad, one of the oldest markets in Lucknow, which has been around since the time of the nawabs. A major attraction in Aminabad is Gadbadjhala, that has several bangle stores and is one of the biggest make-up market in the city. From home utilities, utensils and chikan sarees, to men’s wear, food items, books, artificial jewellery and local handicrafts, Aminabad has everything you need. If all this shopping leaves you famished, you can head to any one of the fast food and street food eateries in the market. Only 3 km away from Bara Imambara is Chowk, where you can find crafted items like lampshades, wall paintings, toys and knives. You can also shop for attars and zardozi embroidered garments, as well as flowers and footwear. Another famous market here is Nakhas, 200 years old and still wowing shoppers, Indian and foreign, with its vast range of electronics, utensils and other consumer goods. You can also buy pet food and groceries here. While busy every day of the week, Nakhas really comes alive on Sunday, when a flea market selling second-hand goods, wooden items, jewellery, garments etc., takes over the shopping area. You can also sample some of Lucknow’s famous paan, kebabs and biryani from one of the numerous stalls that pop up around this time. Other than these, Lucknow also has several other shopping complexes that delight visitors: Bhootnath Market for spices and household good; Latouche Road for electronics; Yahiyaganj for metal utensils; and Kapoorthala for designer sarees. Shopping in Lucknow, while allowing you to get fantastic bargains on clothes and other items, also gives you a sense of the cultural spirit of the city.