Oudh

Oudh, also known as Awadh, is a historical region in eastern Uttar Pradesh, India. The English name Oudh is an anglicized form of Awadh, the region’s name in Urdu and Persian sources. The area centers on Lucknow and the Gomti river valley and has long been a political and cultural core of northern India.

Historically, Awadh emerged as a semi-autonomous state in the early 18th century when Safdar Jang and later his successors established the Nawabi court. The Nawabs of Awadh expanded their territory and fostered a distinct high culture, with Lucknow becoming a major center of music, poetry, architecture, and cuisine. The court’s patronage contributed to distinctive architectural ensembles such as the Bara Imambara and the Chota Imambara.

After the 1850s, the British annexed Awadh under the Doctrine of Lapse, deposing Wajid Ali Shah. The territory was governed as a province of British India, notably playing a role in the 1857 rebellion. Following the rebellion, Awadh was incorporated into the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, later renamed United Provinces, and finally reorganized as the state of Uttar Pradesh after India's independence.

Culturally, Awadh is associated with the Awadhi language, a dialect of Hindustani, as well as with Urdu literary traditions and a distinctive cuisine featuring kebabs, biryanis, and tawa dishes. The region’s legacy remains evident in Lucknow’s urban fabric, literary output, and culinary heritage.