Where Stories Come Alive

The Koshala Literature Festival, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

THE JOURNEY

Lucknow is the city of Awadh, where nawabi grace, Urdu poetry, Hindustani music and a legendary kitchen shaped a way of life that still lingers in every lane. For four days in late November, the city gathers its writers, artists and performers for the Koshala Literature Festival, a celebration of literature, storytelling, arts and heritage.

With an expected audience of 8,000 to 10,000 across four days, Koshala is among the most inclusive cultural gatherings in North India. This itinerary pairs the festival with the Lucknow that lives beyond the stage: its monuments, its bazaars, its embroiderers and its table.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Four days of talks, readings, performances and conversations at the Koshala Literature Festival
• An evening of live music at the festival (ticketed)
• A heritage walk through old Lucknow, from the Bara Imambara complex to the lanes of Chowk
• A 45 minute meeting with Chikankari artisans, practitioners of Lucknow’s GI tagged embroidery
• The flavours of Awadhi cuisine, from slow cooked dishes to the sweets of old Lucknow

DAY BY DAY

The festival organisers have not yet released the day wise session list. The structure below holds the festival at its heart and will be updated with named sessions once the programme is announced.

  DAY 1   Welcome to Awadh   |   27 November

Arrive in Lucknow and check in. Spend the afternoon at the festival, taking in the opening sessions, the book displays and the atmosphere of a city that loves its stories. Evening at leisure or at a festival performance.

Overnight: Lucknow

  DAY 2   Old Lucknow and the Festival   |   28 November

A guided morning heritage walk through the Bara Imambara area and the old city, where the legacy of the Nawabs of Awadh is still part of daily life. Midday Awadhi lunch. Afternoon and evening at the festival, with an optional ticketed music session.

Overnight: Lucknow

  DAY 3   The Hands Behind the Heritage   |   29 November

A morning at the festival, followed by a 45 minute interaction with Chikankari artisans, guided by the artisans themselves during their working hours. Payment goes directly to the community as part of the tour cost, never as a tip. Evening at the festival or a ticketed music performance.

Overnight: Lucknow

  DAY 4   Closing Sessions and Departure   |   30 November

Final festival sessions, a farewell Awadhi meal and departure from Lucknow. Guests may extend to Ayodhya, the heart of the ancient Kosala kingdom, subject to route and timing verification.

INCLUSIONS

• 3 nights accommodation in Lucknow (category to be confirmed)
• Daily breakfast
• Private guided heritage walk in old Lucknow
• Chikankari artisan interaction with direct community payment
• Festival access (sessions are free to attend)
• 5 Senses Tours hosting and coordination

NOT INCLUDED

• International and domestic flights
• Tickets for evening music sessions
• Meals not mentioned, personal expenses and travel insurance

GOOD TO KNOW

• Late November in Lucknow is dry and pleasant. Mornings and evenings are cool, so carry light woollens.
• The festival venue is still to be confirmed, and all timings must be verified on Google Maps before publication.

The artisan interaction is subject to ground confirmation of the community partnership.

For more details, visit the Koshala Literature Festival.