Early March saw the Firm set off for the 2025 Attorney’s Trip to Lucknow. From first glance, the city revealed itself as a genteel fusion of varied cultural nuances, its rich layers captured in its monuments, textiles, cuisine as well as the immaculate mannerism of ‘pehley aap’ (after you).

We alighted at the Charbagh Railway station – when viewed aerially, its domes, pillars and turrets appear like chess pieces on a board. It is also the place where, in 1916, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru met for the very first time. A tour of the city took us to Rumi Darwaza, modeled after the Imperial Gate of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, and the Bada Imambara. At its famed Bhool Bhulaiya, the child in each of us came alive—warnings to steer clear were quickly forgotten as we eagerly dove into the maze of corridors and hidden nooks. Also memorable was the stroll on tree lined paths through the crumbled edifices of the British Residency.

Then there was food! From chaat, paan, thalis, kebabs, biryani, nihari to kulfi and makhan malai – a profusion of delights. Not to mention the shopping – all IP attorneys were particularly sure not to miss out on the GI tagged ‘chikankari’!

We also had a business session to recap the year gone by and brainstorm ideas for the days ahead. Cherry on the cake was a fun evening of drinks and dance, made all the more unforgettable by India’s thrilling Champions Trophy win that night!