THIS city is named UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, becomes 2nd from India to gain the recognition

The city is famous for many different dishes, including its meaty kebabs.

From famous street food to royal cuisine, Lucknow’s cuisine has brought together history, innovation and community spirit for centuries. Now the city has a place on the official global culinary map after UNESCO named it the City of Creative Gastronomy. This appointment was announced by UNESCO on World Cities Day, October 31, as part of 58 additions to the Creative Cities Network (UCCN) this year. According to the official press release, Lucknow becomes the second Indian city to be added to UCCN’s gastronomy category, following the selection of Hyderabad in 2019.

Union Culture Minister and Jodhpur MP Gajendra Singh Shekhawat shared the news about X. He wrote: “Lucknow has been designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy for its outstanding culinary heritage and invaluable contribution to India’s rich gastronomic traditions. This honor strengthens Lucknow’s global reputation, positions it as a leading destination for food and culture, and opens new avenues for tourism promotion, culture-led economic growth, heritage preservation, and international cooperation through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.”

By announcing this title, UNESCO recognized Lucknow’s culinary creativity as well as its historic Awadhi cuisine. The city is famous for many different dishes, including its delicious kebabs and its unique rendition of the world-famous biryani. With this recognition, Lucknow becomes one of the 408 cities in over 100 countries recognized for its contribution to creative fields such as handicrafts, folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts and music. This year, according to the statement, architecture was introduced as a new creative field within the network.

“Lucknow’s recognition as a UNESCO City of Creative Gastronomy is a testament to its deep-rooted culinary traditions and vibrant food ecosystem. This designation honors the city’s rich cultural heritage while opening new avenues for international cooperation,” said Tim Curtis, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia.

(With inputs from news agency ANI).