Lucknow's Flavorful Victory: UNESCO Honors City's Gastronomic Heritage

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Lucknow has made history by becoming the second Indian city to be designated a Creative City of Gastronomy by UNESCO. The recognition, announced on October 31, 2025, coincided with World Cities Day, highlights the city's rich culinary heritage, which spans centuries. The city's Awadhi cuisine, a blend of traditional and modern flavors, has been celebrated globally. UNESCO's recognition includes iconic dishes such as Galouti Kabab, Awadhi Biryani, Chaat, Golgappe, and desserts like Makhan Malai. These mouth-watering delicacies are a testament to Lucknow's gastronomic prowess. However, the celebration has sparked a debate among vegetarians, including top leaders, who have pointed out the absence of non-vegetarian dishes in some congratulatory posts. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in his congratulatory message, listed several vegetarian dishes, but failed to mention non-vegetarian staples like kebabs, which are a hallmark of Lucknow's cuisine. The debate has been fueled by social media posts, with some users suggesting that the recognition celebrates Lucknow's rich culinary heritage, including non-vegetarian dishes. Others have suggested promoting Lucknow's food-based entrepreneurship and tourism. The UNESCO nomination process began in January 2025, and the final recognition is expected to amplify Lucknow's global outreach and promote its food-based entrepreneurship. Uttar Pradesh's tourism minister, Jaiveer Singh, emphasized that this recognition will carry Lucknow's rich food traditions to every corner of the country and the world. Lucknow joins Hyderabad as the only two Indian cities to be added to the Creative Cities Network in the gastronomy category. The recognition is a testament to the city's rich culinary heritage and its ability to attract tourists from around the world.