At UNESCO’s 43rd General Conference in Samarkand (Uzbekistan), Lucknow was designated a “Creative City of Gastronomy”, joining 70 global gastronomy cities.

• It became India’s second city after Hyderabad to receive this tag.

Lucknow’s Culinary Heritage & Tourism

• Type/Nature: Awadhi cuisine city known for its royal kitchens (nawabi traditions), street foods (tunday kebabs, biryanis, kormas), and composite Ganga–Jamuni culture.
  
• Key features:
  • Blend of Mughlai, Persian, and North Indian culinary traditions.
  • Presence of small food entrepreneurs, local vendors, and heritage eateries.
  • Major tourism driver with > 8.27 million tourists (2024) and >7.02 million in H1 2025.
• Benefits:
  • Global marketing of Lucknow as a culinary destination.
  • Boosts local livelihoods and training programs in food-related trades.

About UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy

• Definition: A title under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) recognising cities that use creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development — specifically in culinary arts and gastronomy.
• Legal/Institutional basis: Established by UNESCO in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that identify creativity as a driver of sustainable development under UNESCO’s Culture Sector.
• Criteria/Process:
  • The city must show a rich culinary heritage, innovation in gastronomy, and sustainability practices.
  • Nomination → National selection (Ministry of Culture, India) → UNESCO evaluation → Approval at General Conference.
• Purpose & Implications:
  • Promotes culinary tourism, local entrepreneurship, and preservation of traditional food knowledge.
  • Enhances global branding and access to international collaborations and funding under UCCN.

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List of Indian Cities on UNESCO Creative City List

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