The mention of ‘Awadh’ immediately brings to mind the city of Lucknow: its Nawabi architecture, its scrumptious kebabs and a romanticised notion of tehzeeb. However, approximately 125 kilometres from the present capital city is located the city of Faizabad (now, Ayodhya) which served as the first capital of Awadh long before Lucknow assumed that title, and the privilege.
In this town is located a structure which is now colloquially referred to as ‘Afeem ki kothi’. Now a picture of neglect, it was once the house of the Nawab of Awadh, Nawab Shuja-ud- Daula who built is as ‘Dilkusha’. It served as his residence and also doubled up as his court. However, when the English feet landed in this region and the capital was shifted to Lucknow, this structure acted as the Narcotics Department for the State Government till a few years ago when even that was shifted to Lucknow. Because of its association with narcotics, it came to be referred to as ‘Afeem ki kothi’.
This photo-essay attempts to shed some light on the now dilapidated structure the history of which along with the city it is located in, is crumbling under everyone’s watch.

The locked doors of the 'Kothi'

Remnants of an official past
Walled-in memories


The inside story
The 'Dilkusha'

The premises: nature taking over

And it comes crashing down
Comments