Shaheed Samark or martyr’s memorial was built by Lucknow Development Authority to commemorate thousands of unknown and unsung Indians who lost their lives in the country’s first war of independence in 1857.
It is also well-known that the people of Lucknow including its rulers, particularly Begum Hazrat Mahal, wife of the deposed Nawab Wajid Ali Shah, played a leading role in the history of the freedom movement of the country. It is built on the pattern of Amar Jawan Jyoti at Indian Gate in Delhi in memory of the thousands of unknown soldiers who have laid their lives for the security of the nation.
The memorial was erected to observe the first centenary of the Sepoy Mutiny of 1857. The design of the monument was conceptualized by the famous architect Prasanna Kothari. It is an impressive marble tower that proudly stands on a large marble platform in an artistically laid garden on the bank of the river Gomti in the very heart of the city. There is also a huge auditorium and a library located close to Burha Talab and the 500 years old Dudhadhari Temple.