Lucknow is the capital city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, as well as the administrative body of the county and division of the same name. It is India's tenth most congested state and 12th populated urban area, with a total of 2.8 million as per the 2011 census. Lucknow has long been a heterogeneous city that thrived as a North Indian artistic and cultural powerhouse, as well as the center of government of the Nawabs in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is still a significant hub for government, management, schooling, business, aircraft, economics, medicines, innovation, architecture, art, tourist, entertainment, and literature.

The city is located roughly 123 meters above sea level. Lucknow city had a total size of 402 km2 until December 2019, when 88 villages were added, bringing the total area to 631 km2. Lucknow is located on the northwestern bank of the Gomti River, bounded on the east by Barabanki, on the west by Unnao, on the south by Raebareli, and on the north by Sitapur and Hardoi. There were 110 districts in the city as of 2008. There are three distinct morphological boundaries: The Central Business District is a completely developed sector that includes Hazratganj, Aminabad, and Chowk. An intermediate zone of cement dwellings surrounds the inner zone, while the outside zone is made up of slums.