Lucknow /ˈlʌknaʊ/ is the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh and a second largest city after Delhi within the states of north, central and eastern India. This metro city is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division. Lucknow has always been known as a multicultural city, and flourished as a cultural and artistic capital of North India in the 18th and 19th centuries.