Lahore

The city of colour and vibrant culture

To the north of Sindh and east of Balochistan is Pakistan’s most prosperous province of Punjab, the fabled land of five rivers. These five rivers actually account for the agricultural prosperity of the province and they all join the mighty Indus. The plains of Punjab also benefit from one of the world’s most intricate and intelligently laid out vast irrigation network, fully exploiting the flow from these rivers which provide the lifeline to hundreds of thousands of acres of fertile land.

Punjab is rich in wheat, rice, cotton and a variety of other crops.

In every sense of the word but geographical, Lahore, the capital city of Punjab, is the heart of the country. Lahore is a city rooted in history and tradition, art and culture, festivity and festivals. It is also the hub of nation’s politics. Poetry and literature have flourished here for hundreds of years and it has seen the zenith and collapse of many empires, both indigenous and foreign. More than any other city, Lahore represents Pakistan’s vast, rich cultural heritage __ a mosaic on which the Mughal imprints of the sixteenth and seventeenth century predominate.

Pakistan’s second largest city with a population of some 8 million, Lahore is located in the north - eastern part of the Punjab on the banks of the romantic river Ravi, almost a whistle away from the Pakistan - India border. It is a city of mosques and mausoleums, forts and palaces, gardens and bazaars - all remarkably well preserved and open to visitors the year round.

Lahore is at once ancient and modern, rural and urban. It is a city with a character. The people of Lahore are affable and gregarious. They toil hard and enjoy life’s every precious moment. They are also well-known for their wit and a great sense of humor. The Lahore of the Mughals is also a major commercial and industrial city of today. The outskirts of Lahore are dotted with mills and factories producing from textiles to electronics.

The most remarkable cultural heritage lies in the great architectural designs of Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort, Tombs of Mughal Emperor Jehangir, his Empress Noor Jehan, Mausoleum of Sufi saint, Data Ganj Baksh, Shohada Mosque, Alhamra Arts Council, Wapda House and Summit Minaret are few examples of modern architectural expertise. There are several places of public convergence including parks, food-streets and festivals/fairs, round the year.

Badshahi Mosque

Emperor Aurangandzeb, the last of the Great Mughal emperors, also built the last but the most prominent architectural monument of Lahore, the famous Badhshai Mosque with a giant courtyard, the largest in any mosque in the world. The unsusual symmetry of the three huge white marble domes of the mosque is a tribute to the perfectionist qualities of the masons of the day. The vast courtyard of the mosque where over one hundered thousand Musilms congregate for Friday prayers every week, is bounded on the four corners by towering minarets of red stone, each 175 feet high, providing cool and comforting shadows to the devotees.

Lahore Fort

Lahore came into its own towards the end of the sixteenth century when Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great moved his capital to the city which remained the seat of Mughal empire for 14 years during which was built the famous Lahore Fort with its massive walls withholding an area of over 30 acres. The fort infact predates the Mughals but it was Akbar the Great who rebuilt the original structure and erected towering walls with their massive gates. He also built Lahore’s famous city walls which survive to this day with their famous twelve gates including the popular Akbari Gate.

Sheesh Mahal or Hall of Mirrors

Behind the massive walls of the fort, the successive Mughals built palaces and gardens, each regaling in original architectural design and beauty. The most prominent amongst these is the famous Sheesh Mahal or the Hall of Mirrors built by Emperor Shah Jehan. The interior walls of the Sheesh Mahal are inlaid with thousands of pieces of reflecting glass throwing as many images of the dancing girls who performed here to the delight of the Emperor and his courtiers. Adjacent to the hall of mirrors is the imposing “Naulakha” pavilion carved out of brilliant white marble with its attractive and equally imposing arched roof. Built in the early seventeenth century, this pavilion was the favoured and popular afternoon retreat of the Mughal princesses.

Allama Iqbal’s Mausoleum

Just outside the main entrance of the mosque, in a simple but impressively built mausoleum, lies buried the poet-philosopher of Pakistan - Dr. Muhammad Iqbal. It was he who first visualised an independent state for the Muslims of the South Asia subcontinent and through his forceful poetry, inspired the people to struggle for independence. Smart contingents of Pakistan armed forces stand guard at the Mausoleum.

Tomb of Mughal Emperor Jehangir

On the outskirts of Lahore is the monumental tomb of Emperor Jehangir, set amidsts sprawling gardens a few steps away from the famous Grand Trunk Road that runs through the entire Sub-continent from east to west. The mausoleum of this great Emperor was built by his son Emperor Shah Jahan with four towers at the four corners standing of exquisitely inlaid marble with delicately engraved calligraphy spelling out the 99 attributes of the Almighty Allah.

Tomb of Mughal Empress Noor Jehan

Not far from Jehangir’s mausoleum is the tomb of his Empress Noor Jehan or the ‘light of the world’ that reportedly exercised great influence on the Emperor and was the only Empress of the Mughal dynasty whose name appeared on the coins of the Mughal Empire. It is said that she personally supervised the construction of the marble cenotaph of her tomb during her life time. The tomb suffered extensive damages through neglect and both the mausoleums of the Emperor and the Empress were stripped off most of their original works of art and beauty at the hands of the Sikhs who conquered Lahore during the early nineteenth century. The two mausoleums have been carefully repaired and resorted to their original splendour and attract a stream of visitors the year round as the love that bound Jehangir and Noor Jehan is deeply embedded in history.

Shalimar Gardens

The most popular of the Mughal monuments is the famous Shalimar gardens just outside the city. Spread over 40 acres of beautifully landscaped and terraced gardens, the Shalimar was laid out during the reign of Emperor Shah Jehan more than three centuries ago. It has a central water channel over 600 meters long feeding hundereds of fountains and many large and small decorative pools. The graceful lawns and attractive flower beds are beautifully laid out in pleasing patterns on the three main terraces of the gardens which boasts of a large variety of exotic plabts and trees surrounding the numerous marble pavilions which were erected to provide shade and comfort to the princes and princesses.

Lahore Museum

One of the oldest museums of Pakistan is located in Lahore. It was built during the British Raj and opened to the general public in 1894. The building is a blend of Mughal and Gothic style. Sadequain, the late Pakistani artist - cum - calligrapher decorated the ceiling with his illustrations of Iqbal’s poetry. The treasure trove has got rare masterpieces. Islamic, Hindu and Jain wood carvings, Islamic manuscripts and hand - written scripts of Holy Quran are few examples. Buddha can be seen in various postures, including the invaluable Fasting Buddha, besides other items of Gandhara period. Collection of old coins and Pakistani stamps are also worthwhile.

Zamzama or Kim’s Gun

Just outside the Lahore Museum stands the famous cannon manufactured in 1757. The cannon called Zamzama by the locals was first used in a battle outside Delhi Gate over two centuries ago and was later immortalized by the British writer Rudyard Kippling as the Kim’s Gun.

Minar-e-Pakistan

The modern Lahore symbolises the spirit of change that is visible all over Pakistan but more so in this historical city spread over an area of 404 sq. km. The new spirit is best manifested in the imposing tower called Minar-e-Paksitan. The 195 feet tower built in the centre of the huge Iqbal Park, the place where the historic resolution for the creation of Pakistan was passed on 23rd March, 1940. The young and the old throng here daily to pay homage to the moving spirits behind the resolution and to renew their pledge to the motherland. A fast moving elevator operates to give the visitors a bird’s eye view of the city.

 

Lahore has a lot to offer from a refreshing morning jog at the Race Course Park to a tasty feast at Food Street to an exciting ride to the Wagah border; Lahore is full of life. Some other places to visit in this interesting city are the Bagh-e-Jinnah, Wazir Khan Mosque, Golden Mosque, Government College, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Buksh, Fortress Stadium and the Lahore Zoo.

 

Food Street

Lahore is the city of food-lovers. Keeping in view the great enthusiasm of locals as well as tourists, the government has re-modeled the food streets of Gawal Mandi and Old Anarkali. The mouth watering food delights, illuminated balconies and beautiful buildings are sufficient to mesmerize some one. This is a must for every visitor.

Basant or Kite Flying Festival

Lahorites are famous for celebrating spring festival with unmatched zeal and fervour. Lahorites and out-of-town enthusiasts don glamorous clothes, in the yellow and green of spring flowers blooming citywide, to bid farewell to the frosts and fogs of winter and usher in spring.Night time kite-flying in the walled old quarters around the 16th century Badshahi mosque and Lahore fort opens the festival. Ancient mughal palaces throw open their doors for all-night parties to view the kites, illuminated by spotlights slashing the sky. White paper kites shimmer in the night sky, diving and soaring as rival fliers joust in duels marked by battle cries of Pecha and victory shouts of Bo kata! Bursts of drums and trumpets mark the cutting of a kite's cord.

National Horse and Cattle Show

Lahore wears its best in spring each year when the city and its inhabitants brim with life, in true spirit of the season. There is a riot of colors all around as flowers bloom and an atmosphere of excitement and exuberance prevails. However, the event that attracts people from all over the country and abroad is the fabulous National Horse and Cattle Show. From what began as an annual get together of live stock breeders in the early 1950s, the show has become Pakistan’s major annual international festival, encompassing not only a display of well-bred cattle but also an annual competition of various indigenous sports including polo and tent pegging.

The festivities include a colourful programme of folk dancing by thousands of participants from different regions. Horse jumping, trick horse riding, trick motor cycle riding, dare-devil motor car driving and a dog & hare race are among the highlights of the festival. The principal attraction of the show, however, remains the impressive display of the best available specimens of Pakistani livestock.

As the sun sets over the impressive Fortress Stadium, the venue of the show, fireworks display, military tattoos and brass band pageants enliven the evenings and enthrall the spectators.

Mela Chiraghan

“Mela Chiraghan” or the festival of lamps is celebrated every spring on the last Friday of March, outside the Shalimar. It is a very popular event among the local folks.

 

Lahore has a number of major departmental stores but do not forget to visit the old Anarkali Bazaar whose shops offer a whole range of local handicrafts from delicately embroidered shawls to the most intricately woven carpets in various designs, shades and hues.

 

You should also plan a visit to the Liberty Market in Gulberg and search for some handicraft products like Khussa and home décor articles.

 

Lahore is well connected by an efficient network of road, rail and air transport with PIA linking the city with all major domestic airports and also regular services on international routes. If you are planning to include Lahore in your itinerary, and it will be a pity if you don’t, do not hesitate to talk to the PIA representative or agent in your area who may well have an attractive package to offer.