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About Lahore
Lahore is Pakistan's cultural, intellectual and artistic center.
Its faded elegance, busy streets and bazaars, and wide variety of Islamic and
British architecture make it a city full of atmosphere, contrast and surprise.
Being the center of cultural and literary activities it may rightly be called
the cultural capital of Pakistan.
Lahore is undoubtedly ancient. Legend has it that it was founded by Loh, son of
Rama, the hero of the Hindu epic, the Ramayana. Some others think that the name
means Loh-awar, meaning a "Fort as strong as Iron".
It is situated one mile to the south of the river Ravi, and some 23 miles from
the eastern border of the district. The city is built in the form of a
parallelogram, the area within the walls, exclusive of the citadel, being about
461 acres. It stands on the alluvial plain traversed by the river Ravi. The
city is slightly elevated above the plain, and has a high ridge within it,
running east and west on its northern side. The whole of this elevated ground
is composed of the accumulated debris of many centuries. The river, which makes
a very circuitous bend from the East, passes in a semi-circle to the North of
Lahore.
With a population of more than 2.5 million, Lahore is Pakistan's second largest
city. It occupies a choice site in the midst of fertile alluvial plains.
Historical Background
Lahore has been the capital of Punjab for about little above one thousand
years; first from 1021 to 1186 under the Ghaznavid Dynasty, founded by Mahmud
of Ghaznavi, then under Muhammad of Ghor followed by various Sultans of Delhi.
It reached its full glory under Mughal rule from 1524 to 1752. The third Mughal
emperor, Akbar, held his court in Lahore for 14 years from 1584 to 1598.
In the 18th and 19th centuries the Sikhs also had their capital at Lahore. When
the British took over in 1849, they erected splendid Victorian public buildings
in the style that has come to be called Mughal-Gothic.
PLACES OF INTEREST
The most important historical monuments of the Mughals in Lahore are the Royal
Fort, the Badshahi Mosque, the Tombs of Emperor Jehangir, Empress Noor Jehan,
Anarkali and Asif-Jah and the famous Shalimar Garden.
ROYAL FORT- LAHORE
Although most parts of the Royal Fort were constructed around 1566 A.D. by the
Mughal Emperor, Akbar the Great, there is evidence that a mud fort was in
existence here in 1021 A.D. as well, when Mahmood of Ghazna invaded this area.
Akbar demolished the old mud fort and constructed most of the modern Fort, as
we see it today, on the old foundations.
The Royal Fort is rectangular. The main gates are located alongside the centre
of the western and eastern walls. Every succeeding Mughal Emperor as well as
the Sikhs, and the British in their turn, added a pavilion, palace or wall to
the Fort. Emperor Jehangir extended the gardens and constructed the palaces
that we see today in the Jehangir’s Quadrangle, while Shah-Jehan added
Diwan-e-Khas, Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and his own Sleeping Chambers.
Aurangzeb built the impressive main gate which faces the Hazoori Bagh lying in
between the Badshahi Mosque and the Fort. The Famous Sheesh Mahal or Palace of
Mirrors is in the north-east corner of the Fort. This is the most beautiful
palace in the Fort and is decorated with small mirrors of different colours
set.
The part of the wall of the Elephant Steps towards the Fort’s inner gate
are scarred by bullet marks, bearing testimony to the Sikh Civil War of 1847
A.D.
The Sleeping Chamber of Mai Jindan houses a very interesting museum with relics
from Mughal and the Sikh periods.
SHALIMAR GARDEN
Five kilometers east of Lahore are the famous Shalimar Gardens laid out by the
Mughal Emperor Shah-Jehan in 1642 A.D. The Gardens are spread out in typical
Mughal style and are surrounded by high walls with watch-towers at the four
corners. Originally, the gardens were spread over seven ascending terraces, but
only three remain now which cover an area of about 42 acres. The brick-work of
the floors of the three terraces have been repaired according to their original
designs which differ on all three terraces. There is a marble pavilion under
which water flows and cascades down over a carved marble slab creating a
water-fall effect. Across the water-fall is a marble throne. At the end of the
second terrace is a beautiful structure called Sawan Bhadon, a sunken tank with
niches on its three sides. Water cascades down from it in sheets in front of
the niches, producing the sound of falling rain. In the olden times, small oil
lamps were placed in the niches which reflected myriad colours, through the
water.
Shalimar gardens have the proud privilege of being the stage of all important
state receptions. Outside its walls the annual festival of Mela Chiraghan is
held every year during the year of March. Special lights on the first and
second terraces of the Gardens have been installed and the area is illuminated
half-an-hour after sun-set.
MINAR-E-PAKISTAN-THE INDEPENDANCE MOVEMENT
Minar-e-Pakistan is a new landmark in Lahore and stands in the Iqbal Park to
commemorate the date (23rd March when a resolution was passed there back in
1940 demanding the creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims
of this South Asia. The Minaret is a blend of Mughal and modern architecture
and has been very boldly designed. The Minar is about 60 metres tall.
BADSHAHI MOSQUE
Golden Mosque is situated in the Kashmiri Bazaar inside the old city. It was
built in 1753 A.D. by Nawab Syed Bhikari Khan, who was Deputy Governor of
Lahore. It is a remarkably beautiful mosque with three golden domes.
ALLAMA IQBAL'S TOMB
Outside the Badshahi Mosque, near its steps, lies the tomb of Allama Iqbal, the
poet- philosopher of the East. The mausoleum is a mixture of Afghan and Moonsh
styles of architecture and is constructed entirely of red sandstone.
MAUSOLEUM OF EMPEROR JEHANGIR
The tomb of the fourth great Mughal Emperor, Jehangir, lies 5 km north-west of
Lahore across the River Ravi. It has a majestic structure made of red
sand-stone and marble. The outer entrance to the tomb opens out into a
court-yard which was used as a caravan Serai during Mughal times. An entrance
to the right leads into a Mughal garden with exact geometrical patterns
balancing each side. The marble tomb is approached from four corridors leading
from the garden. Three of these corridors are closed by intricate marble
screens. The marble grave is elaborately inlaid with floral designs and the 99
Attributes of Allah are inscribed on its two sides. On the top is a verse from
the Holy Quran. The tomb was built by Queen Noor Jehan and the Emperor’s
son Shah-Jehan, around 1637 A.D.
NOOR JEHAN'S TOMB
The Empress Noor Jehan, "Light of the world" was the only Empress whose name
appeared on the coins of the Mughal empire. She was buried in 1645 A.D. at
Shahdara (Lahore) outside Jehangir’s mausoleum across the railway line.
Her tomb once had a marble cenotaph which she had built herself during her life
time. After the decline of Mughal rule, the tomb suffered extensive damages
along with her husband’s tomb at the hands of Sikh marauders when they
gained power during the early part of nineteenth century. Both were stripped of
most of its original beauty and splendour. All treasures and tiles, it is said,
were carted off to decorate the Golden Temple at Amritsar India.
NANARKALI'S TOMB
The tomb of Nadira Begum, alias Anarkali, is situated in a corner of the Civil
Secretariat of Punjab Government at Lahore.
The tomb is circular in shape and rooted with a vast and lofty dome supported
from inside by eight massive arches 12 feet 3 inches thick. It is a masterpiece
of solid masonry work of early Mughal period and is neatly and beautifully
fitted up.
Museums In Lahore
1-Lahore Museum
This museum was established during the British Raj in 1864. It displays a
complete cross-section of the Culture and History of the region with rare and
best collection of the Buddhist art from the Gandhara Period, Islamic
artifacts, Calligraphy, Old Manuscripts, Arms, Costumes and Jewelry
2-Fakir Khana Museum
A very large and interesting private Museum known as Faqirkhana lies inside the
Bhatti Gate and is worth visiting. The museum houses a variety of old
paintings, including some by great masters, original manuscripts in different
languages and artifacts from South East Asia and the Indo-Pak sub-continent.
3-Shakir Ali Museum
This museum was actually Shakir's House at 93, Tipu Block, New Garder Town,
Lahore, which he made for himself. After his death it was bought by
Idara-I-Saqafat-e-Pakistan and formally turned into a museum on April 3rd,
1976. The idea behind it was not only to preserve the great artist's paintings
and other masterpieces under one roof but also to open this combination of
modern and traditional archietecture to the public.
4-Mughal Museum
Situated at Poonch house, Multan Road, Lahore it was established in 1950. This
is an Industrial and commercial Museum, which is meant to depict country's
economic resources both in the form of raw products and worked objects. Its
collection is arranged in one gallery and one large hall of the building. The
main hall displays a range of variety of material such as well plated musical
instruments, table lamps of camel skin from Multan and Bhawalpur, cotton,
silken-woolen and embroidered textiles from all important cites of Pakistan.
Hotels In Lahore
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HOTELS
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ADDRESSES
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PHONE NO
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Pearl Continental***
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Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam
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6360210, 6360140
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PTDC Faletti’s Hotal **
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Egerton Road
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6363946-55
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Holiday Inn **
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Egerton Road
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6310077,6310088,6367879
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Indus Hotel *
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Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam
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6302856-8
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National Hotel
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Muhmood ghaznavi Road
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63633011-13
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Hotel Asia
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(near)City Railway Station
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6366328-29
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Parkway Hotel
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(near)City Railway Station
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6365908-12
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Avari International Hotel
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Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam
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6365366.637
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Orient Hotel
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McLeod Road
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7223906-8
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Marwat Ambassador Hotel
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Davis Road
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6316832.632
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Country Club Motel
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Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam
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6302275
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Hotel Shalimar
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Liberty Market,Gulberg-III
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5712603
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Liberty Hotel
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Liberty Market,Gulberg-III
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875731-32
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Baadees Hotel
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Empress Rd opp.Radio Pakistan
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636537
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Rays Hotel
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Montgomery road
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7223379,7223872,374563
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Regency Hotel
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Abid Majeed Road
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372277.3746
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Y.M.C.A
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Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam
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7354433
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Youth Hostel
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110-B firdous Market Gulberg-III
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878201
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Y.W.C.A
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Fatima Jinnah Road
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6304707
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RESTAURANTS
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Salloo’s Wapda House
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Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam
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6302449
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Tabaq
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Abbott Road
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Shezan Sack Bar
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Fortress Stadium Lahore
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372781
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Naimat Kadah
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Out side Lahori Gate Circular Rd
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Palky
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Main Boulevard Gulberg
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Shezan
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Dyal Singh Mansion Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam
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Orchid’s Restaurant
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Holiday Inn Egerton Road
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Brasserie
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Hotel Pearl Continental,Shahra-e-Qu aid-e-Azam
6360210
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