A Brief Introduction about Lahore

This blog is all about the culture, heritage, architecture, traditions, customs and food of exclusively the city rather the Heart of Pakistan, Lahore. Besides the Heart of Pakistan, Lahore is considered as the Gem of Pakistan, Pearl of Punjab and the City of Lively Hearts. It's also well-said in Punjabi Language which says, "The one who hasn't seen Lahore, has not yet born!" Lahoris also claim that "Lahore is Lahore" as it is incomparable with any other city of Pakistan in respect of culture, traditions, food and festivities. In short, Lahore is unique in its own way.

Lahore is the capital city of the Pakistani province of Punjab, the second largest metropolitan area in the country and 16th most populous city in the world with over 10 million population (according to the Jan 2015 census). Going back to the pages of history, Lahore is a City which has been invaded, ruled and plundered by a number of different dynasties and hordes whose identities still exist in some form. Due to its rich background in history of culture, Lahore is a cultural hub of the Punjab region as well as Pakistan, and it is the largest Punjabi city in the world. Simultaneously, due to the same reason Lahore is considered to be the tourists' destination as it attracts millions of people from the globe. That's the reason why Lahore has been rated by The Guardian as the 2nd best tourist destination in Pakistan after Taxila.

This blog continues to update the latest news about Lahore in the following categories:-

- History
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News
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Facts
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Sights & Tourists' Resorts
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Traveller’s Guide
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Festivities
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Gossips

For further information, contact us!

Sunday, 18 October 2015

Walled City of Lahore

The Walled City of Lahore is also known as the "Old City", or "Androon Shehr"(Interior City'). It is the section of Lahore that was surrounded by a city wall during the Mughal era. It is located in the northwestern part of the city. 

The Walled City of Lahore covers an area of 256 ha with a population of 200,000. The city walls were destroyed shortly after the British annexed the Punjab in 1849 and were replaced with gardens, some of which exist today. The Circular Road links the old city to the urban network. Access to the Walled City is still gained through the 13 ancient gates, or their emplacements.


Samadhi of Ranjit Singh

Samadhi of Ranjit Singh is situated opposite to the Lahore fort. It is only opened for Sikh. It is mixture of Mughul and Hindu style and built in 1848 A.D. by Kharak Singh son of Ranjit Singh on the spot where he was cremated, and was completed by his youngest son, Duleep Singh in 1848.  Tt is gilded fluted domes and cupolas and an ornate balustrade round the top. In the pavilion is a marble urn in the form of lotus containing ashes of the Maharaja, eleven smaller knobs hold ashes of four queens and seven slave girls. However the funerary urns were removed from the marble pavilion and were replaced by a simple slab around 1999[citation needed]. This was done as part of the preparations for the Khalsa Tricentenary and the visit of Sikh dignitaries from India. The Samadhi was damaged by the earthquake in October 2005. In May 2006, following concerns about the state of the samadhi, the Indian Minister for Tourism and Culture, Ambika Soni wrote to Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and expressed her concerns

Anarkali Bazaar

Anarkali Bazaar is an important bazār (market) in Lahore. It is one of the oldest surviving markets in South Asia, dating back at least 200 years. It is located on the Mall very near to gate of Mayo Hospital Lahore

The market derives its name from a nearby mausoleum thought to be that of a slave girl named Anarkali, buried alive by order of the Mughal Emperor Akbar for having love affair with the Emperor's son, Prince Salim, later to become Emperor Jahangir.

Anarkali Bazar is the oldest bazaar of Lahore, Pakistan. It sells textiles, garments, jewellery, and many other items. This market is divided into two portions; one was the old Anarkali Bazar where variety of food items are available and second one called New Anarkali Bazar where different traditional handicrafts, clothes and gift centre are available. You can buy beautiful jewllery here and you can also bargain. It is better to bargin because normaly people bargain here a lot so now shop keepers try to tell the price which is more so that even after bargaining they get some good profit. Be careful before fixing any price.

The mausoleum of Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aybak of Mamluk Sultanate is also located at Anarkali Bazaar. One should not forget to visit historical Mohkam din Bakery the oldest bakery of subcontinent, and Pak Tea House while visiting Anarkali Bazaar.

Quaid-e-Azam Library

The Quaid-e-Azam library, opposite Government house, is the biggest public library in Pakistan and is open 8am to 8pm. It is housed in the combined Lawrence and Montogamery halls, buil in 1862 and 1866 to commemorate the first two British governers in Punjab.


The Islamic Summit Minar

This monument was built in the memories of 2nd Islamic Summit Conference held in Lahore Pakistan (February 22 - 24, 1974). This conference was attended by great Muslim Leaders (country heads) in order to symbolise the Islamic unity and faith. It was designed in the spirit of Islamic unity commemorates the second Islamic Conference held at Lahore in 1974. The Islamic Summit Minar is an obelisk-shape structure built near the Charing Cross, Mall Road in Lahore. It is 155 feet high.