1. HISTORY Lahore was founded by
two sons of Rama about 4,000 years ago. Historically, it has been proved
that Lahore is about 2,000 years old. Hieun-tsang, the famous Chinese
pilgrim, has given a vivid description of Lahore city which he visited in
the early parts of the seventh century A.D.
For 200 years, beginning from about 1525 A.D,
Lahore was a thriving cultural centre of the great Mughal Empire. Mughal
Emperors beautified Lahore with palaces, gardens and mosques. During the
British regime, many monuments sprang up in Lahore which blended beautifully
with the Mughal, Gothic and Victorian styles of architecture.
Lahore is the second largest city of
Pakistan and the provincial capital of Punjab. Apart from the being the
cultural and academic centre of the country. Lahore is the Mughal
“show-window” of Pakistan. Reminiscence of its hoary past are the remains of
a subterranean temple in the northern part the Royal Fort,attributed to Rama,
the legendary hero of Ramayana. Lying on the main trade and invasion routes
to the South Asia, Lahore has been ruled and plundered by a number of
dynasties and hordes. However, it touched the zenith of its glory during the
role of the Mughals. The Mughals, who were famous as builders, gave Lahore
some of its finest architectural monuments that are extinct today. 2. EXCAVATIONS AT LAHORE
The origin of the city Lahore and its early history is shrouded in mystery. Abu Rehan Muhammad bin Ahmad al-Biruni in his Tarikh-e-Hind, at the time of Mahmud Ghazanavi’s invasion, mentions Lahore. In order to obtain conclusive evidence, it was decided to use the more dependable method of archaeological excavations in the Royal Fort, situated on the highest point of the city. The upper levels revealed building remains of the British and the Sikh period. The Mughal period is marked by intensive building activity. The outstanding find from the lower level was a gold coin of Mahmud of Ghazna struck at Ghanzi during the time of the Abbasid Caliph Al Qadir Billah. Below the pre-Mughal levels the remains of the non-Muslim or Hindu period were discovered.
3. PLACES OF INTEREST (Courtesy TDCP)
The most important historical monuments of the Mughals in Lahore are; the Royal Fort, the Badshahi Mosque. The independence monument, the tombs of Emperor Jehangir, Empress Noor Jehan, Anarkali, Asif-Jah , Qutb-ud-Din Aibak’s and the famous Shalimar Gardens.
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Historical Places |
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Gardens | ||
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Sikh Holy Places |
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Museums | ||
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Tombs |
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Fair & Festivals | ||
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Shrines |
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Bazaars | ||
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Mosques |
Sites Worth Visiting In The Lahore Region
For the purpose of better understanding the places have been categorized:
Historical Places
Lahore Fort
Shalimar Gardens
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 todayin the Jehangir’s Quadrangle, while Shah-Jehan
added Diwan-e-Khas, Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and his Sleeping Chambers.
Aurangzeb built the impressive main gate (Almgiri Gate) which faces the
Hazoori Bagh lying in between the Badshhai 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, decorated with small mirrors
of different colour sets.
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. A party of Sikhs had mounted their guns on one of the minarets of the
mosque across the courtyard from where they fired on their opponents. The
Sleeping Chamber of Mai Jandan houses a very interesting museum with relics
from Mughal and the Sikh period.
Minar-e-Pakistan
is the landmark of Lahore which stands in the Iqbal Park to commemorate the
date (23 March) when a resolution was passed here back in 1940 demanding
creation of a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia. The Minar is
a blend of Mughal and modern architecuture and has been very boldly
designed. It is about 60 meters tall.
Shish Mahal
Shish Mahal, or Palace of Mirrors, which stands on the fort's north side, Kim's Gun
is by far the most splendid. It consists of a row of high domed rooms, the roofs of which are decked out with hundreds of thousands of tiny mirrors in the fashion of the traditional Punjabi craft of "Shishgari" (designs made from mirror fragments). A fire-brand lit inside any part of the Palace of Mirrors throws back a million reflections that dizzy the eye and seem like a galaxy of far-off stars turning in an ink-blue firmament.
Tombs
Allama Iqbal's Tomb Jehangir's Tomb Noor Jehan's Tomb Qutub-ud-Din Aibak
Outside the Badshahi Mosque, near its steps, lies the Tomb of Allama Iqbal, the poet-philosopher of the East. The mausoleum is a blend of Afghan and Moorish styles of architecture and is constructed entirely of red sandstone which was quarried and brought from Rajasthan.
The tomb of the fourth great Mughal Emperor, Jehangir, lies three miles 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 pattern balancing each side. The marble tomb is approached from four corridors leading from the garden.
The Empress Nur Jehan, "Light of the World", was the only empress whose name appeared on the coins of the Mughal empire. She was buried in 1845 AD at Shahdara (Lahore) outside Jehangir's mausoleum across the railway line.
He was appointed Governor of India in 1191 AD by Muhammad Ghauri. He established the Slave Dynasty on the death of Muhammad Ghauri in 1206 when he assumed independence of his reign and was followed by nine other slave kings. He was a patron of the building art and is known to have erected some monumental stone buildings in Delhi and elsewhere. A very avid player of polo, he died in Lahore in 1210 AD while playing the game. His tomb can be visited in Anarkali Bazaar.
Tomb of Asif Khan
In the courtyard near Jehangir tomb lies buried his brother-in-law, Asif Khan, father of Shah Jehan's beloved Queen Arjumand Bano. He lies in a tomb that today shows little of its former splendor.
Shrines
Shrine of Hazrat Data Ganj Bakhsh Ali Hajvery
The shrine of this renowned saint of Lahore (d. 1071 C.E.), is close to the junction of the Lower Mall and the Circular Road. Data Sahib was a great Sufi saint whose well-known work, "Kashf-ul-Mahjub" has been translated from original Persian into several European languages and is considered a classic. His grave is surrounded by a beautiful mosque.
Mosques
Badshahi Masjid It has a beautiful gate-way which measures 21.33 metres in length and a courtyard that measures 161.5 x 160.6 metres and is said to be the largest mosque courtyard in the world for outdoor prayers. The marble domes cover seven prayer chambers. Four lofty minarets stand at the four corners of the mosque, each with an outer circumference of 20 metres, soaring up to 54 meters.
Golden Mosque or Sunehri Masjid It has a beautiful gate-way which measures 21.33 metres in length and a courtyard that measures 161.5 x 160.6 metres and is said to be the largest mosque courtyard in the world for outdoor prayers. The marble domes cover seven prayer chambers. Four lofty minarets stand at the four corners of the mosque, each with an outer circumference of 20 metres, soaring up to 54 meters.
Pearl Mosque
Wazir Khan's Mosque Sikh Holy Places Nankana Sahib Gurdwara Janam Asthan Gurdwara Bal Lila Diwan Kaura Mal Chuharkana - Sacha Sauda Gurdwara Dehra Sahib Kartarpur Gurdwara Patti Sahib Gurdwara Janam Asthan Ramdas Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Singh Ji Gurdwara Rohri Sahib And Chaki Sahib Shahid Gang
The Imperial or the Badshahi Mosque is across the courtyard from Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort. The Mosque, which is made up entirely of red sandstone was built by Emperor Aurangzeb, the last of the great Mughals, in a record time of two and-a-half years. Its construction was completed by 1674 AD.
The founder of the mosque was Nawab Shah Bhikari Khan, son of Raushan-ud-Daula Turrabaz Khan, deputy governor of Lahore during the reign of Muhammad Shah and the viceroyalty of Mir Noin-ul-Malik. Golden Mosque is situated in the Kashmiri Bazaar. It was built in 1753 AD. It is remarkably beautiful with three golden domes. The mosque is elevated on a higher plinth, surrounded by old bazaars. Because of its color the mosque glitters in the sunshine as if it is a golden miniature place to bow before the Almighty Allah.
Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque, beyond the audience hall, was for the exclusive use of royal ladies. It is carved from marble having the luster of pearls. Nearby "Naulakha", a marble pavilion is inlaid with floral motifs and precious gems.
Wazir Khan's Mosque is in the old city, 300 meters from Delhi Gate. This unique mosque is one of the most beautiful in Pakistan. It was built in 1634 by Hakim Ali-ud-din, popularly known as Wazir Khan, who was governor of the area during the reign of Shah Jahan. The Mosque is justifiably famous for the colorful fresco and tile decoration which adorns both the interior and exterior of the building.
Present in the Lahore Region are the following Sikh sites:
Guru Nanak (1469 - 1539 AD) was born at Rai Bhoeki Talwandi now known as
Nankana Sahib situated in Punjab province of West Pakistan. Nankana is
located about 75 kilometers west-south-west of Lahore and 39 km southwest of
Sheikhupura. Nankana Sahib is connected to the district town by rail and
road.
This shrine in Lahore represents the home of Baba Kalu and Mata Tripta,
father and mother respectively of Guru Nanak Dev, (where the Guru was born).
It was established by Baba Dharam Chand (1523-1618) son of Baba Lakhmi Das
and Grandson of Guru Nanak Dev.
Gurdwara Bal Lila is another magnificent shrine, about 1.5 furlongs
east-south-east of Gurdwara Janam Asthan. It is said to have been built
initially by Rai Bular.
Diwan Kaura Mal had this Gurdwara built in 1748. It was reconstructed by
Maharaja Rangit Singh, who also enlarged and properly lined the sarovar
Nanaksar. It present three-story domed building was raised during the 1930's
and 1940's and was completed shortly before 1947.
It is about 20 kilometers Northeast of Talwandi Rai Bhoi (it is now a
railway station on the Sheikhupura-Faisalabad section of Pakistan Railways).
Gurdwara Dehra Sahib symbolizes the Sikh tradition and marks the martyrdom
of Sri Guru Arjan Dev Ji (1563 - 1606). This shrine was built in the memory
of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru who compiled the Adi Granth, the
principal part of Sikh scriptures.
Some writers say that the Guru founded Kartarpur (city of the Creator) after
his third Udasi. Others believe that he started the habitation of Kartarpur
in 1516 right after he came back from his first travel in 1515.
It is also called Gurdwara Maulvi Patti and lies midway between Gurdwara
Janam Asthan and Gurdwara Bal Lila. It is along the road leading from Janam
Asthan to the railway station.
In Chuna Mandi area stands the ancestral home and birthplace of Siri Guru
Ram Das Ji who was born here on 24th September 1534.
The ashes of the great Sikh ruler of Punjab, Maharaha Ranjeet Singh, and of
his four wives and several slave girls lie in a dome adjacent to the Hazoori
Bagh.
There is another holy place by the name of Gurdwara Shaheed Bhai Taru Sing
Ji which is situated near Naulakha Bazar.
Eminabad is near Lahore. Here the Sikh yatris pay homage to the Gurdwara
Rori Sahib and Chaki Sahib.
Another small gurdwara close to the Lahore Railway Station known as Shahid
Gang has been preserved by Pakistan as it was when occupied by the Sikhs.