Lahore City Tour
“JINNY LAHORE NAI VEKHYA O JAMEYA E NAI”
This translates to: “One who has not seen Lahore hasn’t been born.” Lahore is not just a city; it’s a thorough experience, a storyteller city from the past, a show of vibrant culture, an architectural marvel of past and present, where streets have the mouth-watering aroma of sizzling food, and every corner puts in the picture its brilliance and celebrates it. Truly, one who hasn’t seen Lahore has yet to witness the essence of life itself!
We at NatureHikePakistan.pk have designed the best Lahore City Tour to make things easy for you.
Lahore Fort
First on the list of places to visit in Lahore is Lahore Fort, or Shahi Qila (in Urdu شاہی قلعہ), a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the heart of the Walled City of Lahore.The history of Lahore Fort is still unknown due to the absence of historical records. According to the 11th-century historians during Mehmud Ghazanavi's rule, it was a mudbrick fort in the beginning.
It was modified, or new elements were added during different dynasties according to their fancies and requirements, like the Mehmud Ghaznavi, Mamluk Dynasty, Lodhi Dynasty, Mughals, and the Sikh Rule by Ranjit Sing. As Lahore Fort was a citadel of Lahore, when the intruders came to take over Lahore, the fort was also damaged every time.
The Mughals largely constructed the current structure. The Alamgiri Gate, which used to be the main entrance to the fort, was constructed by the last Mughal ruler Aurangzeb Alamgir. Lahore Fort has served as the residence and court of these sovereigns, which shows its essence.
The architecture of the fort gives us an Islamic and Hindu Architectural essence. Some important elements of the fort are Sheesh Mehal, Daulat Khan-e-Khas-o-Aam, Alamgiri Gate, Shahi Burj Gate, Jahangir's Quadrangle, Shah Jahan's Quadrangle, Ladies Garden, Kala Burj, Court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Ath Dara Building, Naulakha Pavilion, the Picture Wall, Elephant steps, Moti Masjid, Shahi Bawarchi Khana (Royal Kitchens), Musaman Gate, Sikh Gallery, Makatib Khana, Lal Burj, British Jail, Horses Park, Masti Gate, Fort's Servants Quarter, Akbari Hammam, Sehdari Pavilion, Akbari Mehal, Barood Khana, and Deewan-e-Aam.
Our main charm on the Lahore Walled City Tour is Lahore Fort Tour.
Badshahi Mosque
Second on the list of places to visit in Lahore is Badshahi Masjid, or Badshahi Mosque. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, situated in the Walled City of Lahore, right in front of the Lahore Fort's Alamgiri Gate and Hazuri Bagh. It was constructed over a period of 3 years in the 17th century under the orders of the sixth Mughal Emperor, Aurangzeb Alamgir. The full name of the mosque is Masjid Abul Zafar Muhy-ud-Din Mohammad Alamgir Badshah Ghazi.
As the 5th largest mosque in the world and 2nd largest in Pakistan, it can accommodate more than 100,000 worshippers at a time, both in its courtyard and the main hall. The mosque is built with red stones that were imported from Jaipur, India. The interior of the mosque is adorned with white marble and features intricate floral patterns that perfectly add to its beauty.
During the Sikh and British Rule, the mosque suffered significant neglect and destruction, as it was used for military purposes and as a horse stable for many years. However, thanks to the efforts of the Muslims in the Sub-Continent, it was eventually restored for religious use.
Notable figures such as Sikandar Hayat Khan and Nawab Zen Yar Jang Bahadur played important roles in the mosque's impressive restoration. Today, Badshahi Mosque is used for daily prayers and has become a major tourist attraction in Lahore, Pakistan. Your Walled City Tour will be incomplete without this mosque.
Wazir Khan Mosque
Third on the list of places to visit in Lahore is Wazir Khan Mosque. It was built during Shah Jahan's rule when he appointed Ilm-ud-Din Ansari as his vizier and the Governor Of Lahore. During his duty years, he built many renowned structures in the Walled City of Lahore, like the Wazir Khan Mosque (17th century) and the Shahi Hammam near the Delhi Gate Lahore. Ilm-ud-Din was known as Wazir Khan, the title granted to him by the Shah Jahan, and hence the mosque is also known as the Wazir Khan Mosque. The construction was completed in 7 years, from 1634 to 1641.
It is located on the Royal Route (Shahi Guzargah) Lahore and was used for the Friday Prayers by the royals at that time. There is a tomb of the saint Syed Mohammad Ishaq Gazrooni in the large courtyard of the mosque that was there even before the mosque was constructed. The mosque has four minarets and five dooms (Gumbad), and every wall and every wall is expertly and intricately decorated with Kashi Kari and Fresco Paintings.
The entrance gate of the mosque has a veranda and two separate spaces dedicated to a market, which is known as the Caligrapher's Market; who used to sit inside the rooms in that space. This space and other walls of the mosque are made with red stones.
Hazuri Bagh and Bara Dari
Fourth on the list of places to visit in Lahore is Hazuri Bagh (garden) Lahore. It is located at the intersection of the Lahore Fort's Alamgiri Gate, the Badshahi Mosque, the Roshnai Gate of the Walled City of Lahore, and the Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. There is a Bara Dari (twelve-door pavilion) in the middle of the Hazuri Garden made by Ranjit Singh using the vandalized white marble from destroyed Mughal Era structures, which was originally a two-story structure. Ranjit Singh commissioned it to celebrate the captured Koh-e-Noor Diamond.
Additionally, the Tombs of Sir Allama Mohammad Iqbal and Sikandar Hayat Khan are situated in the Hazuri Bagh.
Shahi Hammam
Fifth on the list of places to visit in Lahore is Shahi Hammam. It is a Mughal-era Bathhouse inspired by the Turkish public baths and commissioned by Wazir Khan, the Governor of Lahore. Following the decline of the Mughal Empire, Shahi Hammam fell into neglect until 2013, when the Walled City Authority and Agha Khan Trust funded its renovation. It is located right next to the Delhi Gate on the Royal Route (Shahi Guzargah).
When it was first built, Shahi Hammam featured all the state-of-the-art services at that time, including hot, warm, and cold water bathrooms, barbers, saunas, a dressing area, a prayer area, and a separate bath area for female visitors. It provided complete services for the visitor. There was a building near the hammam for the visitors to stay for the night.
The renovation project uncovered hidden water channels beneath the chambers. It has two huge domes, side chambers, a fountain area, a well-ventilated roof, and beautiful windows to let natural light illuminate the frescoed walls.
Shalimar Gardens
Shah Jahan commissioned Shalimar Gardens in the 17th century as a place of leisure designed with the concept of Heaven's Chaharbagh (Four Gardens) with water crossings between them, as mentioned in the Quran. The name "Shalimar: translates to "Heavenly Garden," reflecting Shah Jahan's vision for the site. The architecture of the garden was inspired by the earlier Shalimar Gardens in Kashmir, which his father, Jahangir, had commissioned. Originally, the garden featured beautiful white marble artwork. Still, much of it was vandalized later by Ranjit Singh, who repurposed much of the marble for the construction of the Golden Temple in India.
Late, renovation efforts strived to revitalize some of the garden's previous charm. Shalimar Gardens also had a massive entrance gate, which was intricately decorated with precious gems and beautiful wall art, which was unfortunately destroyed during the Sikh rule.
The Shalimar Gardens included several key elements, such as separate sleeping chambers for the emperor and his wife, a resting place, a royal bath, grand halls for royal and non-royal audiences, a few pavilions, and well-decorated boundaries and minarets at each corner of the garden.
Lahore Museum
Lahore Museum showcases the traces of ancient civilizations like Gandhara, Hindu, Jain, Indus, Mughal Islamic, and Sikh, and it preserves around 14,000 rare and priceless artifacts of history. It is a beautiful 160-year-old red brick masterpiece with a white marble entrance gate that welcomes the present into the past. It is situated in the Mall Road Lahore. Its foundation was laid during the 19th century on the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria by the British to preserve the precious cultural and historical heritage of the region.
Gali Surjan Singh Old Lahore
Gali Surjan Singh is located on the Royal Route near Delhi Gate in Lahore. In 2011, through the collaborative efforts of the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), Agha Khan Culture Services Pakistan, and the German Embassy, Gali Surjan Singh was restored to serve as a model street of Old Lahore City.
The restoration project involved decorating and renovating the facades of 19th and 20th-century houses, improving drainage and stormwater systems, burying electricity wires underground, enhancing the telecommunication services, and adorning the street with hanging and potted plants. Thanks to its revitalization, the street gained popularity on social media as people were impressed by the potential beauty of this street, and it quickly became a well-known tourist destination in the city.
Minar-e-Pakistan
Minar-e-Pakistan is the historic place where the All-India Muslim League passed the Pakistan Resolution on 23rd March 1940. After 7 years, Pakistan appeared as an independent nation on the World Map on 14th August 1947. This is a must-visit place for people inquisitive about the independence movement of Pakistan.
The tower (Minar in Urdu) was constructed in 1968 as a memorial to this significant event in the nation's history. Minar-e-Pakistan is located in the Greater Iqbal Park and serves as a symbolic representation of the Pakistan Movement and its success over the years. The base tiles are uncut stones from Taxila, the platform above features hammer-stressed stones, and the last two platforms are adorned with polished white marble. The tower is built on a crescent and a star, reflecting the emblem on the Pakistani national flag, and its base is shaped like a beautiful flower positioned at the center of the star.
Wahga Border Lahore
If you are in Lahore and want to experience an electrifying and emotional display by the two countries Pakistan and India, then the Wahga Border Ceremony is the ultimate option for you. It is a historical flag-lowering ceremony happening almost daily at the Wahga-Attari Border between the countries since 11th October 1947 founded by Brigadier Mohinder Singh Chopra and Brigadier Nazir Ahmed.
The daily ceremony at the Pakistan-India border is a spectacle of disciplined border guards, synchronized marches, and enthusiastic chants from both sides. People celebrate their nation's independence on national songs and by chanting slogans like "Pakistan Zindabad" (Long Live Pakistan) and "Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the greatest). This ceremony starts daily before sunset. The energy of the crowd, the national fervor and the rhythmic stomping of the soldiers and guards make it an unforgettable experience.
Data Darbar Lahore
For those who are interested in the Sufi Heritage Tour to Lahore, Data Darbar is the destination for you. It is one of the oldest and largest shrines in Lahore and South Asia. Data Darbar attracts thousands of devotees seeking spiritual solace.
Lahore is often referred as "Data Ki Nagri", which translates to Data's City.
Darbar translates to the shrine, and Data is used for Hazrat Ali Hajveri, a revered Sufi Saint whose teachings have inspired millions of people toward Islam. The Data Darbar complex consists of a huge tomb, dedicated space for prayer, and a grand courtyard where devotees gather for qawwalis and other rituals.
A guided tour of Data Darbar allows tourists to experience its rich history, cultural significance and mixed beliefs of those who visit this site.
MORE ABOUT
LAHORE CITY
Lahore, being there for around 3000-3500 (maybe more) years, is more than just a city – it is a narrator for visitors about all that it has been through over the centuries. With all the rises and falls of one ruling empire to the other, to the riots, from the war scars to the fury of nature’s wrath, over time destruction, this resilient metropolis has been through it all and still stands tall and emerged even stronger than before.
Present-day Lahore prides itself on its bustling streets and markets, marvellous building structures, echoing food streets, waves of laughter, and its skyline, blending the ancient tales with the modern infrastructure and its ever-lively people; as they say, “Zinda Dilan e Lahore,” which translates to: “Lahore with Lively Hearts.” Lahore is truly a home to the most lively people on earth, where every door, every alleyway, and every face tells a story of endurance, evolution and timeless charm.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WALLED CITY OF LAHORE
Lahore’s history is as old as civilization itself. It is believed that the Hindu god Ram had two sons from Sita: Loh or Lav and Kusha. Lav inhabited Lavapuri – the present-day Walled City of Lahore, and Kusha inhabited Kasur. Hence, Lahore and Kasur got their name, which was altered over time. But, the Lav and Kusha story is still a myth, and there is no concrete historical evidence of it being true. There are no authentic historical findings about Lahore before the last 1000 years when Mahmood Ghaznavi became victorious over Lahore in the 11th century and historians wrote about this city.
OTHER HISTORICAL NAMES OF LAHORE CITY
Lahore has also been referred to as Mehmood Puri, Lohpur, Lavapuri, Lohawar, Lohkot, Lavakot, and Lavapur in historical writings.
RULERS AND DYNASTIES THAT RULED OVER THE LAHORE CITY
Lahore’s history begins with the Hindu Shahis, possibly dating back to the times of Lava and Kusha. The last Hindu ruler was Raja Jayapal, who was defeated by Mahmud Ghaznavi in 1021, marking the end of Hindu rule in the region. During his reign, Lahore attained a golden era when he appointed Malik Ahmed Ayyaz as his governor. In the 11th century, Shahabuddin Ghori, from the Ghulam dynasty, overthrew the Ghazni rule.
Following this, several Muslim dynasties ruled over Lahore, including Qutubuddin Aibak (Sultans), Jalaludin Firoz Khilji (Turco-Afghan Dynasty), Ghiyasudin Tughlaq (Tughlaq Dynasty), Khizer Khan (Sadaat), Ibrahim Lodhi (Lodhi Dynasty), and Zahirudin Babar (Mughals), who enriched Lahore with stunning architectural marvels that still stands today. Other notable rulers included Raghunath Rao (Marathas), Nadir Shah (Durrani), Ahmad Shah Abdali, and Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who established Lahore as the capital of his empire.
Eventually, the British took control of Lahore, leading to the construction of splendid Victorian-style British Colonial Architecture Lahore structures that harmonized with the city’s historic Mughal Architecture of Lahore and also destroyed some notable structures built by the Mughals. After the end of British colonial rule, Lahore became part of the democratic independent state of Pakistan.
Today, Lahore is a vibrant cultural and intellectual hub renowned for its lively atmosphere, historic landmarks, and rich traditions.
13 GATES OF THE WALLED CITY OF LAHORE
The Walled City of Lahore was once enclosed by 13 grand gates. Some of them are standing to date, and unfortunately, some were destroyed or neglected till they fell off ot the ground. Each gate has its historical significance and once served as an entry point to this prestigious Walled City. The Mughals commissioned these gates. Following are the 13 gates of the Walled City of Lahore:
- Sheranwala Gate
- Taxali Gate
- Roshnai Gate
- Mochi Gate
- Sheranwala Gate
- Taxali Gate
- Roshnai Gate
- Mochi Gate
- Shah Alam Gate
- Akbari Gate
- Masti Gate
- Kashmiri Gate
- Mochi Gate
- Delhi Gate
- Bhatti Gate
- Lohari Gate or Lahori Gate
- Mori Gate
- Sheranwala Gate
- Taxali Gate
- Roshnai Gate
- Mochi Gate
- Shah Alam Gate
- Akbari Gate
- Masti Gate
- Kashmiri Gate
- Mochi Gate
THE COLORFUL BAZAARS OF LAHORE CITY
The city of Lahore has the most vibrant and bustling bazaars in Pakistan. You can witness the true essence of Lahore City and the people in its markets. From the biggest market in Asia to the narrowest market streets in the world to luxurious Malls, Lahore has a bit of everything.
These markets are loaded with narrow streets with shops on both sides selling everything from unique handicrafts to traditional jewelry, shiny and traditional clothes to fancy and casual footwear, necessary household accessories to beautiful home decor, local and branded groceries, homeopathic and herbal medicines, aromatic spices, and appealing small food stalls, you name it, and they have it.
A walking tour of Lahore city and Lahore City Tour is the best way to explore these vibrant bazaars of Lahore. Some of the famous markets in Lahore are:
- Anarkali Bazaar
- Ichhra Bazaar
- Shah Alami Market
- Rang Mahal Bazaar
- Liberty Market
If you want to experience the true Lahori bustle, you can also opt for the Lahore Rickshaw Tour to these markets.
LAHORE'S FOOD STREET AND VIBRANT CULTURE AND LAHORE CITY TOUR
No trip to Lahore is complete without visiting Lahore’s famous Fort Road Food Street, located right next to the Lahore Fort. The Lahore Food Street Tour of Walled City offers you a scrumptious treat of desi flavors with the majestic view of Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, and Ranjit Singh Samadhi. These are some old Havelis of Lahore that are facelifted and turned into unique restaurants for tourists. Each Haveli is a different restaurant providing a fine dining experience and a show of Lahore’s rich history. The sunsets are exceptional at the Food Street Fort Road Lahore.
Let’s come to the Androon Lahore Food Tour. When someone talks about desi food, Lahoris know their thing. Paaye, Nihari, Karahis, Chanay Kulchy, Seekh Kababs, Chapli Kababs, Handis, Lassi, Parathy, Gol Gappy, and whatnot. These Lahore Street Foods are deeply rooted in Lahore’s culinary heritage. Being Lahori and a foodie, we know the places and the Lahore Food Street Tour will help you truly experience it.
GUIDED LAHORE TOUR PACKAGES / LAHORE CITY TOUR
| Best Lahore Tour Packages / Lahore City Tour |
|---|
PLAN YOUR LAHORE CITY TOUR WITH NATURE HIKE PAKISTAN
Whether you want to experience the vibrant culture of Lahore, the happening bazaars of Lahore, the rich historical places, religious places of Lahore, the flavourful desi cuisine or all at once, Nature Hike Pakistan is here to the rescue with our Lahore City Tour. Let us be your guide in unraveling the secrets of this city. To plan you Lahore City Tour, contact us now!