Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Pakistan In Pictures

My beloved city Lahore.


Old City


The origins of the original Lahore are unspecific. According to carbon dating evidence of archaeological findings in the Lahore Fort, the time period may start as early as 2,000 B.C.E.



The Walled City of Lahore, also known as the "Old City," or "Anderoon Shehr" has 13 gates: Akbari Gate, Bhati Gate, Delhi Gate, Kashmiri Gate, Lohari Gate, Masti Gate, Mochi Gate, Mori Gate, Roshnai Gate, Shahalmi Gate, Shairanwala Gate, Taxali Gate, and Yakki Gate.

These gates were constructed during Emperor Akbar’s rein (1584 -1598) and during Ranjit Singh’s (the first Maharaja of the Sikh Empire 1799 to 1849) times.

Surviving Gates:






Bhati Gate, the entrance to the Bhati Gate is located on the western wall of the old city. The area inside the gate is well known throughout the city for its food, the gate was named after an ancient Rajput tribe resided here, “Bhat” (Bhatti).






Delhi Gate is considered one of the most famous gates of Lahore,



the Gate was once the main and only road that led from Lahore to Delhi.
There are many historical buildings and markets inside the gate,
(to name a few)


Wazeer Khan Mosque (one of the finest pieces of Mughal architecture), Shahi Hamam (1110 sqm, royal Washroom), and Landa Bazar (the poor man’s shopping paradise)


  Kashmiri Gate is so named because it faces the direction of Kashmir, inside the gate there is Kashmiri Bazaar and Azam cloth market, it has more than 16000 shops of clothes.


Lohari Gate is very close to "Bhati Gate." Like many other gates, it was built to keep enemies out.


Roshnai Gate, also known as the "Gate of Lights," is located between the Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque. As the gate was one of the main entrances into the city. Adjacent to the gate, Hazuri Bagh is another spot that is worth mentioning. This garden was built by Maharajah Ranjit Singh in 1813 to celebrate the capture of the famous Koh-i-Noor Diamond from Shah Shujah of Afghanistan.



Shairanwala Gate, also known as the "Gate of the Lions," was made by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. After its completion, Singh placed two live lions (or Shers) in cages at the gate as a symbolic gesture to warn any invader.