5 Gems of Lahore

I always had this love for wanderlust. Just roaming around the city and being able to explore
things, to explore the hidden gems. Among the noises of the city there are places which are not
known by many. As having great love for wanderlust, I call myself hippie. A hippie who loves
exploring the city and finding that one place in it that really makes us feel something from
within. This brings me to my OWN CITY LAHORE. A city full of life and commotion, a city where
people will be more of an experience than the actual places. But I’ll tell you about the places
that you might not have visited. The places that I think are the real gems of this city, the gems
which actually describe the cultural values of THE CITY LAHORE. Below is the list of places in
Lahore you need to visit ASAP.

Pak Tea House

Pak tea house a café, a literal hub and the house of poets. A place that will give you some real aesthetic
vibes. It is a place that has seen many poets write their apex of wisdom. The Mall Road cafe was
established in 1940 when it was known as India Tea House before it was renamed after the
partition of India in 1947. It was central to the city's artistic and political life for decades. Literary
and artistic activity in Lahore has traditionally revolved around cafes and restaurants. These places
became the haunts of intellectuals, writers and artists who spent hours drinking endless cups of tea on
subjects which were close to their hearts. The India Tea House, established originally by two Sikh
brothers, was one such favorite watering hole. Since then, it has become the hideout of choice for
all leading writers of Urdu. In 2000 cafe owner Zahid Hussain closed it down as a non-profitable
venture, planning instead to start a new business at the same location. But intellectuals resisted
the move and demanded its restoration.

"When the Pak Tea House was closed we lost an opportunity for social, cultural, political
and intellectual discourse," columnist Attaul Haq Qasim said.

"We still have a few iconic writers, so now young people have this place where they can sit
with them and learn through their experiences."

Even during repressive times writers expressed themselves freely at the Pak Tea House, which
remained a symbol of intellectual resistance. The government has restored the facade of the
building in its original form but the interior has been completely renovated. Short story writer
Neelum Ahmed Bashir is one of those who has welcomed the re-opening.

Apart from its importance in the literally world, this place is a must visit for a cup of afternoon chai if
you’re in that neck of the woods.

Army Museum
The museum which gives us the real meaning of Pakistan. Sure there are many museums in Lahore but
Army museum will give you an insight on how Pakistan came into being? In what manner the events
took place? Sure, this museum was built a few years back but it holds significance because of the fact
that it depicts the events in a way that it takes us back to the time and then again brings us back. I know
it sounds a little confusing and that is one the major reasons you should visit this place to actually go
back in time and come back. I visited this place and was surprised to see the work of art. The
architectural work is so great and the concepts are just amazing. The artistic work is beautifully done. It
was far better than many good army museums that I have been to in different countries. The museum is
an artful mix of country's heritage with its military history. It is displayed in such a marvelous manner
that it leaves a lasting impression on visitors. The sculptors and dioramas puts wax sculptures of
Madame Tussauds to shame. An excellent souvenir shop with affordable items is placed adjacent to the
museum cafe. One could climb on many of the tanks displayed outside, which one only see in the
movies.

Walled city (Bazar)

When we tell someone that we are travelling the first think comes to our mind is souvenirs. And I just
have the perfect place for you. In the middle of walled city Lahore, lies a ------ bazar. The prevailing hustle
and bustle is just what we need after a trip to the quite museum. The shops and the wandering vendors,
the noises, the crowd and everything in-between is the real Lahore. The markets in the walled city literally
has everything in them. Gumti bazaar of the walled city has a unique identity due to its historic and
cultural importance. It is one of the oldest markets of the walled city of Lahore. However, mere
historical facts are unable to answer questions like “when was this bazaar established and by whom
and why was it named so?” It is said that it was established during the Mughal Era and by the time
it established as big market. Gumti bazaar is located in the center of Walled city of Lahore, so, one can
enter into this market from different directions. Entering from Roshnai Gate or Bhaati gate and passing
through Paani-Wala Talaab or from the direction of Lohari gate, you can reach this place by passing
through Lungey Mandi. As Gumti bazaar was a Hindu populated area, there were several Temples
and Shivala buildings located here. Shivala Pandit Radha Kishan was known for its beautiful
architecture. It was located near Syed Mitha Bazaar. Kali Maata temple was also another well-
known place of worship nearby. The street around this area is still called as Kali Mata Street. There
was also a temple between Sooha bazaar and Gumti bazaar named as Krishna temple. Krishna
temple was well-known for its beautiful and eye-catching architecture, which was known as
‘Sundar Mandir’ (Beautiful temple). As time passed, things changed, Hindu and Sikh residents left
the area before and after the partition and now these temples don’t exist anymore, and one has put
on a lot of effort to locate them. It is really sad that most of the old buildings including temples
and Havelis have been demolished and commercial plazas have replaced them. Gumti bazaar is
one of the typical Lahori bazaars, bursting with colors and lights.

Wazir Khan Mosque

Many of us despite spending our entire lives here in Lahore have no clue where the Wazir Khan
Mosque is located despite it being considered the real jewel of Lahore. I must say that Lahore’s
beauty and splendor is incomplete without this majestic piece of architecture. Among the
architectural monuments of Lahore, the Wazir Khan Mosque has a very significant position. The
dominating features of this mosque are the fresco, vibrant colors and calligraphy. Once you enter
the mosque you will feel yourself in a world filled with colors, peace, tranquility and serenity
that will appease your mind and soul. This is a unique monument that not only reflects the spirit
and talent of the Mughal builders, but also of the artisans, who remained anonymous but their
contributed in tile making, design and wall painting makes visiting the mosque not only a
spiritual but also an aesthetic experience. The mosque had been a place of knowledge and learning
under the Mughals, where learned men of great caliber from different parts of the Muslim world, used
to gather and hold scholarly discussions. Students learning the Holy Quran and calligraphy also used to
reside in the small rooms (hujras) of the mosque. The impressive combination of calligraphy,
geometrical and floral decoration is unique and makes the Wazir Khan Mosque stand out as an epitome
of exquisiteness and beauty, balance and grandeur.

Tomb of Jahengir
The Tomb of Jahangir (Urdu: ) is a 17th-century mausoleum built for the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. The
mausoleum dates from 1637, and is located in Shahdara Bagh in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, along the
banks of the Ravi River. The site is famous for its interiors that are extensively embellished with frescoes
and marble, and its exterior that is richly decorated with pietra dura. The tomb was built for Emperor
Jahangir, who ruled the Mughal Empire from 1605 to 1627 C.E.. The emperor died in the foothills of
Kashmir near the town of Rajauri on 28 October 1627. A funeral procession transferred his body from
Kashmir and arrived in Lahore on Friday, 12 November 1627. The Dilkusha Garden in which he was
buried was a "favorite spot" of Jahangir and his wife Nur Jahan, when they lived in Lahore. His son, the
new Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, ordered that a "mausoleum befitting an Emperor" should be built in
his father's honor to inter his remains.