Fiaz Jamal

LAHORE A CAPTIVATING CITY

The second largest city of the country and the capital of the province of Punjab,
Lahore is the cultural capital of Pakistan. This city is considered to be the heart of
Pakistan, and it is the abode of a cheerful and hospitable people. Lahore is the city
of merry festivals whose fame attracts visitors from all over the world. Here the
ancient meets the modern and both aspects of the city are worth appreciating. It
was the favorite city of the great Mughals who gave the city some of the finest
Mughals buildings in the whole of Hindustan. That was really the golden age of the
city when for many years it served as the capital of the Mughal Empire. The British
also enhanced the beauty of the city when they build many administrative and
public buildings in a beautiful blend of western and eastern architectural styles.
Since 1947, the city has expanded in all directions with a population figure touching
ten million. Lahore still growing and many modern landmarks have sprung up over
the years, which have greatly altered its outlook.

Lahore in the Mughal Period

Babur died in 1530 and was succeeded by his son Hamayun. His brother Kamran
captured Lahore and deprived Hamayun of the Punjab. Kamran constructed a
Baradari near the Ravi. In a few years Hamayun lost the throne to Sher Shah Suri.
Hamayun remained in the exile for fourteen years and recaptured Lahore in 1555.
Hamayun died in 1556 and was succeeded by his son Akbar. In 1584 to 1598.
Akbar rebuilt the fort. He rebuilt the walls of the city. One of the gates of the city
was named after him. This was a golden period of
Lahore. The saint MaduLal Hussain flourished
during the period.
Akbar died in 1605 and was succeeded by his son
Jahangir. Jahangir was very fond of Lahore. His
mother built the Begum ShahiMsqueat Lahore.
Jahangir bulilt several buildings in the fort.he constructed the Anarkali tomb which
enshrined the remains of one of his wives. He laid out a garden across the Ravi at
Shahdara. It was in this garden that he was buried in 1627.
Jahangir was succeeded by his son Shah Jahan. Shah Jahan built the tomb of his
father at Shahdara. He also built the tomb of his father-in law Asif Khanat
Shahdara. NurJahan’s mausoleum was also constructed in this period. Shah Jahan
added many buildings to the Lahore fort. He laid out the Shalimar garden. Wazir
Khan Masjid was also constructed during this period. Shah Jahan’s daughter
jahanAra laid out the Chauburji Garden in 1646. During this period Dara Shikoh
constructed the mausoleum of HazratMian Mir (R.A).
Shah Jahan was succeeded by his son Aurangzeb. Aurangzeb built the Badshahi
Masjid in 1673. Aurangzeb enlarged the fort. Aurangzeb died in 1707 and was
succeeded by his son Shah Alam. One of the gates of the city of Lahore was named
after him as the Shah Alam gate. After the death of Shah Alam the Mughal Empire
declined.
In 1715 the Sikhs were heavily defeated by the Mughal army out side Lahore. The
Sikh robber leader Guru Banda was captured.
In 1739 Nadir Shah of Persia (Iran) captured Lahore and the city was plundered by
Ahmad Shah Durrani and the Punjab ceased to be a part of the Mughal Empire. In
1758 the Marhatta forces captured Lahore. At this Ahmad shah marched to the
Punjab and routed the Marhattas.
In 1799, Lahore was captured by Ranjit Singh. The Sikh
period was one of the darkest periods in the history of
Lahore. During this period most of the Mughal buildings
were looted and destroyedby the Sikhs. The mosques
were used as stables by the savage Sikhs.
There are many beautiful and historical places to visit like Lahore Fort,
Badshahi Mosque, Masjid Wazir Khan, Shalimar Garden, Jahangir’s Tomb, Lawrence Garden, Shrine of
Hazrat Ali Hajvery (R.A), Lahore Museum, Lahore Zoo, Lahore Safari Park, Anarkali Bazar, Liberty
Market and many others.
Lahore Fort
The Lahore Fort covers a vast area, some 375m by 300m,

and inside this fort are some of finest Mughal buildings in

South Asia. Decorated with carved red sandstone marble,

pietradura work, glazed colors and kashi tile work, plus frescoes depicting the

rotalty, it is more a palace than a fort. There have been a succession of earlier forts

on thes site dating back at least to1180, although the present fort was begun

during the reign of Akbar the Great Later additions were made by Jahangir, Shah

Jahan and Aurangzeb. The fort was later greatly damaged by the Sikhs and it was

later occupied by the British,

The main entrance of the fort is through the Alamgiri Gate. Built by Aurangzeb

in1674,it is a very massive gateway flanked by semi octagonal bastions overlooking

the HazuriBagh. A small souvenir shop is just inside the gate.

The Badshahi Masjid:

The great Badshahi Mosque stands in the front of the

main entrance of the fort. This mosque was constructed

under the orders of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb

Alamgir in 1673, and it was modeled on the lines of the

Al-Walid Masjid in Damascus, Syria.

The archway, walls and roofs of the passageway of the mosque are beautifully

decorated with painted floral panels. The courtyard is in the shape of quadrangle

measuring 430 ft by 527 feet. The courtyard is paved and divided into prayer seats

and each seat is decorated by a black marble border. In the centre of the courtyard

lies the reservoir for ablution. The main prayer hall is situated at the western end of

the courtyard. The prayer hall is a stretch of three halls. The floor of the hall is

paved with marble.