Three days in Lahore
Many of our trips to Pakistan have the option of adding on a short stay in the city of Lahore at the end of your trip, but why? Is it worth staying in Pakistan for a few extra days? My answer would be, unequivocally, yes. After visiting Lahore and seeing what it has to offer I was blown away by the sights, sounds and atmosphere the city boasts.
My time in Lahore started with a visit to the Wagah Border. This had been a place I wanted to visit for so long and it did not disappoint. The ceremony started as the sun began to set but the heat was still ferocious. This did not deter the huge crowd in attendance both on the Pakistani and Indian sides of the border. The stands were full of mostly domestic tourists highlighting just how popular this much-loved tradition is throughout the country. As each side of the border attempted to outdo the other the sun set and the border closed for the night. The music, cheering, marching and flamboyant pageantry was certainly a treat for the senses.
The following day it was time to start delving into the city itself. Filled with historical buildings, temples and shrines, there is so much to do and see. The Badshahi Mosque offers an oasis of calm in the hustle and bustle of the city while the Lahore Fort just next door encapsulates the history of the city itself. The Palace of Mirrors, or Sheesh Mahal, takes your breath away, and combined with the pavilions, frescos and gardens, it is an absolute must-visit destination for your time in Lahore.
Next up, is the Shalamar Gardens. Designed as a place for emperors and their families to relax, everything has been meticulously built with this in mind. With hundreds of fountains across the site, the calming sounds of flowing water are ever-present as you wander through the terraces and pavilions.
The Lahore Museum is another must-visit while in the city. The long rooms and high ceilings are a reminder of British influence on this city as the building was constructed in 1894 as a memorial to Queen Victoria’s Jubilee. The collection includes Buddhist, Mughal and Gandhara artefacts, to name a few, along with a stunning collection of calligraphy through the ages. One of the most iconic pieces is the ‘Fasting Buddha’, one of the most rare and unusual examples of Gandhara sculpture.
Then, onto the Jahangir Tomb, built by Emperor Jahangir’s son to honour his father. It is quite a sight to behold. The building itself is cool and calm while the surrounding gardens are full of trees, birds and a general sense of peace. The Mughal frescos are stunning and you can still imagine the building in all its glory when built in 1637. The gardens are laid out in a similar fashion to those at Shalamar with four sections and water flowing throughout. Not only this but the tombs of Asif Kahn and Nur Jahan (Emperor Jahangir’s wife) are nearby, although neither are quite as stunning as the main tomb.
This busy day ends with a visit to the Old Town area of Lahore. This is hustle and bustle at it’s finest, people moving in every direction mixed in with tuk tuks, motorbikes and vendors selling everything under the sun. Here you can get clothes made, shop for spices and visit your local mosque all in the space of a few streets. Also tucked away in this walled city is the Shahi Hammam. A beautifully restored reminder of the past when Lahore was a key stopping point for travelers throughout the continent. The Baths were once used to subsidise the nearby Wazir Kahn Mosque in the 1600’s. The structure itself is impressive and perhaps even more so is the incredibly sophisticated method of heating a distributing water throughout the building, quite remarkable.
The saying goes that ‘most people eat to live but Lahori’s live to eat’. This can be seen in full force with a visit to Fort Road. Filled with restaurants, families, ice cream vendors and music this is a vibrant way to finish your time in the city. Supper on a high terrace overlooking the Badshahi Mosque, which is lit up in the darkness, feels special and ice cream on the way back to the car feels nothing short of essential!
As my time in Lahore came to an end, the journey towards Islamabad began. On route, of course, a visit to the Rohtas Fort. The size of this fort is hard to comprehend, it is so big that as you drive through one of the remaining gates you find yourself in a small village within the walls themselves, with people still living and working within this ancient site. Once you are through the village you can begin to wander around the remains of this once imposing structure. While some of the walls have long since fallen away there is still a huge amount that remains intact and well preserved. Within the walls, there are no structured gardens like in Lahore Fort however the green space that is there is taken up with families picnicking and of course, a heated game of cricket being played. After strolling along the walls, climbing the towers and wondering at the palace buildings it is time to continue on to Islamabad. It was a very busy and eventful few days taking in all that Lahore had to offer, and certainly something that I wouldn’t want to have missed.
