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 Madu Lal 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 Shahi Msque at 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 Khan at Shahdara. Nur Jahans 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 Jahans daughter jahan Ara laid out the Chauburji Garden in 1646. During this period Dara Shikoh constructed the mausoleum of Hazrat Mian 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 destroyed by 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, Jahangirs 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,

pietra dura 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 Hazuri Bagh. 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.