Visiting Lahore, Lahore

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Favorite thing: This busy metropolis has some of Pakistan ’s best sites. Lahore has been the capital of the Mughal Empire and of that of the Sikhs.

Lahore is located near the only border crossing with India that is currently open, in the Pakistani part of the Punjab . While you will see many Sikhs on the Indian side of the border, here the people are almost all Muslim. It is linked with rest of the country through mahor roads, ralway and by international airport. It is linked to the Islambad by most modern motor way and about 4 hours of pleasurable journey. Lahore is reagarded as the heart of Pakistan and also the heart and mind of The Punjab. It is both educational and cultural capital of Pakistan and only two and half hours away from Harrapa the oldest civilized city of the world. Lahore is perhaps the continuation of the north part of the Great Indus valley civilization.

Geography:

The climate of Lahore is very healthy and salubrious. Except for some days in summer Lahore is a pleasant place to live.
There are two main seasons, namely the winter and the summer. The monsoons are at their peak during July and August, and during these two months there is more than half of the annual rainfall.October and November are the drieat months and average rain fall during these months is about one third of an inch only. There are Winter rains during December - February,the average rainfall during these months being 3 inches.
Lahore in 1999 estimated population was 7million.

Fondest memory: Historical Significance:
Lahore is the capital of the Punjab province of Pakistan and is one of the oldest cities of the world.
Lahore is on the bank of River Ravi. Lahore has played a significant role in the region. It has been the capital of Punjab province for almost a thousand years. The city first achieved this status during the Ghaznavid dynasty (977–1187). It continued as such under the rule of Muhammad of Ghor as well as under several sultans of Delhi . Qutb-ud-din Aibak became the first Muslim sultan in the area after being crowned in Lahore in 1206. From 1524 to 1752, the Mughal dynasty (1526–1857) raised the level of prominence of Lahore by adding considerably to its architecture and size. Akbar (reigned 1556–1605) was responsible for overseeing the construction of the Lahore Fort, which was built over an old fort. In addition, he had a red-brick wall with twelve impressive gates constructed around the city. Shah Jahan (1592–1666) and Janhangir (reigned 1605–1627) contributed palaces, tombs, and gardens to the city landscape and enlarged the fort. The last great Mughal, Aurangzeb, had the famous monument the Badshahi Mosque built along with the Alamgiri gateway to the fort.
The eighteenth century witnessed constant invasions throughout the region, which laid Lahore open to capture by Ranjit Singh (reigned 1801–1839) in 1799. His control over Lahore afforded him the legitimacy that he needed to become emperor. Unfortunately, the Sikh era was not kind to Lahore ; the existing structures were not well maintained, and few new ones were built. When the British arrived in Lahore in 1849, they initially constructed practical facilities for the administration of the capital. Later, however, they worked to preserve some of the ancient structures and eventually added their own Victorian style of architecture, named Mughal-Gothic, to the city.

Favorite thing: Lahore is the Second Largest city of Pakistan with lots of modern architecture blended with its traditions and culture. Through the years the city has expanded greatly towards the east. Now Lahore has around 5 million inhabitants! In modern part of the city, you'll find many cafes, restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, book shops, etc. etc. You are get whatever u want from here. It takes around 1 hour in the business timings to each New part of Lahore from Old part of Lahore. but at night it takes around 30 mins by car to each old walled city from new Lahore.

Fondest memory: doing window shopping in Liberty Market, Pace and Fortress Stadium Market, Having an ice cream from Liberty market were some really memorable moments of Lahore.

Favorite thing: Lahore can be visit through out the year but the best time is spring from October to April.
All the major air lines have their connection to Lahore. Trains, Buses from all over the Pakistan has in their destination list the name of Lahore

Where to go? What to see?

There are so many places according to every individual choice and interest.
The Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque, Jahangir’s Tomb, Shalimar Garden are splendid examples of the Moghul architecture.
Old City’s narrow streets and bazaars are famous for the lively life and relaxing people.

Favorite thing: As said, don't visit lahore, or Pakistan for that matter alone. It's a very violent country with guns on every corner and now and then a pretty hostile environment reagrding India and (nowadays) Afghanistan.

Fondest memory: As a (modest) hockey player, it was absolutely splendid to have the opportunity to play in the worlds largest hockey stadium: The National Hockey Stadium in Lahore. Not only did we play there, we even played against the Pakistan national team. That we lost big time and it was not fully packed (maybe 200 in stead of 60.000) it was an experience I will never ever forget.

Favorite thing:

Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan and also act as a capital of Punjab. Lahore beeing a cultural and academic center of country. A lot of places of intrest to visit. Royal Fort built by Mongul Emperor, Badshahi Mosque, Tomb of Emperor Jehangir ( one of the great Mongul emperor ),Tomb of Noor Jehan
( Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan for her ) and Shalimar Garden.