Walled City of Lahore | |
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  Walled City of Lahore Location within Lahore Show map of Lahore Walled City of Lahore Walled City of Lahore (Pakistan) Show map of Pakistan | |
| Coordinates:31°35′00″N74°19′06″E / 31.58333°N 74.31833°E /31.58333; 74.31833 | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province |  Punjab |
| City | Lahore |
| Union Councils | UC-27, UC-28, UC-29, UC-30 |
TheWalled City of Lahore (Punjabi:اندرون شہر لہور;Urdu:اندرونِ شہر لاہور;lit. 'Inner City of Lahore'), also known as theOld City, forms the historic core of the city ofLahore inPunjab,Pakistan. The city was established around 1000 CE in the western half of the Walled City,[1] which was fortified by a mud wall during themedieval era. It has been the primary cultural centre of thePunjab region since thelate-medieval era.
The Walled City rose in prominence after being selected as theMughal capital, which resulted in the construction of theLahore Fort – now aUNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the city's new reinforced walls. The Walled City was bestowed with numerous monuments during the Mughal era, with some of Lahore's most iconic structures being located in the Walled City, such as the lavishly decoratedWazir Khan Mosque, the massiveBadshahi Mosque, and theShahi Hammam. Under Sikh rule, the city was again selected as the capital, and the Walled City again rose in prominence with numerous religious buildings built in the Walled City at the time, including theSamadhi of Ranjit Singh, and theGurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das.
The Walled City today remains the cultural heart of Lahore, and is home to many of its tourist attractions. In 2012, thePilot Urban Conservation and Infrastructure Improvement Project—the Shahi Guzargah Project was launched to restore a section ofShahi Guzargah ("Royal Passage") between the Wazir Khan Mosque andDelhi Gate under the management of theWalled City of Lahore Authority.[2] The first phase of the project was completed in 2015 with support from the governments ofNorway and theUnited States of America.[3]
The origins of Lahore are vague. According to carbon dating evidence from archaeological finds in the Lahore Fort, settlements in the region have existed as early as 2,000 BCE. Lahore had many names throughout its history. Mohallah Maulian represents one of the two most probable sites of first theoriginal Lahore.
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Though the modern city's founding may have been as early as 1000 CE, Lahore gained prominence only with the invasion of Muslim rulers from Central Asia.[1] The city served as a capital during the Ghaznavid, Ghorid, andDelhi Sultanate periods, but was not widely mentioned until around 1400.[1]Ibn Battuta knew of the city, but chose not to visit it,[1] whileTamerlane spared the city destruction in his 1398 invasion, and delegated its sacking to a subordinate.[1]
The entire city of Lahore during the medieval Ghaznavid era was probably located west of the modern Shah Alami, and north of theBhatti Gate.[1] Many of the city's pre-Mughal tombs were built along the perimeter of this outline, including theData Darbar shrine, the Tomb of Malik Ayaz, and the Aybak tomb. The modernGumti Bazaar forms an arc along what may have been the southern boundary of the pre-Mughal city.[1]
By the time ofMughal rule, a majority of its residents did not live within the walled city itself, but instead lived in suburbs that had spread outside of the city's walls.[1] Only 9 of the 36 urban quarters around Lahore, known asguzars, were located within the city's walls during the Akbar period.[1] During this period, Lahore was closely tied to smaller market towns known asqasbahs, such asKasur,Eminabad, andBatala in modern-dayIndia.[1] These, in turn, linked Lahore's markets to supply chains starting in villages surrounding eachqasbah.[1]
Urban administration under the Mughals was minimal, and most streets aside from major thoroughfares were privately maintained.[1] Thekotwal was imbued with the responsibility to manage day-to-day affairs in the city,[1] and was subordinate to aQazi judge.[1] The localMohalladar would surveil individual mohalla neighbourhoods, and register births and deaths within his mohallah. The positions were also maintained later during Sikh and British rule.[1]
Lahore's eminence largely began after 1584, when the EmperorAkbar ordered a palace to be built at what is now theLahore Fort after shifting his capital to Lahore fromFatehpur Sikri.[1] He also ordered rebuilt and fortified the city's walls, and ordered their extension east of the modern Shah Alami Bazaar to encompass an open plain known as theRarra Maidan.[1] Lahore's old gates were also built around this time.[1] Akbar also established theAkbari Mandi as agrain market at the city's easternmost edge - a grain market that still exists in the present day.[1] During his reign, Mughal nobles were encouraged to build palaces and gardens in and around Lahore,[1] and many of Lahore's firsthaveli mansions date from this period.[1]
European visitors in the 16th and 17th centuries described the city as populous, with bazaars stocking valuable goods.[1] Akbar's court chronicler,Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak, described the city as a "grand resort of all countries" with manufacturers that produced an astonishing variety of items.[1] The Venetian traveler,Niccolao Manucci, described the city's bazaars as being packed with foreigners.[1]
During the reign of EmperorJahangir, Lahore was still considered less important than the old Mughal capital ofAgra, as evidenced by the construction of theTomb of I'timād-ud-Daulah there rather than in Lahore.[4] However, the importance of the city grew drastically with the presence of the Mughal Court,[4] and the city's suburbs spread out more than 5 kilometres beyond the Walled City.[1] The Emperor Jahangir was later buried in an extravagant tomb in theShahdara Bagh across the River Ravi, whose construction was overseen by his wife,Nur Jahan. The family of Nur Jahan built several garden-residences within and around the Walled City, and was later buried in Shahdara Bagh.[4]
The EmperorShah Jahan was born in Lahore in 1592, and bestowed the city with its famousShalimar Gardens. By the time of his reign, six times as many Lahoris lived outside of the city walls than within.[1] As a nobleman under Shah Jahan, Wazir Khan embarked on a program of architectural patronage.[4] His first monumental project in the city was theWazir Khan Mosque, built at the site of a simple pre-Mughal shrine.[4] As Lahore's first monumental mosque, it is lavishly embellished with extensivefresco-work that synthesizes Mughal and Punjabi influences.[4] It is now considered to be the most ornately decorated Mughal-era mosque.[5] He also built two other mosques in the Walled City,[4] as well as theShahi Hammam - famous for its lavish use offrescoes as a decorative element. He built for himself a haveli in the old city near the Shah Alami Bazaar called thePeri Mahal, or "Fairy Palace."[4] He also laid a pleasure garden south of the Walled City known asNakhla Bagh, where he also built for himself abaradari.[4]
Shah Jahan's son, EmperorAurangzeb, built the largest Mughal monument in Lahore, the iconicBadshahi Mosque. Emperor Aurangzeb also ordered the construction of the massive Alimgiri Gate at theLahore Fort. He also improved civil infrastructure, and ordered the construction of theAlamgiri Bund - a channel built to divert the flow of theRiver Ravi.[1]
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Following the collapse of Mughal rule, Lahore ceased to function as an imperial city. Trade abruptly stopped, and large areas of the city's suburbs were abandoned.[1] By 1780, the city had fallen under the rule of small Sikh states known asMisls. The city and its revenues were partitioned among 3 Sikh chiefs -Gujjar Singh,Lahna Singh, and Sobha Singh.[1] Instability during theMisl period contributed to the rise of nearbyAmritsar as a commercial centre.[1] The city's population rapidly declined during this era, and the entire population of the city was said to live within the confines of the Walled City, with numerous citadels and suburbs depopulated.[1]
Instability hindered Lahore's progress until the arrival ofMaharaja Ranjit Singh, who in 1799 made Lahore the Sikhs' administrative capital for the next 50 years, ruling from the Old City's Lahore Fort.[1] Though the city's urban fabric lay in ruins by 1799, Sikh reconstruction from this era were based upon Mughal precedent.[1] In 1812, they refurbished the city's defenses and added a second circuit of walls around the city that largely followed the outline of walls from the Akbari period.[1] Numerous Mughal monuments were damaged, desecrated, or destroyed during this period.[1]
Ranjit Singh and his descendant bestowed the Walled City with religious monuments such as theGurdwara Dera Sahib,Gurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das, andSamadhi of Ranjit Singh, and numerous Hindu temples,[1] as well as secular buildings such as theHaveli of Nau Nihal Singh, andHazuri Bagh Baradari. They also refurbished the nearby Shalimar Gardens, while numerous gardens were laid outside the city walls by Sikh nobles.[1]
By the end of Sikh rule, most of Lahore's massive Mughalhaveli compounds had been occupied by settlers. New neighbourhoods occasionally grew up entirely within the confines of an old Mughal haveli, such as the Mohallah Pathran Wali, which grew within the ruins of a haveli of the same name that was built by Mian Khan.[1] By 1831, all Mughal havelis in the Walled City had been encroached upon by the surrounding neighbourhood,[1] leading to the modern-day absence of any Mughal havelis in Lahore.
After the British captured Lahore from the Sikhs in 1846, annexation of thePunjab in 1849, the Walled City's administrative practices were largely maintained.[1] By the early 20th century, the Walled City's mohallahs were incorporated into a new municipal administrative system.[1] Several of the city's older Mughal and Sikh monuments were repurposed by British authorities during their early rule,[1] as resources for planning and building new administrative buildings were scarce.[1] TheTomb of Anarkali, for example, was appropriated first for office space, before its conversion in 1851 into an Anglican church until 1891.[1] It thereafter was used once again for civil purposes as a document repository - a function which it serves until present day.[1]Chauburji was used as a police station during British rule.[1] Several other Mughal tombs were used as residences by high ranking British administrators.[1]
Following theIndian Rebellion of 1857, British colonialists destroyed Lahore's city walls, as well as its gateways,[1] though several were later rebuilt.[1] The British built theLahore Junction railway station outside the city's former walls, in a unique fortified style complete withturrets andcrenellations, and loopholes for directing rifle fire.[1] The Circular Garden which once encompassed the Walled City on three sides was established by 1892.[6] The Walled City'sRang Mahal was used first as a school for theAmerican Presbyterian Mission, before being used as the first location of Lahore's prestigiousForman Christian College in 1896.[1]
The British regarded the Walled City as a potential hotbed for disease and social instability, and instead focused development away from the Walled City, and into suburban areas to the south and east,[1] where numerous British-era buildings now stand, along with theLahore Cantonment - originally laid by British administrators.[1] By the early 20th century, the Walled City's mohallahs came under the administration of British municipal laws which had only previously applied in Civil Station.[1]
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The city of Lahore during the Ghaznavid era was probably located in the southwest portion of today's Walled City,[1] with several of the city's pre-Mughal tombs built along the perimeter of this area.[1] TheGumti Bazaar forms an arc along what may have been the southern boundary of the pre-Mughal city.[1] A mud fort is believed to have surrounded the medieval city, and may have been built byMalik Ayaz, the first Muslim governor of Lahore.
As late as 1864, the Lahori Mandi area had been known askacha kot, meaning "the mud fort," a name derived from the gradient of the land, the water flow, and the formation ofmohallahs,kuchas, andkattrahs. The curve ofKucha Pir Bola. for example, merges withWaachowali Bazaar, the Lahori Bazaar merges with Chowk Lahori Mandi, and ChowkMati merges withPapar Mandi, which may outline the old fort.
The Mughal period beginning in the Akbari period until the early 18th century most decisively determined the city's character.[1] Mughal Emperors embellished the city with monuments, and the city accumulated monuments from several different periods - in contrast toFatehpur Sikri orOld Delhi which were largely built during the reign of a single Mughal Emperor.[1] The Mughal city was divided into urban quarters known asguzārs.[1] During the Akbari period, only 9 of Lahore's 26guzārs were located within the boundaries of Lahore's city walls. Suburbs grew around the Walled City in areas to its east and south, and most was done in anad hoc manner with concern paid to the developments immediate environment, rather than a larger masterplan.[1]
During the Jahangir period, the city grew rapidly. Lahore's suburban areas extended up to 5 kilometres from the Walled City.[4] EmpressNur Jahan and her family built a number of residences and gardens within the Walled City, and outside of the city walls in the suburbs during this period.[4] Her practice of building garden-residences successfully wove a culture of gardens into the rapidly urbanizing city.[4]
Properties in the Walled City were often carved into smaller pieces over time.[1] Inhabitants of the same building, and mohallah, were inhabited by members of different religions and castes.[1] Though some neighbourhoods in the Walled City are named after individual groups, these areas did not remain homogeneous.[1]
During the British era, the city's eastern walls were shifted about 100 metres further east. WhereasChitta Gate had served as the city's original "Delhi Gate", and previously opened directed ontoWazir Khan Chowk. During the British era, a new gate was built next to theShahi Hammam, and new streets built in that area.[7]
The Shah Alami Bazaar area was once a largely Hindu quarter of the Walled City, and was the busiest and most densely populated part of the city where sunlight would rarely reach the street below.[8] During the 1947 riots that accompanied thePartition of British India, much of the area was burnt down, with rebuilding of the area beginning in 1949.[8] Rebuilding was done in a contemporary style, rather than the historic style of the rest of the city, in order to widen streets and to create more commercial space.[8]
The convoluted and picturesque streets of the inner city remain almost intact, but the rapid demolition and frequently illegal rebuilding taking place throughout the city is causing the historic fabric to be eroded and replaced by inferior constructions.
The Walled City ofLahore covers an area of 256 ha with a population of 200,000. Before partition, in 1947, the Walled City had a concentration of 48%Hindus, 38% Muslims and 12%Sikhs. Once Pakistan and India were formed - the area saw a mass exodus of Hindus and Sikhs, with the area now being populated primarily by the Punjabis from West Pakistan, immigrants from East Punjab (Haryana,Himachal Pradesh andPunjab, ofIndia) and Pashtuns. As of now, the population is 99% Muslims, comprisingPunjabis, mostly.
In the past two decades, there has been an ever-increasingPashtun population, with traders arriving and settling from theKPK, and parts of Afghanistan. This part of Lahore is a bustling community, with history etched in every corner of its streets, and attracts people from all across Pakistan, both for tourism and business purposes.
TheLahore Fort (Punjabi andUrdu:شاہی قلعہ:Shahi Qila, or"Royal Fort") is acitadel at the northern end of Lahore's Walled City that spreads over an area greater than 20hectares.[9] It contains 21 notable monuments, some of which date to the era of EmperorAkbar. Some of its monuments are famous sites themselves, including the white marbleNaulakha Pavilion, theSheesh Mahal ("Palace of Mirrors"),Pearl Mosque, and the fort's massivePicture Wall.
The Lahore Fort is notable for having been almost entirely rebuilt in the 17th century,[10] when theMughal Empire was at the height of its splendour and opulence.[11] In 1981, the fort was inscribed as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site for its "outstandingrepertoire" of Mughal monuments dating from the era when the empire was at its artistic and aestheticzenith.[9]
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TheBadshahi Mosque (Urdu:بادشاہی مسجد, or"Imperial Mosque") is aMughal era mosque built in 1671-73 that is located west ofLahore Fort, and fronts the fort across theHazuri Bagh quadrangle.[13] The architecture and design of the Badshahi Masjid is closely related to theJama Masjid inDelhi,India, which was built in 1648 by Aurangzeb's father and predecessor,Shah Jahan.
Badshahi Mosque was commissioned by EmperorAurangzeb in 1671, with construction of the mosque lasting for two years until 1673. The mosque is an important example ofMughal architecture, with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay. It is the largest and most recent of the grand imperial mosques of the Mughal-era, and is thesecond-largest mosque in Pakistan.[12] The mosque is now widely considered to be one of Lahore's most iconic landmarks.[14]
TheWazir Khan Mosque (Urdu:مسجد وزیر خان;Masjid WazīrKhān) is a 17th-century mosque near theDelhi Gate andChitta Gate that was commissioned during the reign of theMughal EmperorShah Jahan as part of an ensemble of buildings that also included the nearbyShahi Hammam baths. Construction of Wazir Khan Mosque began in 1634C.E., and was completed in 1641.[15]
Considered to be the most ornately decorated Mughal-era mosque,[5] Wazir Khan Mosque is renowned for its intricatefaience tile work known askashi-kari, as well as its interior surfaces that are almost entirely embellished with elaborate Mughal-erafrescoes. The mosque has been under extensive restoration since 2009 under the direction of theAga Khan Trust for Culture and theGovernment of Punjab,[16] with contributions from the governments ofGermany,Norway, and theUnited States.[17]
TheBegum Shahi Mosque (Urdu:بیگم شاہی مسجد) is an early 17th-century mosque that was built between 1611 and 1614 during the reign ofMughal EmperorJahangir in honour of his mother. It is Lahore's earliest surviving example of a Mughal-era mosque,[18][19] and influenced construction of the largerWazir Khan Mosque a few decades later.[20]
TheSunheri Mosque (Urdu:سنہری مسجد, orGolden Mosque), also known as theTalai Mosque, is a lateMughal architecture-era mosque in Lahore's walled city that is named in honour of its gilded domes. Unlike theWazir Khan Mosque andBadshahi Mosque which were built at the zenith of theMughal Empire in the 17th century, the Sunehri Mosque was built in 1753 when the empire was in decline.[21]
DuringSikh rule, the mosque was seized by Sikh authorities and converted into agurdwara,[22] after a copy of theGuru Granth Sahib was installed in the mosque following Sikhs complaints that the Muslim call to prayer from the mosque was disturbing their religious ceremonies at a newly constructedbaoli (stepped well) nearby.[23]
TheNeevin Mosque (Urdu:نیویں مسجد), is a 15th-centurymosque built during theLodi dynasty of theDelhi Sultanate. Neevin Mosque is notable for its foundation 25 feet below street level. The mosque is further noted for being one of Lahore's few remaining pre-Mughal monuments.
TheSamadhi of Ranjit Singh (Urdu:رنجیت سنگھ کی سمادھی) is a 19th-century shrine that houses thefunerary urns of theSikh rulerRanjit Singh (1780 - 1839). It is located adjacent theLahore Fort andBadshahi Mosque, as well theGurdwara Dera Sahib which marks the spot where the 5th guru ofSikhism,Guru Arjan Dev, died.
Gurdwara Dera Sahib (Urdu:گوردوارہ ڈیہرا صاحب) commemorates the spot where the 5th guru ofSikhism,Guru Arjan Dev, died in 1606.[24] Construction of the building was started byKharak Singh on the spot where he wascremated, and was completed by his youngest son,Duleep Singh in 1848. The gurdwara combines elements ofSikh,Hindu, andIslamic architecture.[25] Portions of the building are believed to have been plundered from the adjacent Lahore Fort.[25]
TheGurdwara Janam Asthan Guru Ram Das (Urdu:گردوارہ جنم استھان گورو رام داس) is agurdwara built atop the site traditionally believed to be the location of the birthplace and childhood home ofGuru Ram Das, the 4thSikh gurus.[26] The gurdwara is located in theChuna Mandi Bazaar in the Walled City of Lahore, near theLahore Fort, andBegum Shahi Mosque. The shrine is located along theShahi Guzargah, or "Royal Passage" that began atDelhi Gate, and terminated at the Lahore Fort.
There are manyhavelis inside the Walled City of Lahore, some in good condition while others need urgent attention. Many of these havlis are fine examples ofMughal andSikhArchitecture. Some of the havelis inside the Walled City include:
TheHaveli of Nau Nihal Singh (Urdu:نو نہال سنگھ حویلی) is considered to be one of the finest examples of Sikh architecture in Lahore,[27] and is the only Sikh-era haveli that preserves its original ornamentation and architecture.[28] The haveli is noted for its lavishly decorated western façade, displaying vividKangra-style painting.[27] The site has been used as a girls' school since the British colonial-era.[6]
TheShahi Hammam (Urdu:شاہی حمام;"Royal Baths"), is aPersian-style bath which was built in 1635C.E. during the reign of EmperorShah Jahan. The Shahi Hammam is noted for its extensive embellishment with Mughal-era frescoes that have recently been restored. The baths were built to serve as awaqf, or endowment, for the maintenance of theWazir Khan Mosque.[29]
No longer used as a hammam, the baths were restored between 2013 and 2015 by theAga Khan Trust for Culture and theWalled City of Lahore Authority. The restoration project was given an Award of Merit byUNESCO in 2016 for the hammam's successful conservation which returned it to its "former prominence."[30]
TheHazuri Bagh Baradari (Urdu:حضوری باغ بارہ دری) is abaradari of white marble located in theHazuri Bagh quadrangle, which forms the space between the Alamgiri Gate of theLahore Fort, and theBadshahi Mosque. It was built byMaharaja Ranjit Singh,Sikh ruler of Punjab in 1818. The pavilion consisted of two storeys until it was damaged by lightning in 1932.[31]
TheFort Road Food Street (Urdu:سڑک خوراک - روشنائی دروازہ) is a pedestrianised area located on theFort Road within the walled city that is dedicated to culinary stalls and restaurants specialisingLahori cuisine. The street has colourful lights and views ofBadshahi Mosque and is near theRoshnai Gate[32]
The Walled City of Lahore once had 13 gates. All survived until the1857 Uprising when in an effort to de-fortify the city, all but one of the gates were destroyed by the British. Three were rebuilt as simpler structures, while the Delhi Gate, Shah Alami Gate, and Lohari Gate were built in a more elaborate style. The Shah Alami Gate was destroyed during riots following thePartition of British India.
| Name | Picture | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Bhati Gate بھاٹی گیٹ | .jpg) | The entrance to the "Bhati Gate" is located on the western wall of the old city. The area inside the gate is well known throughout the city for itsfood. Just outside "Bhati Gate" is theData Durbar, the mausoleum of theSufi saintAli Hajweri - widely considered to be Lahore's patron saint. |
| Delhi Gate دہلی گیٹ |  | The "Dehli Gate" was on the road that led fromLahore toDelhi. The gate was built during theMughal era at the present dateChitta Gate. The present gate was built by the British in the 19th century, further east from the "old Delhi Gate" |
| Kashmiri Gate کشمیری گیٹ |  | The "Kashmiri Gate" faces the direction of Kashmir. |
| Lohari Gate لوہاری گیٹ |  | The "Lohari Gate" is very close to "Bhati Gate". The gate is namedLohori because manyloharblacksmith workshops that were based just outside this gate. |
| Roshnai Gate روشنائی دروازہ |  | The "Roshnai Gate", also known as the "Gate of Lights", is located between theLahore Fort and theBadshahi Mosque. The gate was one of the main entrances into the city, and was constantly visited by Omerahs, courtiers, royal servants and retinues. In the evenings, the gate was lit up, hence its name. The gate was also referred to as the "Gate of Splendour". It is the only gate that still largely remains in its original state |
| Shairanwala Gate شیرنوالا گیٹ |  | The "Shairanwala Gate" ("Lions Gate"), originally known asKhizri Gate,[6] was made by MaharajaRanjit Singh. After its completion, Singh placed two live lions (or Shers) in cages at the gate as a symbolic warning to potential enemies. |
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Akbari Gate | The "Akbari gate", the most beautiful gate of Lahore. This is also commonly known as Delhi gate in modern-day Lahore. The "Akbari Gate" is named after the Mughal emperorAkbar, who rebuilt the town and citadel. Close to this gate the emperor also founded a market, which is named after him, "Akbari Mandi" (Akbari Market). |
| Masti Gate | Just behind theLahore Fort is the entrance to the "Masti Gate", also known as the "Gate of Merriment". This area is dominated by wholesale shoe sellers who sell both traditional- and Western-style shoes. Located further down the street is one of the city's oldest Masjids, theMasjid of Mariyam Zamani Begum, named after the mother ofJahangir,Mariyam Zamani. |
| Mochi Gate | Located at the entrance to Mochi Bagh (garden) and amidst a bustlingbazaar (market), the "Mochi Gate" is a historical gate built during theMughal period. InUrdu,Mochi meanscobbler, which may indicate that the bazaar was once a market for shoes and repair shops. Another theory is that according to legend the gate was named afterMoti, a guard of the gate during the Mughal era, who guarded and looked after the gate all his life. Later on, the name was distorted and became Mochi. Today, thebazaar around the Mochi gate is renowned for its dry fruits, kites and fireworks. Mochi Gate is the entrance to the Mochi Bagh, where many renowned Pakistani leaders of past and present have delivered speeches. |
| Mori Gate | Located between the Lahori Gate and Bhati Gate, the "Mori Gate" is the smallest of the gates of the walled city. This gate was used to remove the waste and disposal material from the city. Mori Gate was never considered an official gate, but the residents of Lahore considered it to be the 13th gate. |
| Shah-Alami Gate | The "Shah-Alami Gate" is named after one of the sons of the Mughal emperorAurangzeb,Shah Alam I. Before his death, the gate was called the "Bherwala Gate". During the 1947 independence riots, the gate was burned. Today only the name survives. One of Lahore's biggest commercial markets, "Shah Alam Market" orShalmi as locals call it, exists near the site of the gate. |
| Taxali Gate | The "Taxali Gate", also known as the Taxal (royal mint), was built during the Mughal reign. There is a shoe market located here known as Sheikupurian Bazar. There are a variety of foods available in and around this gate - one of the most beloved being Sri Pai from Fazal Din aka "Phajja". Taj Mehal and Shahbudin Halwi are a couple of the more popular sweet stores. |
| Yakki Gate | The "Yakki Gate" was named after the martyr saint "Zakki". Zakki fell while defending the city against the Mughal invaders from the north. Over time the name "Zakki" became distorted to what the gate is known as today: "Yakki". |
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In 2012, thePilot Urban Conservation and Infrastructure Improvement Project—the Shahi Guzargah Project was launched by the Government of Punjab and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (an agency of theAKDN) which restored a section ofShahi Guzargah ("Royal Passage") between theWazir Khan Mosque andDelhi Gate under the management of theWalled City of Lahore Authority.[2] The project was completed in 2015 with support from the governments ofNorway and theUnited States of America.[3]
Prior to completion of the project's first phase, the vicinity around theWazir Khan Mosque had been encroached upon by illegally erected shops which blocked off much of the mosque from the surrounding neighborhood. Tangled power lines further spoiled views of the mosque, and the Wazir Khan Chowk had been badly neglected and had shrunk in size due to illegally constructed shops. The first phase of the project removed illegally constructed shops, restoring views of the mosque.Wazir Khan Chowk was extensively rehabilitated by the removal of encroachments, while thewell ofDina Nath was restored. Power lines along the project corridor were also placed underground, and theChitta Gate at the eastern entrance to Wazir Khan Chowk was rehabilitated.[33]
The Wazir Khan Mosque was built in 1634-35 AD (1044-45 AH), by Hakim 'Ali ud din* a governor of the Punjab in the early part of the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
The Walled city of Lahore is famous for several historic monuments including the Lahore Fort – a World Heritage site, the Badshahi and Wazir Khan mosques. Close to 2,000 buildings within the Walled city display a range of architectural features that mark Lahore's centuries old cultural landscape. A majority of these buildings and the mohallas (local neighbourhoods) in which they are situated form a unique heritage footprint. The work consequently carried out by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and the Aga Khan Historic Cities Programme (AKHCP) was initiated under a 2007 public-private partnership framework agreement with the Government of Punjab.
The Walled City of Lahore program was put into effect in partnership with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. AKTC supports the Walled City Authority in all technical matters in terms of restoration and conservation work being carried out. Other donors include the World Bank, Royal Norwegian Government, USAID, and the German Embassy.
{{cite journal}}:Cite journal requires|journal= (help)The spectacular monumental ensemble of the Wazir Khan Mosque in the Walled City of Lahore was built in 1634 during the reign of the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Its endowment then comprised the congregational mosque, an elaborate forecourt, a serai, a hammam, a bazaar, and a special bazaar for calligraphers and bookbinders.
Landmarks of theWalled City of Lahore | |
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| Gates | |
| Mosques | |
| Lahore Fort | |
| Tombs | |
| Others | |
