Shalimar Garden (Punjab)

 

Shalamar garden, also called Shalimar garden, was built by Shah Jehan, Mughal Emperor, in 1641. This garden is one of the most beautiful architects of the Mughal Empire. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981. The design of the garden was influenced by the Shalimar Gardens in Kashmir that were built by Emperor Jahangir. It is spread on an area of 40 acres. It can be accessed by bus from Railway Station on G.T. Road.

Shalamar Garden has three terraces, Takht, with four square-design with a line of fountains and big fountain tank in the center of first and third terrace whereas second contains beautiful stake of fountains arranged in an order with a small platform in the center of the water tank and pavilions on both sides. The first terrace is named Bagh-e-Farah Baksh and the second and third terrace is named Bagh-e-Faiz Baksh. There are pavilions at the beginning and at the end of the terrace. The third terrace was normally opened for noblemen and sometimes to the public. The second terrace was the garden for the Emperor and the third terrance was for the Emperor's private residency.

The Shalamar garden has the most sophisticated waterworks of Mughal architecture. There are 410 fountains in the garden and five water cascades. In which Sawan Bhadoon and the great marble are the most attractive. Due to its waterworks and dense shades of trees, it is a pleasant tourist spot in summer.

Garden is surrounded by a high brick wall beautifully decorated with intricate fretwork. There are domes are each corner of each terrace. Each wall of the first and third terrace main entrance is in the middle.

About Lahore

Lahore, the capital city of Punjab, is the most populous and second-largest city in the northeast part of Punjab province in Pakistan on the border with India at Wagha. It is located on the bank of River Ravi at a height of 213 meters above sea level.

It is linked with the rest of Pakistan and accessed by all types of transportation. It is the major city to access all of the cities and towns of Punjab province. It has the largest railway station in Pakistan. Allam Iqbal International airport is used for all types of international and local flights.

Historical Places in Lahore

Lahore is the historic cultural hub of the Punjab region and was served as the capital city for a number of years under the Mughal emperors, the Sikh Empire under the rule of Ranjit Singh, and provincial capital in British rule. It is famous for a number of historic buildings and parks, i.e. Shalimar garden, Shahi fort or Lahore fort, Badshah mosque, etc. These historical buildings are now managed by Unesco world heritage to preserve them for the next generation. Sheesh Mahal is one of the beautiful architectural Mughal construction with mirror and tile work, and it attracts a number of tourists from all over the world. Historical G.T. Road, constructed by Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century, was used to establish a link between Calcutta and Kabul. Lahore museum has a splendid collection of historical linkages of Lahore and the sub-continent. Minar-e-Pakistan was a beautifully constructed building in memory of the Pakistan Resolution on 23 March 1940. Allam Muhammad Iqbal, who gave the idea of Pakistan, was buried near Badshahi mosque.

It is also known as a walled city in the times of the Mughal Empire. Some remains of those walls and splendid gates still attract a number of tourists to Lahore, Pakistan. Shahi fort was served as the front-end defense of the city.

The City of Lahore also attracts a number of visitors from all over the country as well as foreign tourists to visit a number of beautiful parks and gardens in the city. Jallo Park, race-course park, and Jinnah garden are the most famous parks.

It is also famous for the largest number of educational institutes in Pakistan. The University of Punjab is one of the main universities there, which produces a number of graduates every year. A number of great leaders before the independence of Pakistan had studied in the Government College, Lahore.

Nowadays, Lahore is represented as a modern city, with organized towns, restaurants, and shopping centers, in Gulberg, Model Town, and other societies. People love to enjoy visiting these shopping centers and normally take dinner in restaurants late at night.

Lahori people are cooperative and polite in manner. They welcome outsiders with great hearts and enjoy offering them meals. They are not conservative and respect the opinion of others. Most of the people living there have belonged to the surrounding cities, so they are not actual residents of Lahore. The actual residents of Lahore are living inside the walled city or other old colonies around the walled city.

Ideal time to visit Lahore

Spring season is the ideal time to visit the city. At that time, visitors can enjoy thousands of various color flowers everywhere, especially in public parks. The fragrance of these flowers can be felt in the atmosphere, which attracts a number of local visitors too. Local tourists from the surrounding cities can arrange a one-day tour with their families. Fully luxurious hotels and restaurants are available for tourists from other cities as well as foreigners.