Their contributions have made the fort a trove of some of the Mughal world’s most outstanding designs. It became the hallmark of Mughal culture – a fusion of Hindu and Islamic traditions, which reached its zenith in the Taj Mahal.Īkbar’s son, Jehangir, and grandson, Shah Jahan, lavishly developed his architectural idiom, adding palaces, towers and gardens to the fort’s 20 hectares.
ARIF ALI/AFP/AFP/Getty ImagesĪkbar the Great built the fort in 1575 to quell rebellions on his empire’s northwest frontier, making Lahore his capital a decade later.Īs you walk through the fort’s honeycomb of intricately carved arches, sandstone pavilions and palaces, you’ll be surrounded by the architectural style born in Akbar’s reign. Lahore Fort, the citadel of the city, is covered in exquisite fresco paintings. Here’s a guide to Lahore’s top five sights. It lies near the crumbling mud banks of the Ravi River, 15 miles from Wagah, the border crossing with India, where turbaned guards from both countries take part in a daily foot-stomping ritual. Lahore is the capital of the central-eastern province of Punjab. Today, the city is Pakistan’s main bastion of history, culture and cuisine.
That golden age blessed Lahore with more Mughal architectural masterpieces than either Delhi or Agra. Its overlords, the Mughals – a Turkic dynasty from Central Asia that established its rule on the Indian subcontinent in 1526 – were a byword for power and opulence. By the 17th century it was famed as one of the world’s most populous and cultured cities. “As one of the most historically rich, and culturally important cities on the whole of the subcontinent – yet without the curse of mass tourism – it represents one of the most exciting and vibrant travel destinations in the region.” “And Lahore is a major player in this transformation,” he adds. “Pakistan finally seems to be emerging from the shadows, back onto the tourist map,” says Jonny Bealby, founder of Wild Frontiers, a tour operator based in the UK and US that has been running trips to Pakistan for 20 years. With Pakistan enjoying improved security, visitors are starting to rediscover the city’s treasures.
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