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Capital of Punjab, Pakistan
Photo: (WT-en) Calan at English Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Lahore (Punjabi: لہور; Urdu: لاہور) is Pakistan's second largest city after Karachi, and the capital of the north-eastern Punjab province. It is widely considered the country's cultural capital. The heart of Lahore is the Walled or Inner City, a very densely populated area of about one square kilometre.
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شاہی قلعہ, Shahi Qila
A huge structure where the Mughal and Sikh rulers built their imperial quarters. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. There is a small museum dedicated to the Sikh period of the 18th century. A friendly museum caretaker might agree to take you into the summer rooms underground.
The iconic entrance to the fort. Located opposite the Badshahi Mosque.
Decorated with colored tiles. Known as the "Elephant Gate" because royal elephants would enter here. Just inside the gate is the Hathi Paer (Elephant Path) - a staircase with very wide steps so that an elephant's feet could fit on them while climbing to the upper level of the fort. The fort's wall outside this staircase is decorated with tiles including pictures of elephants. (You will also find the Alamgiri Gate occasionally called the Elephant Gate, because its two columns vaguely resemble elephant feet.)
Built by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, this was long the largest mosque in the world. Entrance is free, but you will be asked to pay about Rs 20 (Nov 2024) to the shoekeeper upon exit. However, it is not compulsory to pay fee for shoe storage. You can instead bring a bag to carry your shoes in after removing them at the entrance. Try going late at night, when there are few people there. Since mosques are holy places, do not wear shorts to this or any mosque; women are advised to wear long or half-sleeved clothing, and to carry a shawl so they can cover their head. Remove shoes before entering.
Tomb of this Sikh ruler of Lahore. Located next to the square between Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque.
This tower, sometimes called the "Eiffel Tower of Pakistan", was built on the site where in 1940 the creation of a separate state for Muslims was recognized. Located in a park in front of the Fort and Badshahi Mosque.
An exquisite tiled mosque located near Delhi Gate.
Imperial Baths
A Persian-style bathhouse built in 1635, restored in 2015, and covered with beautiful frescos.
Buildings were erected here as early as 1858.
Rudyard Kipling's father was the principal here. Offers a thesis show every winter. Kim's Gun is outside the NCA
An obelisk built to commemorate the 1974 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation conference. Located in the Charing Cross roundabout. Few know the presence of a library/museum below the roundabout that is all about the OIC and Islamic Summit and is a treat to visit.
An impressive building, dating to 1914.
An impressive old building. Since 1972, no longer used by the Masons.
A modern office block, with a glass dome and a roof garden.
One of the oldest zoos in the sub continent, founded in 1872. The material used in some of the construction even bears the marks of 1853. The Lahore zoo attracts a large crowd throughout the year. Driving east along the Sharah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, just past Charing Cross and opposite the WAPDA House is the main gate of the zoo.
Used for theater and other cultural events.
Lahore Fortress
An attempt to combine the architecture of a fort like Rohtas with a sports stadium. Many exhibitions held here. The Stadium is the site of the famous Horse and Cattle Show in March. Joyland amusement park is also located here.
A three-tiered formal garden built in the 1600s, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
An impressive, ornate 4-towered gate dating to 1646.
Built in 1637 for the Mughal emperor Jahangir.
Data Darbar
A Sufi Muslim shrine to Lahore's patron saint, Hazrat Daata Ganj Bakhsh. This vast modern structure is always filled with people praying, collecting or bestowing alms, or eating at the huge charity 'langar' or soup kitchen.
A replica of the famous Trafalgar Square in London is located in the Bahria Town suburb. A Mini Egypt and a Zoo are located nearby and also worth a visit.
The largest museum in Pakistan, established during the British Raj in 1864. It displays a complete cross-section of the culture and history of the region with a fine collection of Buddhist art from the Gandhara Period, Islamic artifacts, calligraphy, old manuscripts, arms, costumes and jewelry. John Kipling, father of the writer Rudyard Kipling, was curator in the 19th century and the museum appears in the first chapter of Kim.
Unfortunately the presentation is old-fashioned and basic, and captions are sometimes in Urdu only.
Built as an exhibition hall and later a market, it now hosts the Lahore City Heritage Museum. Built in 1864.
This museum was actually Shakir's House at 93, Tipu Block, New Garder Town, Lahore, which he made for himself. After his death it was bought by Idara-I-Saqafat-e-Pakistan, and turned into a museum on April 3, 1976. The idea behind it was not only to preserve the great artist's paintings and other masterpieces under one roof but also to open this combination of modern and traditional architecture to the public.
A very large and interesting private Museum known as Faqirkhana lies inside the Bhatti Gate and is worth visiting. The museum houses a variety of old paintings, including some by great masters, original manuscripts in different languages and artifacts from South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent.
An industrial and commercial museum, established in 1950, which is meant to depict country's economic resources both in the form of raw products and worked objects. Its collection is arranged in one gallery and one large hall of the building. The main hall displays a range of variety of material such as well plated musical instruments, table lamps of camel skin from Multan and Bhawalpur, cotton, silken-woolen and embroidered textiles from all important cities of Pakistan.
Allama Iqbal Museum
A museum commemorating Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan's national poet, who lived in this building for several years before his death in 1938.
Built in 1959, renovated in 1996 and named for the Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, this has a capacity of 27,000 and hosts international Test matches, and Lahore Qalanders in the T20 Pakistan Super League.
Bagh-e-Jinnah
Among the biggest gardens of Lahore.
Following the canal side road to the east of the city is Jallo Park. It is a large drive-in park with a drive-in zoo and a man-made lake. Spreading over 450 acres, it has expanses of lawns, a forest research centre, a children's park, a small museum and a gift shop. Sozo Water Park is another attraction in this park. Also see Sindbad, Joy Land and Sky Land. It can be visited by road and by rail. A rail car leaves for Jallo Railway Station every half hour.
A huge park featuring vast lush grounds, a lake for boating, and a well-maintained jogging track. The park hosts special flower shows during the spring season.
A vast park with a lake for boating, a mini-zoo, and recreational rides.
A famous ice-cream parlour offering 20 different flavours. They also offer milkshakes and juices of various kinds.
Don't miss this place for great open air atmosphere where you can also get sheesha.
Serves snack food like samosas, chaat and dahi bhallay
One of the best restaurant in Lahore. Best traditionally grilled lamb and chicken in town and after the meal one must have the traditional kawa (green tea)
Offers good standard Pakistani food. The mutton karahi at Rs 510 is a popular dish and easily serves two people, while most dishes are half that price. They also offer salads, but see the Stay Healthy section below.
Has the best non-Pakistani food in town. Try the shrimp and avocado salad. You can also take your own wine to the restaurant and they'll be happy to serve you; just make sure to inform them on the door, if you have an alcoholic drink with you.
One of Lahore's institutions, despite the distressing decor. It serves a mix of Continental and Thai food. It is highly popular among elites.
Family-oriented restaurant which has a safe, vaguely continental menu. Freddy's offers an afternoon high tea buffet, which offers a full variety foods and some drinks.
A vast mud structure which has an all-you-can-eat Pakistani buffet. It's a popular joint to take visiting tourists, as it combines a variety of local foods with good hygiene.
Owned by the same company as Village, with a fine à la carte menu. Try their sweet lassi.
Authentic Pakistani food in a buffet style. Their menu is not as grand as Village, but the ambiance is a little more laid-back.
Right by the Gaddafi Stadium, sitting on your maniji and gulping lassi, you'll experience a unique truck driver atmosphere here. The food is excellent, but the prices are on the higher end. Favourite among the locals are the assorted naans, chicken mugalahi and mutton chops.
It's the only real Japanese restaurant in town, and is considered to be the most expensive.
A globally famous restaurant chain.
Authentic Italian food, overseen by Pak-Italian owners. It has a reservation-only, high-end gourmet experience with a rather well put-together table d'hote, and it has a basement pizzeria where you can't go wrong if want a pizza pie that resembles something from Rome and not Chicago.
Skye - Dining in the Clouds
One of the highest rooftop restaurants in Lahore, it is on the 19th floor of the Indigo Hotel overlooking the metropolitan of Lahore. MM Alam Road on one side and Liberty on the other. It provides buffet and à-la-carte menu.
Casual dining and gatherings; offers a variety of vegetarian and vegan options.
Situated about an hour outside of Lahore. Peeru's, a cafe with an artistic flair. Saturday night is always Jazz Night, Peeru's cafe is really the only place which has live jazz music. Tuesday is Sufi night. Sitting inside, it even feels like some cafe in Venice.
Amin Building
Backpackers hostel. They arrange many trips to local cultural events and offer extremely clean accommodation at very reasonable rates. They can organize parking.
The owner, Malik, is a former journalist who can show you some amazing off-the-wall stuff in the city, including weekly trips to Shah Jamal on Thursday nights. It's slightly expensive for what it is, but pretty much the best option in town and worth it for the security and to meet other travelers. It is down an alley and upstairs, behind H. Karim Busch & Sons supermarket. They are pretty good at responding online bookings and often update their blog posts.
Internet/Wi-Fi and airport pickup and drop-off.
This place is a bit rough around the edges, and not recommended for a single female, but the rooms are clean, large, en suite, air conditioned and the rate includes a simple breakfast.
Lahore's true Grand old hotel, built in late 18th century by an Italian and later renovated.
formerly known as Holiday Inn and Hospitality Inn.
Pearl Continental is a 4-star hotel.
Indigo Heights
Indigo Heights is a 4 star hotel.
Named after a courtesan who was buried alive for loving a prince, is one of the chief shopping areas. Anarkali Bazaar is a treasure-trove, selling virtually everything from handicrafts to transistor radios, women's clothing to refrigerators. It is a maze of lanes and alleys which stretch northwards from the Mall to the Central Museum's end. The bazaars in the old city are the ones people romanticize in literature and films. They consist of tiny alleys, some of which will admit a rickshaw, a string of donkeys or carts- and pedestrians have to leap into doorways to give room. Some alleys are only possible single file.
Has the best quality of unstitched silk, cotton and printed material of all sorts.
An ideal place to buy formal male clothes. It houses over 1000 shops so you have a large variety of clothes to choose from and that is too at a competitive price.
Shopping mall with food, clothes, electronics, movies. Located in Link Road, Model town.
A very prestigious shopping mall with a super market named green valley mall.
A large circular market with hundreds of shops selling clothing, electronics, and so on. A basement shop in Liberty (tell the rickshaw driver it's near H Karim Bakhsh) has good handicrafts, and can be bargained with.
The oldest book shop in Lahore.
One of the famous mobile and computer market of the province Punjab, with inexpensive software (pirated), and hardware that can be bargained for.
Jewellery market, banks, clothes market (mostly for women and children), restaurants.
Men's wear - casual and formal wear for men of all ages.
By train
There are routes from all major Pakistani cities to Lahore with Pakistan Railways official website.) run from the main station.
By car
A modern motorway connects Lahore to Islamabad, Faisalabad and Peshawar. The motorway is considerably better than the GT road, even though it is longer.
By bus
From the Indian border, bus #4 runs to the Main train station for Rs 20.
By metro
By auto-rickshaw
Auto-rickshaws/Qingqis are open rickshaws with (narrow) rear-facing seats, or with two seats facing forward and two backward.
By taxi
Taxis are a rarity on the streets of Lahore - with auto-rickshaws having cornered the market - for a taxi you need to book one by phone.
By bus
Metro Bus is a separate bus rapid transit (BRT) line. Buses are air-conditioned, comfortable and have special sitting for the disabled and women. The price is very cheap (20 Rs).
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Lahore · International · LHE
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