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Photo: Guilhem Vellut, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Tomb of this Sikh ruler of Lahore. Located next to the square between Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque.
The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, also known as the Marhi of Ranjit Singh, is a 19th-century building in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, that houses the funerary urn of the former Sikh Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It is located within the Walled City, adjacent to the Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, and the Gurdwara Dera Sahib. Its construction was started by his son and successor Kharak Singh during his rule of around 100 days, after the Maharaja's death in 1839, and completed nine years later. The structure is the last major state-funded architectural project of independent Punjab before annexation by the British in 1849. It overlooks the Hazuri Bagh, built by Ranjit Singh, to its south.
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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.)
The iconic entrance to the fort. Located opposite the Badshahi Mosque.
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.
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.
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.
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.