Legend has it that Lahore was founded by the two sons of Lord Rama about 4,000 years ago; historically, the city is about 2,000 years old.
Lahore is the second-largest city in Pakistan and the capital of Punjab. Apart from being the cultural and academic center of the country, it is the Mughal “show-window” of Pakistan — for 200 years from about 1525 A.D. it was a thriving cultural center of the great Mughal Empire.
The heart of the city is the old walled city, entered through historic gates such as the Delhi Gate and Lohari Gate, with a maze of lanes, havelis and bazaars. The Mughal monuments sit alongside the buildings of the Sikh and British periods — the Mall is lined with colonial-era museums, colleges and courts.
Lahoris are known for their love of food and hospitality, and the city is the best place in Pakistan to try Punjabi cooking — from breakfast halwa puri and nihari to the kebabs and tikkas of the old city in the evening.
Is Lahore right for you?
- Suggested time
- 2 – 3 days
- Activity level
- Easy city sightseeing
- Best for
- Mughal architecture, food and culture — and the flag ceremony at Wagah
- When to go
- October to March is the most pleasant time, with warm days and cool evenings. Summers are very hot, and the monsoon brings heavy rain in July and August.
Combines well withMultanBahawalpurCholistan
Compare Lahore with another destination →Places to see
Royal Fort
Mostly built around 1566 A.D. by Akbar the Great, on the site of a mud fort recorded in 1021 A.D. Its famous Sheesh Mahal, the palace of mirrors, is in the north-east corner. Together with the Shalimar Gardens it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Shalimar Gardens
Laid out by Shah Jahan in 1642 A.D. in classic Mughal style, walled with watch-towers at the corners. Three of the original seven terraces survive, covering about 42 acres.
Badshahi Mosque
Built entirely of sandstone by Aurangzeb in just two and a half years and completed in 1674 A.D. Its courtyard, 161.5 × 160.6 meters, is one of the largest in the world.
Minar-e-Pakistan
A 60 meter blend of Mughal and modern architecture in Iqbal Park, marking the 1940 resolution that called for a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent.
Wazir Khan Mosque
Off the Kashmiri Bazaar in the old city, reputedly the most beautiful mosque in the subcontinent — a marvel of tile work and arabesque painting.
Tomb of Emperor Jahangir
Across the river Ravi, a majestic structure of red sandstone and marble; the marble cenotaph is inlaid with floral designs and the 99 attributes of God.
Lahore Museum
On the Mall, with fine Mughal and Sikh woodwork and a large collection of paintings from the Mughal, Sikh and British periods.
Anarkali Bazaar
The most fascinating of the city’s bazaars, full of leather ware, embroidered garments, glass bangles, gold and silver jewellery and silks.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Lahore is linked to the rest of the country by air, rail and road, and lies on the Grand Trunk Road built by Sher Shah Suri in the 16th century. The border crossing to India is at Wagah, about 24 km east.
- Wagah border ceremony
- Every evening the flags are lowered at Wagah in a lively, choreographed ceremony by the border guards of Pakistan and India, watched by crowds on both sides — one of the most popular outings from Lahore.
- When to go
- October to March is the most pleasant time, with warm days and cool evenings. Summers are very hot, and the monsoon brings heavy rain in July and August.
- Parks
- Bagh-e-Jinnah, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Model Town Park and others offer play areas, mini zoos, aviaries and boating lakes.
- Day trips
- Changa Manga, a man-made forest with a lake and miniature railway (68 km); Jallo Park (28 km); Jahangir’s Hiran Minar; and the archaeological site of Harappa, 204 km south.
Header photo: Badshahi Mosque — Fassifarooq, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons