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Showing posts from November, 2010

Shish Mahal or A Palace of Mirrors !!!

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Shish Mahal mean (Palace of Mirrors) is one of the most decorated palaces of the Mughual period. It is built for the Emperor Shah JAhan in 1631-32 AD) .Emperor Shah Jahan was believed to had a strong passion for beauty , that can be seen every where . It is the most beautiful palace in the fort and is decorated with small mirrors of different colours.  In front of this Palace is a spacious courtyard.  This palace reflects the glory of the past and a reminiscent of the Mughul Emperors. One can see double pillars of the " Palace of Mirrors". Both are decorated in similar manners. It has a marbal floor as it is the recent construction under the Norway govt. project of UNESCO. A fence is made there because repairing work was undergoing. The entry to the palace was temporary stopped for the visitors.  It is the most beautiful palace in the fort and is decorated with small mirrors of different colors. The time i visited the place it was clos...

Huzori Bagh in front of Lahore Fort

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The area between Badshahi Mosque and Lahore Fort is known as Huzori Bagh. Different types of evening musical programs and concert are usally arranged in this garden especially classical one and national songs. The national Poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal  tomb is situated in the south west corner of this garden. The garden has an elegant fountains. Fountains , water channels remain a great source of charm and pleasure to thr Royal families of Mughul era. They were fond of finely decorated fountains with engraved designes, thats why probably one can found them in abundance in almost all the gardens that are related to Mughul Empire. behind is Lahore fort There is a marble baradari in the middle of the garden, which is built by Mahraja Ranjit Singh in 1818AD.  Marble baradari is in the center Mahraja Ranjit Singh photo with courtesy from the book Lahore fort by muhammad ilyas bhati Originally it was a two story ed structure with an undergro...

Roshnai Gate or The Gate of Light!!!

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Roshnai Gate is situated in the north of Huzori bagh. During Mughual Sikh periods, Roshnai gate was supposed to be the main entry point for the rulers and other nobles. Since river ravi used to flow attached with the northern wall of Lahore fort and badshahi mosque, it was used to be to facilitate the travelers. The gate was illuminated and to make bright with light so that the travelers can easily identify and approach there. That’s why after that it has been named as Roshnai Darwaza or The Gate of Light. It is the oldest gate and the only one that has been still  preserved in its original shape.

A visit to Badshahi Mosque Lahore !!!

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Badshahi Mosque is situated in front of Lahore fort. In 1673-1674AD Aurangzeb Alamgir built the grand and splendid Badshahi Mosque in front of the Alamgiri gate of Lahore fort. Mosque is square in shape. Main entrance is through a big gate way as shown in the earlier picture. About 60 thousands people can offer prayer here at one time inside of the mosque. During the Sikh and British period, this mosque was used for military purposes, which damaged it a lot. Later on a comprehensive work was carried out from 1939-1961 AD to restore its damage-portions. Far away view of Badshahi Mosque

Tomb of national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal

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The tomb of national poet Allama Muhammad Iqbal is stuated in the south west corner of the garden, built in 1951 AD. Allama Muhammad Iqbal Quotes. Nations are born in the hearts of poets, they prosper and die in the hands of politician. Words, without power, is mere Philosphy. Every thing that possess life dies if it has to live in uncongenial surroundings. The scientific observer of nature is a kind of mystic seeker in the act of prayer.   It is the nature of the self to manifest itself, In every atom slumbers the might of the self . The spirit of philosophy is one of free inquiry. It suspects all authority. Its function is to trace the uncritical assumptions of human thought to their hiding places, and in this pursuit it may finally end in denial or a frank admission of the incapacity of pure reason to reach the ultimate reality. Art: If the object of poetry is, to make men, then poetry is the heir of prophecy. I have never considered myself...

Jinnah Park Lahore

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  Jinnah Park is one of the historical park and garden in lahore city. Formerly it was known as Lawrence Garden.     In this park a big botanical garden is located, a mosque and a Library known as Jinnah Library that has been accomodated in a large victorian building. It is one of the most well maintained gardens in Pakistan. Though its a public park. Any one can get into.  Jinnah Library Its a good place for morning and evening walk, having fine tracks for walking and joging. I have seen lot of squirrel in lahore gardens. In Jinnah Park many squirrels were present. In Lahore i have notice them almost every where near bushy places and on trees just like one can get a good view of monkeys on Nathiagali roads, You may found them openly moving around the road side and climbing on trees so in lahore squirrels freely move in almost every park.

Racecourse Park Lahore......

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Lahore has been called as city of Gardens. In Mughul era, the Mughual Emperors were fond of gardens and they used to built beautiful gardens now becomes famous heritage sites. Later on, with the passage of time many parks and gardens have been made in Lahore city. There are many public parks in lahore that have been very finely maintained. One of them is Racecourse park or Jillani park. This park have huge fine gardens. It has been used for horse riding. There are lot of squirrels in Lahore gardens and parks. Here too in racecourse park i have seen lots of them here and there climbing on the trees. In evenings lot of public here who came to refresh their minds and bodies from the tiresome noise and pollution of the city. Very neat jogging tracks are available here. One can have a tension free walk here in both early mornings and in evenings. A small lake is made there, where visitors can enjoy boating. Flowers exhibitions are also arranged ...