Food Street Lahore

Food Street Lahore

Place I selected to discuss today is very unique and somehow one of the most visited sites of  Lahore. Food Street Lahore is a place where one can enjoy different cultural and continental foods. This is the most growing trend in Pakistan. Food streets are present in almost all the metropolitan cities of Pakistan. Now you can imagine how much we love food. 

You will be amazed to read that the history of this Food street or you can say Fort Road dated back to 2012. Yes 2012!!. It is also called Fort Road as it is located opposite to Lahore Fort and Shahi Mosque in the old Walled city of Lahore. The very first food street of Pakistan is located in Gawalmandi Lahore. But due to the increase pressure of Foodies on the area roads government inaugurated this Food Street and give it a unique design. This idea works and a lot of people shifted to this place. 

Food here is really Yumm.. What is love about this place is the view of Shahi Mosque from the gallery of restaurants at night. It is like I am in a different world.

I have tasted many things from this place. My personal favorite restaurant here is "Haveli". "Chicken Karahi" of this place is really really tasty. Do visit this place if you ever visit Lahore. This isn't something which u miss on your tour to Lahore.

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Story of a Lost Heritage

Chauburji (Four Towers)

The story which I have today is about one of the historical monuments in Pakistan which are speedily disappearing from our sight. Chauburji is one of those monuments. The word Chauburji derives from two words Chau means "Four" and Burj means "Tower". The name Chauburji was likely given by upcoming generations due to its structure. It is a Mughal era structure which basically works as a gateway for an extensive garden. In the present time there are no traces of any garden probably because the area was flooded by the river Ravi. Untill recent years this building was in the center of a grassy roundabout but not any more. 

This monument is especially one of my favorites because of its unique and elegant design. The art work on the building is amazing and I have many memories related to this structure. I was completely shocked when after so many years I saw the place. Believe me, that was not a happy shock. That was one bad and sad shock. This story is about that one bad day which I guess almost everybody faces in their lives (like I already told in my previous blog that I live in Lahore for study and work purposes).

 The roads here in Lahore are always busy and sometimes there is a lost rush on the roads and mostly on signals To avoid this government had made so many underpasses and flyovers that for a new person it is like a Jungle of Flyovers going here and there for no purpose. Sometimes I too lost my way and it create so much trouble.

 So back to the story I was telling about my bad day. Technically it was the night I was coming back from somewhere when suddenly I found my self completely lost I do not know whether I took a wrong turn or something else. I was just lost and the place where I reached I do not know about that too so I decided to turn back and see where I lost my way. I reached back to an intersection and realized that this is the place from where I took wrong turn. Now I started moving on another direction but after sometime this direction started feeling strange too. I said to my heart "All is Well" but deep deep down I know nothing the Hell is Well.

 Suddenly I saw this massive structure which I remembered from my childhood but this time it was nothing like I remembered. The building which I had seen in my childhood is more like this.

But it was nothing like this when I saw it in the night. There was NO grassy garden. Leave grassy, there was no garden. Huge piles of soil were all over the place. The structure which once stand alone in dignity and represents the power of Mughal era was now like an old building trying to survive in its last days. This reminds me of what I heard in news that government is building a new flyover for Orange line Train and it passes near the historical places. I never thought that it was that much near. This was the last time I saw the place. Since that I am unable to find enough  courage withing myself to visit the place once more.

For those who are thinking what happens with me and my bad day. So here it is what happens. I move back to the intersection and realized it was not the paths it was the intersection which was wrong. So the third time I came back from the intersection and move to the right direction. Two Times People!! I lost Two Times in that single night. Two tragedies I face on that day. First I lost my way two times and Second I saw my favorite structure in this condition.

 Haaawww a bad day indeed. 

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Journey To A 64 Meter (210 ft) Long Mysterious Grave

Grave of Hazrat Qanbeet Ibn Adam (A.S)

The place which I have for today's blog is neither a Fort or Mughal era structure nor a place people visit on their holidays. This place is a Tomb or you can say Mausoleum of Qanbeet Son of Adam (Peace be upon him). Now you people are thinking which Adam? Some ordinary Man or a Saint. But No, this is "The Adam" Yes the First Human being on Earth. Well, I was surprised to hear that too and I personally wanted to visit the place and see with my own eyes. So, today I have a story of my journey to a mysterious Tomb. 

(In short, I live in Lahore for study and work purposes but my hometown is Gujranwala which is located 64 Km away from Lahore). So, yesterday in the early morning when I was coming back home from Lahore I received a phone call from my Father and he asked that we have a plan to visit Islamabad today. Can you come? It was a surprise and I was very excited. I told him that I am on my way and will be home soon. He said, that is good. See you than.

When I reached home I was told by my Mother that the plan for Islamabad was cancelled and now we are going to visit Mangla Lake. I was like Whhhhaaattttttttttttttt?????? This was another surprise for me and I was more excited to visit Lake because I have seen it a long time ago and wanted to see it again (For your reference both Islamabad and Mangla Lake are worth watching places and will write about these places in coming blogs. I am Just sharing pictures of these places so that you can understand the reason of my excitement)

Islamabad

Mangla Lake

Now come back to the story, as I was telling that plan for Islamabad changed and now we started our journey for the lake. On the half way to the lake my Father changed the plan, we take a single turn and now we are moving to a complete different place. This was the third surprise for me in that single day. Surprise plans like this runs in our family. Father told us about the place. I already heard about that before but never saw it before so again I was excited for the place. The place itself was not a fairy meadow or a eye catching sight. It was a village with the name of "Barela Sharif" near to the city of Gujrat where a 210 ft long grave is present which is referred as the grave of Qanbeet Ibn Adam (Peace be upon him).

Barela Sharif

Although by name Qanbeet (Peace be upon him) is not mentioned in the Holy Quran or Hadith. After some research I found a reference of this place and grave in a book "Gujrat Tareekh k Aainay Mai" (Gujrat in the mirror of History). There was a lot of  information about not only this grave but also graves of other Prophets in Pakistan. According to the book, the grave was first discovered by Hafiz Shams-ud-din Galyanwi, who once during his journey stayed in Barela Sharif. During his stay here he said to his followers that he can smell a strange fragrance from the woodland indeed there is a grave of a Prophet. Than he discovered the grave almost 220 yards from the village. He discovered the name through "Ilm e Kashf ul Qaboor" (A way of getting in touch with the people of the grave). Hafiz Shams was a Waliullah of his time. In his writings he said "why would I need to lie about this place". People who later came than build a structure around the grave.

Inside the Mausoleum there is 210 ft long grave covered with pieces of cloths on which different Verses from Quran were written. The floor and the structure was covered with white marble and at the center of the building there was a dome with mirror work. Along the side of a mausoleum there was also other graves of Saints and Martyr and a mosque "Mosque of martyrs". named after the Martyrs of 1965 War between India and Pakistan who stayed and fight from this place.

One thing which I feel too was the peace of this place. Whole place was so peaceful and comfy. Light and cool breeze was blowing all over the place. Other than this at some distance from the Tomb there is a wonderful neat and clean place where free rooms for night stay and meal is served three times a day. There were no charges for anything not even parking charges. Taking pictures was not allowed at this specific place and there were security cameras all over the place. So, I was unable to take any pictures. We came back near the sunset.

It was a nice and different experience. I personally can not reach to a point about the authenticity of this place. 

Allah knows best.

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

                  

Hiran Minar (The Deer Tower)

Hiran Minar (The Deer Tower)

Hiran Minar is located in Sheikhupura a city in the northwest of Lahore. The minaret was build in the memory of the loving antelope of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. This Minaret represents the love of Mughal Emperors with their pets. Unlike modern days Mughals have a unique taste in selecting their pets. For example, Mughal Emperor Akbar (Father of Jahangir) has an Elephant as his pet. and he love him a lot. 

The basic structure of the minaret is quite simple but it was extended by the son of Emperor Jahangir, Shah Jahan who build a water tank and a pavilion in the center of the pool. This was a hunting site for the Royal family. The octagonal pavilion was also used as a recreational site for the Emperors. Interestingly like other Mughal era structures this is not famous for its structural design or beautiful architecture instead it is famous for the love of an Emperor with his pet.

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Minar-e-Pakistan (The Tower of Pakistan)

Minar-e-Pakistan

Minar-e-Pakistan also known as the "Tower of Pakistan" is located near the old Walled city of Lahore and close to Badshahi Mosque (Emperor Mosque) in the province of Punjab. The structure is not as such a Historical structure or from the era of Kings. The structure started building in 1960 and was completed in 1968 in eight years at a cost of approximately Rs. 7 million. The importance of this monument is because it is the very place where on 23rd March 1940 All India Muslim League passed the Resolution of Lahore. A separate homeland for the Muslims of  Sub-continent. 

Minar-e-Pakistan is like an icon of Independence for the citizens of Pakistan. The monument is like open petals of a flower. The caption on the walls of the Tower includes the statements of Lahore Resolution in Urdu, Bengali and English, Some Verses from the Holy Quran, 99 names of Allah, National Anthem of Pakistan and the speeches of Muhammad Ali Jinnah.

 It is connected with a park which is also known as Greater Iqbal Park, named after Allama Muhammad Iqbal who saw the dream of a separate homeland. Inside the park there is an artificial Lake with a series of dancing fountains. Everyday the place is crowded with people from all over the country who came to see this soul touching place and of course the Dancing Fountains too.

Long Live Pakistan.  

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Shalimar Gardens

Shalimar Gardens

Shalimar Gardens often spell as Shalamar Gardens is a Master piece of Royal engineers of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It was constructed in one year from 1641 to 1642 which in itself is something beyond words at that time. 

The land of these Gardens belong to Arian Family of Baghbanpura. The family was awarded with the title of "Mian" by Shah Jahan because of their services for the Mughal Empire. The head of the family Mian Muhammad Yusuf submitted their property after continuous pressure by the state. But all did not go in vain. As a favour, Emperor Shah Jahan hand over the Governance of the Shalimar Gardens to the Arian Mian Family which remains in their family for approximately 350 years until 1962.

The whole place is consisted of green gardens, fountains and different structures and all this is surrounded by a big wall having Minarets at the corners. The gardens are divided into three terraces each at the same height from the other and have their names.

The Upper garden is known as "Farah Baksh" means Bestower of Pleasure.

The Mid level is known as "Faiz Baksh" means Bestower of Goodness.

The Lower garden is known as "Hayat Baksh" means Bestower of Life. 

Shalimar Garden has total 410 fountains. This distribution of canal system still amaze that how engineers at that time think of this without modern technology. 

The distribution of the fountains at each level is as follows.

Upper level terrace have 105 fountains.

Mid Level terrace have 152 fountains.

Lower level terrace have 153 fountains.

Thus making a total of 410 fountains. Other than these, different structures like Aiwan (The Grand hall), Hamman (The Royal bath), Aramgah (The Resting place), Diwan-e-Khas-o-Aam (The Hall of special and ordinary guests of the Emperor) and Baradaries (The summer pavilions to enjoy cool breeze along the nearby fountains) etc. 

My most favorite area in the whole gardens is the one where White Marble Throne is placed. The throne is placed in the center and in front of the throne is a series of fountains and eye catching structures. 

Each time when I visit this place I wonder what people at those times know about architecture. Each part of the whole place shows the hard work and the dedication of the labor who worked at this site. After all, this can't be possible without their efforts. 

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Shahi Fort (Lahore Fort)

Shahi Fort 

Shahi Fort, also named as Lahore Fort was constructed by Mughal Emperor Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar in his reign. With the passage of time this fort was modified by the coming rulers. This Fort has 13 gates and contain many beautiful structures which attract so many people.

This old Fort saw many battles over centuries and still has their marks on it. After the fall of Mughal Empire this fort become the residency of Maharaja Ranjit singh.

Shahi Fort has many remarkable monuments which give us a glimpse of that era. Some of them are Sheesh Mahal, Alamgiri Gate, Motti Masjid and the Picture Wall.

Sheesh Mahal

Sheesh Mahal or "The Palace of Mirrors" was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan. The palace is fully covered with mirror work and also known as the best place to visit in Lahore Fort. After Mughal Empire and during Sikh Empire Sheesh Mahal was also one of the favorite places of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Alamgiri Gate 

Alamgiri Gate is a renowned monument because of its elegant design and its location. It was constructed by the last strong King of the Mughal era “Aurangjaib Alamgir”. This gate is in front of the Hazuri bagh (another little yet beautiful monument) and faces the front gate of Badshahi Mosque.

Motti Masjid

Motti Masjid (Pearl Mosque), the name given after its white marble structure. This little Mosque  is located on the western side of the Lahore Fort. This beautiful Mosque has three domes and dated back to Shah Jahan Period.

Picture Wall

Picture Wall was constructed on the orders of Emperor Jahangir which is the greatest artistic example in the Lahore Fort. The pictures are mainly consist of fighting elephants, angels and games. These pictures do not give a combine view so you have to view each separately. Time has damaged this Artistic symbol a lot. Now its just a simple wall which has some traces of that wall which once told the tales of glories of that era.

I personally visited this place a couple of times but still I do not miss any chance to see this Fort as it reminds me the Good and Bad stories which this Fort once was a part of.

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Badshahi Mosque (Lahore)

                 

Emperor's Mosque

Badshahi Mosque (Red Beauty) is Located in Lahore. It was constructed in 1671 on the instructions of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. 

This Mosque is one of the main Tourist attraction sites in Lahore. Its red look is due to the use of red sand stone and white marble inlay in the construction. The three main domes and the architectural design of the Mosque itself tell stories about the knowledge of architecture at that time. Currently Badshahi Mosque is one of the largest mosques in Pakistan. The view around the mosque is one of its kind as it is exactly in front of the Shahi fort.  

Inside the Mosque the arches and walls were decorated with red sand stone and white marble inlay contrary to tile work which makes it different from rest of the mosques built in that era. Another reason that attract too many tourist at this place is the mausoleum of Alama Iqbal (Poet of East) which was a major inspiration in the Movement of Pakistan.


Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com

Wazir Khan Mosque(Lahore)

Wazir Khan Mosque (Lahore)

Wazir Khan Mosque, a cultural beauty located near Dehli Gate of Lahore. It was built by Nawab Wazir Khan the Governor of Lahore during the ruling period of Emperor Shah Jahan.

I have never seen the Mosque personally until recently when one of my friends made a plan to visit this beauty. It was just stunning to see a structure so big and still holds its magnificence and grace. The mosque was beautifully preserved and well maintained. The art work, use of different colors and Verses from Quran was all amazing. The best time to see its artistry is the mid afternoon time, when the Sun light hits the inner walls. At this time the Mosque shines like a structure of Gold. Although time leaves its marks on the structure but still it is one the beautiful places to see if you ever visit Lahore!

Please share your memories & videos about this awesome place and inform me about your suggestions at wonderlustpak@gmail.com