walled city of Lahore

 Introduction walled city of Lahore

The gorgeously monikered Walled City of Lahore more popularly known. Andiron Sehr functions as the best preserved representative for the historic districts of the city. This city is one of the most ancient in the country and is older than one thousand years. Much of Lahore was built during the Mughal period when Emperor Akbar was a great builder(16th century). The roots of the walled city going back much earlier. Originally, the city had a large wall for protection, it had gates and towers determining its border.

This one has captured both Mughal, Sikh and the British colonized architectures where some famous structures. Include Lahore fort , badshahi Mosque, Shahi hammam and Lahore Gate. Mainly, small, intertwined roads of the old city are occupied by residential zones, bazaars, religious buildings and centers, and schools.

Today, Walled City of Lahore is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it represents the city’s cultural /historical significance. Nonetheless, the concept of the old city has significance and tourists visit this place. So that they get an opportunity to witness the real Lahore.

History walled city of Lahore

The histories of the Walled City of Lahore are therefore diverse answering archaeology’s call for long. Continuous occupation somewhere in the world for more than thousand years. It has always been a focal point of civilization. Arts, politics, and commerce in the region, cycles of royalties and empires.

Early History walled city of Lahore

Reaching purported origins of hundreds of years ago, possibly the second century B.C.E. in Lahore. Lava is believed by some theories to have founded Lahore. The hot-headed prince and the son of Lord Rama, the Hindu God. Situated at the banks of Ravi River this geographic situation. Advantageous enough to let Lahore turn up as the center of trade as well as tradition it is today.

Lahore was also significant city of Ghaznavid Empire in eleventh century. When Sultan Mahmud of Ghazi had made addition of Lahore in the cities list of this empire. During the Gourdes times the city appeared to be in the kingdom. Islam in which it became a major part of the empire.

Mughal Architecture: 16th to the 18th Century:

Therefore, the Walled City of Lahore developed it’s form from the period of the 16th century Mughals. During the reign of Mughal emperor Akbar the Great Lahore. Developed into one of the important political and vibrant arts hub of the Mughal empire. Akbar developed the city with a tremendously huge wall around. Today there are thirteen gates to enter but the historical walled city is built here. The Mughals have also sat up for other monumental built-up. Constructions such as the Lahore Fort, Badshahi mosque. The Shahi Hammam which are still quite relevant to the city today. Sikh Period of Odisha is ascertainable with 18th and 19th centuries of Christ and it deserves mention at this place.

Subsequent to the break up of the empire Lahore was captured by the Sikhs. The first quarter of the eighteenth century by the Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The greatest number of buildings date from the Sikh era Lahore turned into the capital of the Sikhs. During their rule (1799-1849) that advancement of city was going on with the structures like Gurudwara Dear Sahib and the built up Lahore Fort. Thus British Colonial Period as we have understood it seems to cover. The nineteenth century and most of the twentieth century.

Lahore was with the Sikhs until 1849 but they themselves kicked. Out Sikhs and just like that Lahore became a part of British India. However the British made sure that while they were developing this building the apProach was towards historical styles. But the British did construct some buildings in the colonial British architectural style which consist of European and subcontinent elements.

 The Age of Modernity and The Age of Multipolarity 1947-Present:

Lahore is a city in Pakistan due to the division of the British India in the time of the year 1947. Like any other city the Walled City has also witnessed some or the other phases of urban retro modernization. Still, until now it has been only partially preserving its historical look. Remains one of the significant cultural and architectural attractions.

Modern-Day Significance:

Currently, the Walled City of Lahore is a World Heritage Site and is still active within Lahore society. Tourism is still strong in Lahore because of its narrow, crowded streets. The old mosques, temples and havelis or traditional houses. The Walled City also conserve the traditions, arts, and cuisine of the people, thus. The Walled City turns into an open museum of the Lahore.

Overview:

Lahore; the second largest city of Pakistan has had its earlier origins. Being a Walled city which is also known as Androon Shehr. Constituting more than one thousand years of history and tradition, it is surrounded by an actual or perceived barrier. One of the historic city of Lahore the Walled city was established since the ancient era and became. A landmark of the era especially at the time of Mughals empires.

Main Landscapes of the Walled Municipal:

1.    Historical Significance: Walled city was develop in the Mughal reign in 16th century when the Akbar the Great construct the walls and 13 gates of the city. It have been a prominent culture, political and religion hub during several empires which include the Mughal empire, Sikh empire as well as Britain colony.

2.   Architectural Heritage: architecture varies between the Mughal, their successors, the Sikhs, and the British colonial era all within the walls of the Walled City. Major landmarks within the city include:

•   Lahore Fort (Shahi Qila): This fort itself is a UNESCO’s world heritage site that once was the symbol of Mughal empire in Lahore.
•  Badshahi Mosque: A mosque established by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb , one of the biggest and gorgeous mosque globally.
• Shahi Hammam: This was a Mughal style public bath, a feature which demonstrated the rich living standards in the past.
•  Gates of the City: It used to have thirteen gates, but most of the gates have been pulled down or altered for other uses in the modern period.

  Cultural Hub

Still, the Walled City is today a city of much activity culturally and commercially. Astonishingly, its small streets, bazaars, and souvenir shops with conventional handicrafts reveal an impressive number of sites that represent its history and present. Places such as the food streets Antalkali Bazaar and Mochi Gate have so much history to depict but also house services and products of today.

Religious Diversity: Religious places of Walled City are mosques, Hindu temples, Sikh Gurdwaras, and Christian Churches are also located in Walled City. It has embodied multi-faith and multi-cultural ethnicity of Lahore at different historical period of time.

 Conservation and Preservation: There are Local agencies like Walled City of Lahore Authority that work on the conservation, restoration and management of historic buildings in Lahore city to meet the contemporary need with the historic past.

 Modern Significance: With all these difficulties The Walled City has not lost its identity as part of Lahore city despite the processes of urbanization that the country as a whole has witnessed. It remains a well-established local and regional market, commercial center, venue for cultural and social activities as well as a tourism guide to Lahore’s historical roots.

The Walled City of Lahore is not ‘historical area’ but part of Lahore, as vibrant as any other which makes it a living manifestation of the cultural, architectural and social fabric of Lahore.