Lahore, a city rich with the imprints of time, is today a sprawling metropolis of Punjab. Set like a verdant jewel in the heart of the province, it pulsates with life. It holds within it bustling bazaars, multifaceted crowds, and bewitching colors. Lahore is linked with the rest of the country by air, rail, and road. It lies on the Grand trunk road and motorway, taken by tourists coming from Delhi/Agra in India and going to Afghanistan via the Khyber Pass or Chamam and Iran via Nokkunki in Baluchistan or vice versa. The grand trunk road runs from Kabul to Calcutta a pass-through Lahore. The Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri originally built this road in the 16th century.
If one were to go by legends, Lahore was founded by Loh the son of Rama Chandra. However, the recorded history of Lahore dates back to 850 A.D conquered by Mahmoud Ghazni in 1021 A.D. It was made the capital of the Ghaznavid east of the Indus and later the capital of the entire Ghaznavid empire by Masud, the son of Mahmood. it was then, that Lahore became the center of social, cultural, and educational activities and continued to grow in stature, reaching the pinnacle of its glory under the Mughals who gave it its famous architecture, including the magnificent fort, gardens, tombs, mosques, and pavilions.
Lahore owes much to the Mughal princes, for it was here that Shah Jahan built the Shalimar Garden, Aurangzeb constructed the world-famous Badshahi Mosque, and it is here that the emperor Jahangir and his beloved wife Nur Jahan are buried. The massively fortified walls of the Lahore fort speak eloquently of the days gone by. its origin is not known; however Mughal emperor Akbar gave it a face-lift and made it one of the most splendid forts in the sub-continent.one can almost envision the royal princes and princesses moving within the calm splendor of its magnificent walls, the famous Anarkali Bazaar is almost adjacent to the historical Lahore Museum, whose collection of coins and crafts unveils the secrets of centuries.
The British during their reign (1849-1947) combined Mughal, Gothic, and colonial architecture with Victorian style and constructed many historical buildings like the high court, government college, Lahore Museum, national college of arts, Montgomery Hall, Tolinton Market, Punjab University and Provincial Assembly Hall.
Lahore offers a great deal more than just monuments. A variety of art galleries, museums, theaters, and shopping arcades are as much a part of the culture and activities that go on in Lahore at a breath-taking pace, cool, tree-lined avenues, lush green lawns, the serene drive down the canal, the parks, the fountains, and modern high-rise buildings, add to the character and charm of a city that one keeps wanting to come back over and over again.
