4 of the most magnificent historical places of Pakistan Part 1

1. Tomb of Jahangir/ Lahore

  

This beautiful tomb was built for the mughal ruler Jahangir who ruled between 1605-1627. The tomb was constructed at Shahdara Lahore which was among the favorite spots of the Mughal Ruler. The building was funded by Imperial treasury.

Structure 

The entrance is lead by two massive gates made up of stones, which in turn lead to an enclosure.The enclosure gives a full view of the garden. The corridor around the mausoleum is adorned with a very elegant mosaic, representing flowers and verses from the Quran. The mausoleum is a building with one floor. The ground floor has a square shape. Its structure consists of a platform with a tall, octagonal tower and a projecting entrance in the middle of each side. The exterior of the mausoleum, including the lowest stage of the towers, laded with red sandstone facing with rich panel decoration inlaid with marble decorative motifs.

Inside view of the tomb 

2. Minar-e-Pakistan/ Lahore

The literal meaning of 'Minar-e-Pakistan' is the 'Tower of Pakistan'. It is situated in the city of Lahore and its construction took 7-8 years. This historical monument is not just famous for its geometrical beauty but also for the 'Lahore' or 'Pakistan' 'resolution' of 1940. The Minar is surrounded by ever green gardens which remain chaotic at 23rd of March each year.

3. Badshahi Mosque/ Lahore 

The 'Badshahi Mosque' or 'Masjid' was constructed in the time period of Aurangzeb Alamgir of the Mughal Period. (one of the oldest mosques). It was constructed in the year 1671 and today it is the second largest mosque in the country after Shah Faisal Mosque. It can accommodate as much as 100,000 worshipers at a time when all its halls and courtyards are occupied.

4. Noor Mehal/ Bahawalpur

Built in 1875 AD, the palace is nearly one hundred and fifty years old.  The state of Bahawalpur was merged in Pakistan in 1956 AD and control of the palace was given to Dep. of Auqaf under the Antiquities Act. It was locked under a judicial order but not before most of its rich holdings were smuggled out. Its furniture, carpets, paintings and crockery were sold almost all over the country.Pakistan Army took responsibility for palace in 1999 and helped to restore and preserve the building into its original shape. The building was declared a “protected monument” in September 2001 by the Government of Pakistan’s Department of Archaeology. Currently department of Archaeology is responsible for the look after of the palace and they have opened it for general public, students, and to delegations and visitors from other countries.

Maryam Abbasi

maryamabbasi064@gmail.com