The Lahore Fort
Friday, 23 March 2012
Tayyab Mir
The Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar held his court in Lahore from 1584 to 1598 AD. He built the massive Lahore Fort in 1566 AD on the foundations of an old mud fort dating back to 1021 AD and enclosed the city within a red brick wall boasting 12 gates. The Royal Fort is rectangular in shape (380 x 330 metres). Two main gates are located alongside the centre of the western and eastern walls. Every succeeding Mughal Emperor as well as the Sikhs, and the British in their turn, added a pavilion, palace, gate or wall to the Fort. The complete tour of the Fort takes around one and a half hour.
The entrance is through Alamgiri Gate built in 1674 by Aurangzeb Alamgir. A ramp leads from Alamgiri Gate to Mussaman Burj Gate on the left and, on the right, to the Royal Kitchens. Maktab Khana was built by Jehangir in 1618. Moti Masjid (built by Shah Jehan in 1644) is entered via steps rising from the courtyard north of Maktab Khana. Diwan-e-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) is an open pavilion with 40 pillars built by Shah Jehan in 1631 (restructured by the British in 1841). The marble pavilion and red sandstone balcony were originally built by Akbar in 1566 alongwith Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) behind the balcony.
Masiti (or Masjidi) Gate, east of Diwan-e-Aam was the original main gate built by Akbar and receives its name from the Maryiam Zamani Mosque located outside the gate. Jehangir's Quadrangle, north of Diwan-e-Aam, are one of the most attractive areas of the Fort. Started by Akbar in 1566 and completed by Jehangir in 1617, the buildings in the east, west and south side of the court reflect typical Akbari style, with richly carved red sandstone columns and elaborate animal shaped brackets. Khawabgah-e-Jehangiri (Jehangir's sleeping chambers) the main building on the north, houses an interesting museum containing an ivory model of the Taj Mahal, some excellent illustrated manuscripts, pieces of calligraphy, miniature paintings, collection of coins and portrait of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar.
The Hammam (Jehangir's Bathhouse) is in the southwest corner of the quadrangle. A museum west of the bath, (the sleeping chamber of Mai Jandan) contains a fine collection of Mughal and Sikh arms and paintings. Shah Jehan's Quadrangle is the next building complex to the north. It consists of his sleeping chambers (1633). The fresco of Radha and Krishna in the main room here dates back to Sikh period. Shah Jehan's Diwan-e-Khas (1645) is the graceful arcaded pavilion of marble on the northern side of the Quadrangle. The Lal Burj (Red Tower - built between 1617 and 1631 by Jehangir and Shah Jehan) is the octagonal summer pavilion in the northwest corner of Shah Jehan's Quadrangle. Adjacent to it is the Zenana Sehan (Ladies Courtyard) built by Shah Jehan in 1633. The Kala Burj (Black Tower) a twin summer pavilion to the Lal Burj is in the northwest corner of the Ladies Courtyard.
The court of the Shish Mahal (the palace of mirrors) is the most beautiful palace in the Fort. It was built by Shah Jehan in 1631 as private apartments for his empress. The whole of the interior is covered with mirror mosaics, carved and gilded plasterwork and pietra dura inlay.
The Naulakha Pavilion named for nine lac rupees it cost to build in 1631, is a small marble room on the western side of the court. This side of the Shish Mahal courtyard has excellent views of the Badshahi Mosque and the Samadhi Ranjit Singh.
At the end of your tour, you will come out of the Shish Mahal and turn to the right and down the broad, shallow steps of Hathi Paer (Elephant Path). This was the private entrance of the Royal Family leading straight to Shah Burj. As you leave the Fort through the Shah Burj Gate, you can notice 350 years old mosaics set into the outer face of the Fort wall.
How to Get There?
By Air
Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport is connected to most of the world's capitals through a number of international flights being operated by Pakistan International Airlines, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and Air India etc. There are several daily flights between Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, which are served by many Pakistani and international airlines.
By Road / Rail
Lying on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, Lahore is linked with all major cities of Pakistan by road, rail and air. There are several daily express trains and luxury bus services linking Lahore with Karachi, Quetta, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar and dozens of major cities & towns of the country. (Please check latest timings & fares at Pakistan International Airlines website http://www.piac.com.pk and Pakistan Railways website http://www.pakrail.com.pk ). A number of private bus companies like Daewoo Express, Sky Ways, New Khan Road Runners, Dewan Express, Kohistan Bus Service, ply regular air-conditioned luxury buses between Lahore and other main cities of Pakistan.
Under a bi-lateral agreement between Pakistan and India, Pakistani and Indian Railways jointly operate a weekly train "Samjhota Express" between Lahore and Delhi. Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) jointly operate following bus services between Pakistan and India;
1. Lahore-Delhi
2. Lahore-Amritsar
3. Nankana Sahib-Amritsar
The Mughal Emperor Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar held his court in Lahore from 1584 to 1598 AD. He built the massive Lahore Fort in 1566 AD on the foundations of an old mud fort dating back to 1021 AD and enclosed the city within a red brick wall boasting 12 gates. The Royal Fort is rectangular in shape (380 x 330 metres). Two main gates are located alongside the centre of the western and eastern walls. Every succeeding Mughal Emperor as well as the Sikhs, and the British in their turn, added a pavilion, palace, gate or wall to the Fort. The complete tour of the Fort takes around one and a half hour.
The entrance is through Alamgiri Gate built in 1674 by Aurangzeb Alamgir. A ramp leads from Alamgiri Gate to Mussaman Burj Gate on the left and, on the right, to the Royal Kitchens. Maktab Khana was built by Jehangir in 1618. Moti Masjid (built by Shah Jehan in 1644) is entered via steps rising from the courtyard north of Maktab Khana. Diwan-e-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) is an open pavilion with 40 pillars built by Shah Jehan in 1631 (restructured by the British in 1841). The marble pavilion and red sandstone balcony were originally built by Akbar in 1566 alongwith Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of Private Audience) behind the balcony.
Masiti (or Masjidi) Gate, east of Diwan-e-Aam was the original main gate built by Akbar and receives its name from the Maryiam Zamani Mosque located outside the gate. Jehangir's Quadrangle, north of Diwan-e-Aam, are one of the most attractive areas of the Fort. Started by Akbar in 1566 and completed by Jehangir in 1617, the buildings in the east, west and south side of the court reflect typical Akbari style, with richly carved red sandstone columns and elaborate animal shaped brackets. Khawabgah-e-Jehangiri (Jehangir's sleeping chambers) the main building on the north, houses an interesting museum containing an ivory model of the Taj Mahal, some excellent illustrated manuscripts, pieces of calligraphy, miniature paintings, collection of coins and portrait of the last Mughal Emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar.
The Hammam (Jehangir's Bathhouse) is in the southwest corner of the quadrangle. A museum west of the bath, (the sleeping chamber of Mai Jandan) contains a fine collection of Mughal and Sikh arms and paintings. Shah Jehan's Quadrangle is the next building complex to the north. It consists of his sleeping chambers (1633). The fresco of Radha and Krishna in the main room here dates back to Sikh period. Shah Jehan's Diwan-e-Khas (1645) is the graceful arcaded pavilion of marble on the northern side of the Quadrangle. The Lal Burj (Red Tower - built between 1617 and 1631 by Jehangir and Shah Jehan) is the octagonal summer pavilion in the northwest corner of Shah Jehan's Quadrangle. Adjacent to it is the Zenana Sehan (Ladies Courtyard) built by Shah Jehan in 1633. The Kala Burj (Black Tower) a twin summer pavilion to the Lal Burj is in the northwest corner of the Ladies Courtyard.
The court of the Shish Mahal (the palace of mirrors) is the most beautiful palace in the Fort. It was built by Shah Jehan in 1631 as private apartments for his empress. The whole of the interior is covered with mirror mosaics, carved and gilded plasterwork and pietra dura inlay.
The Naulakha Pavilion named for nine lac rupees it cost to build in 1631, is a small marble room on the western side of the court. This side of the Shish Mahal courtyard has excellent views of the Badshahi Mosque and the Samadhi Ranjit Singh.
At the end of your tour, you will come out of the Shish Mahal and turn to the right and down the broad, shallow steps of Hathi Paer (Elephant Path). This was the private entrance of the Royal Family leading straight to Shah Burj. As you leave the Fort through the Shah Burj Gate, you can notice 350 years old mosaics set into the outer face of the Fort wall.
How to Get There?
By Air
Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport is connected to most of the world's capitals through a number of international flights being operated by Pakistan International Airlines, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines and Air India etc. There are several daily flights between Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, which are served by many Pakistani and international airlines.
By Road / Rail
Lying on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road, Lahore is linked with all major cities of Pakistan by road, rail and air. There are several daily express trains and luxury bus services linking Lahore with Karachi, Quetta, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar and dozens of major cities & towns of the country. (Please check latest timings & fares at Pakistan International Airlines website http://www.piac.com.pk and Pakistan Railways website http://www.pakrail.com.pk ). A number of private bus companies like Daewoo Express, Sky Ways, New Khan Road Runners, Dewan Express, Kohistan Bus Service, ply regular air-conditioned luxury buses between Lahore and other main cities of Pakistan.
Under a bi-lateral agreement between Pakistan and India, Pakistani and Indian Railways jointly operate a weekly train "Samjhota Express" between Lahore and Delhi. Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) jointly operate following bus services between Pakistan and India;
1. Lahore-Delhi
2. Lahore-Amritsar
3. Nankana Sahib-Amritsar