“Jinnay Lahore nai whekhya, o jammia nai!” (If you haven’t seen Lahore, you have not been born) Such is the affiliation and regard held for a city that has a profound historic charm, evergreen gardens, and food-loving people as some of its primary assets
With the emergence of new shopping malls, fashion boutiques and endless restaurants, the metropolis has further livened to keep up with the spiritedness of its vibrant citizens
Food is the primary entertainment for any Lahori
Even at night, Lahore’s roads are never devoid of cars, with many Lahoris en route their favourite food spots
On April 7, 2015, I spent the most memorable 36 hours in Lahore
Friday 1pm - Sufi dance and sweet rice While entering Data Darbar, South Asia’s oldest shrine, one has to pass through multiple security gates and a large number of devotees crowding the front porch
It is time for the afternoon lunch and all followers of the Sufi saint Hazrat Data Ganj Baksh have lined up to get their hands on a bowl of zarda (sweet yellow rice)
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: Tribune[/caption] Every day at the Darbar, food is served to hundreds of people, with qawalis occasionally playing in the background
Devotees of the saint, often men with long hair and shabby clothes, are seen performing the dhamaal (Sufi dance) underneath the two pointed golden minarets
Everyday, numerous people from all backgrounds visit the shrine in order to gain blessings of their Lord by praying at the saint’s tomb
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] 3:30pm – pigeons and gothic spire Lahore has many buildings that are marvellous reminders of history
Government College (GC), amongst all universities of the city, is the finest example of gothic architecture
The building’s two spires protrude from enormous brown-bricked towers, under which many renowned men and women of Pakistan once roamed as students
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Government College Lahore
Photo: Isha Tariq[/caption] The larger of these two towers is visible from many points at the nearby Mall Road, thereby further enhancing the magnificence and grandeur of the institution
Grey pigeons sit on the balconies and arched windows of the building as students stroll through the hustle and bustle of vast corridors
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: Isha Tariq[/caption] 6pm – Food Street As the sun sets, the delicious aroma of mouth-watering pakoras, gol gappas, chicken tikkas, korma and haleem intensify in old Anarkali
Beautiful flower-shaped lights and lanterns now brighten up the atmosphere of this heavenly Food Street
There is a long queue of small restaurants, most of which are devoid of ample seating capacity
Therefore, small roadside tables are a hub for many families who like enjoying the street’s lighting and Lahore’s pleasant evening breeze
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="540"] Photo: AFP[/caption] Yousuf Falooda is the oldest and most renowned dessert shop of the area, which serves three delicious toppings of rabri and ice cream floating in a sea of wobbly transparent noodles
9pm – spring celebrations With the genda (marigold) flower harvesting in spring, the Lahore Canal is adorned with beautiful lights hanging from trailing tree branches, colourful postures and bright artificial flowers
Best viewed at night, the canal, with traffic meandering alongside both its sides, is a nucleus of vibrant boats and colourful sculptures, all fixed upon stands inside its light brown water
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: Abid Nawaz/Express[/caption] Every year in spring, various students from the National College of Arts put a lot of effort into decorating the city’s long canal
Saturday 10am – Tower of Pakistan Located in Iqbal Park, the Minar-e-Pakistan (Tower of Pakistan) is 203 feet tall, with Pakistan’s national anthem inscribed inside the base of the structure
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="600"] Photo: AFP[/caption] The top of the Minar can easily be reached either by stairs or the elevator
The tower’s site was the focal point where the call for Pakistan was given to the Muslims of the subcontinent back in 1940
The magnificent Minar is visible from the River Ravi Bridge, the nearby Lahore Fort, as well as from an airplane window during take-off
On account of its historical and national significance, Iqbal Park is the venue for many political rallies and protests in the country
12pm – In the middle of Mall Road Lahore’s most historic, longest and busiest road is home to various monuments, parks, educational institutions and hotels; Midway Mall Road
There is a noteworthy white pillar, quite similar to the Washington Monument in DC
It is the Islamic Summit Minar alongside Charing Cross, a beautiful marble pavilion inside which lies a bronze replica of the Holy Quran
The 1974 Islamic Summit Conference, which holds immense historic significance, took place inside the adjacent building of the Punjab Assembly
Down the road is the beautiful maroon-bricked building of Lahore High Court, adorned by slender palm trees
This is the place where Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was sentenced to death
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: Sanaulla Khan[/caption] 2pm – Food and fashion go hand in hand MM Alam Road is a busy two-way road hosting many flamboyant restaurants and designer boutiques
Named after the Pakistani Air Commodore Muhammad Mahmood Alam, who lost his life after a brave fight in the 1965 Indo-Pak War, the commercial road now serves as a big shopping and dining centre
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="589"] Photo: Wikipedia[/caption] Village is one of the more popular restaurants on MM Alam Road, with an aesthetically pleasing mud-thatched building, artificial bullocks, and colourful hand fans, amongst its apt rural decor
Its evening buffet provides a good respite from adjacent lawn boutiques, since it provides a wide variety of sumptuous snacks like crispy-coated fish, spicy saag (spinach), savoury gol gappas, colourful lachas (marshmallows), richly creamed kulfis, crunchy makkai roti (corn bread) and much more
5pm – Flower exhibition and polo fest Race Course Park is one of the largest parks in Lahore, with a three kilometres long jogging track, snaking past meadows of lush greenery, beautiful fountains, a handsome playground and a gigantic polo ground
Every few yards, you will see gardeners diligently trimming bushes, watering the grass, or best, preparing a colossal flower garden for Lahore’s upcoming Spring Festival
Tall sunflowers, pink orchids and two-coloured roses steal the show with bright purple daisies and tulips not far behind
During spring, the park is a mega attraction for families, right after the commencement of the polo tournament
The polo ground with its ample seating capacity and restaurant, The Polo Lounge, provides Lahoris an enjoyable and relaxing weekend coupled with a game of interest and delicious food
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="543"] Photo: AFP[/caption] 8:30pm – shopping spree If you see dhol walas dressed in yellow, standing around an enormous fountain roundabout, you instantly know that you have reached Liberty Market
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: Sanaullah Khan[/caption] During late evenings, the traffic at the roundabout is moving at snail speed
It is the time when most Lahori women head to Liberty Market on their frequent shopping sprees
Embroidered shirt necks, fancy heeled shoes, glossy lipsticks, shimmery earrings, dyed dupattas, experienced tailors, you name it; Liberty Market has all it takes for any woman to adorn herself with before attending a Pakistani wedding
Amidst all the shopping, do not miss out the spicy gol gappas and tangy shakkar kandee as well
Sunday 11:30am – wedding photo-shoot in a sacred mosque Amongst Lahore’s best landmarks and tourist attractions is Badshahi Mosque
Its huge minarets and red sandstone walls are a glorious reminder of the Mughal architecture
Located in close proximity of both the Minar-e-Pakistan and the Lahore Fort, the mosque serves as a major congregation centre for Eid prayers, with a total capacity of up to 60,000 worshippers
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="595"] Photo: AFP[/caption] [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="599"] Photo: Reuters[/caption] There is an emerging trend amongst elite Pakistani couples – having their wedding ceremonies inside Badshahi Mosque
Adorned in traditional white clothes, the newlyweds enjoy having their wedding photo-shoot besides the majestic background of the mosque
On our way back, we spotted a young groom lifting his bride up in the air, as a team of photographers captured the moment on their cameras
2pm – royal treat of chicken chickpeas Lakshmi Chowk is the heart of all takka takk food items, prepared by the repetitive noise (takka takk) of cutters chopping sizzling meat over big hot tawwas (flat pans)
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="594"] Photo: Waheed Ashraf[/caption] The fresh aroma of spices is the strongest in this part of the city, with cooks preparing food outside mini restaurants
Shahi Murgh Channa (royal chickpeas) serves the best chickpeas in the area, and undoubtedly, the most delicious in entire Pakistan
Soft and spicy chicken breast pieces sinking in a thick gravy of chickpeas tastes like heaven with a fresh tandoori roti, and cold mint raita
With insufficient seating capacity at the restaurant, some people eat in their cars, while others cannot resist the mouth-watering temptation, and start relishing every bite of the steamy dish by the counter
4:30pm – A parade to remember Every day at sunset, huge crowds are drawn towards the Pakistan-India border at Wagha Border
The flag lowering ceremony entails an intense parade by Pakistani and Indian Rangers, amongst amplified patriotic chants by Indians and Pakistanis seated on either side of the metal gate
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="598"] Photo: Isha Tariq[/caption] Lahoris, known for their great spirit, give the Indians a tough competition when it comes to cheering
Chacha Parade is an old, haggard man, with a penetrating voice
His single strong chant of “Pakistan” directs the huge Lahori crowd to saying “zindabad” in unison
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="598"] Photo: Isha Tariq[/caption] Amidst dhol beats and prolonged clapping, the trumpet blows
Salutations are exchanged over the border, and both Pakistani and Indian flags are lowered
The sun sets in Lahore, but not upon its people who will cherish the memories of their Wagha parade for many days, with ample energy, enthusiasm and great food of course
| Date: | 15-Apr-2015 | Reference: | View Original Link |
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