Lahore Lahore hai!

Are you the person who loves to get in touch with its history while others had it slipping right though their hands? Guess what people of Pakistan, you are at the right place, we “Nomads of Pakistan” are very enthusiastic to share all what we have seen and heard, with you, and believe me it is enough to fill a book, I might say. So hop on, for the ride around Pakistan to know all about your favorite cities, from history to feed your intellectual hunger to cuisines that actually feed your tummies.

Lahore

It’s said that “Jinnay Lahore nai whekhya, o jammia nai!”, and in this blog you will find out exactly why that is so…

History:

Lahore has history containing of thousands of years. At first it is the capital, and largest city in the province of Punjab. Since the day of its inception, Lahore has endured different rulers ranging from Hindu to Muslim to British till the independence in 1947; when Lahore emerged as city that is known to be “Heart of Pakistan.”

 Lahore also has a rich Mughal background where renowned Mughal emperors such as Akbar, Babar and Jahangir ruled for centuries. We can still see remnants of the Mughal Empire all around the city from its walled city, to random old buildings depicting the city’s heritage. The best example of Mughal Architecture has to be the Badshahi Mosque.

Lahore has always been dear to its people, before and after the partition, no matter who the ruling party. That is why, even when the subcontinent’s partition was underway, both Indians and Pakistanis yearned for Lahore’s inclusion in their respective homelands. The famous Pakistan Resolution was also passed in Minto Park Lahore in 1940, which laid down the foundation of Pakistan.

Lahore through our eyes:

Enough about the history, let’s explore the present time Lahore in all its modern and old glory. Our trip to Lahore was a small one, but we experienced enough of the city and its people to remember it for a lifetime.

The first thing we noticed when we entered Lahore, especially coming from a city like Islamabad, is that how hot it is. This is not necessarily a bad thing, because there aren’t many things as joyous as driving on canal road, covered with shady trees from both sides and experiencing the beautiful sight of the canal playing host to a huge number of heat-struck Lahoris bathing all along the road, jumping and diving with huge smiles on their faces and not a worry in the World.

Lahore has energy like no other. It is a city that lives! It sings in between blaring honks on the road, drivers shouting into their cell phones, rickshaws gurgling and choking, shopkeepers and women haggling, children screaming with laughter. People say Lahore is never quiet. Be it hot or cold, a local festival or a tragedy, the city does not stop living.

We had so much to do and so little time, but we tried to make the most of our trip. Our day started with the traditional “Halwa Poori ka nashta” from the well-renowned Sadiq Halwa Poori from Ferozpur road. I have to say it was one of the best breakfasts I have ever had, maybe it was because we were starving or maybe the food was just THAT GOOD. The lassi to finish off was just a cherry on top. Another outstanding place to try for breakfast is Phajjay k Paye near Badshahi Masjid. The place has been around for 50 years and it was so crowded when we visited that we had to leave without trying their amazing paye. After the amazing breakfast at Sadiq Halwa Puri, we proceeded to visit the Walled city of Lahore. It is a wonder, and a city within a city. There is still debate on when it was actually made with claims such as 4000 years old to some people saying only 300 years. Nevertheless, it is an amazing wonder to witness. Even if you are not a history lover, you would be in for a treat because of all the amazing architecture and instagrammable spots for you social media fanatics. We visited Lahore Fort (Shahi Qila), Badshahi Masjid and the Royal Gardens and they were oozing history from the walls to the floors to the chandeliers. Everything is just more poetic and alive when you think of Lahore.

After the Walled city, we moved towards Iqbal Park (formerly known as Minto Park), the place where Pakistan Resolution was passed and which is also the home to Minar e Pakistan. The tower was built between 1960 and 1968 and it was the tallest structure in Lahore at the time.

All that walking and exposure to history had our tummies rumbling for food before even 1pm. 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. Follwing the tradition. We decided to try out some of the famous food spots in this mesmerizing city. We visited Bombay Chowpatti for their amazing Raj Kachori which is a must try if you are a fan of dahi bhallay. After that we went straight to Bundu Khan for a proper lunch. We were really hungry but I have to say we were a little disappointed by the food at Bundu Khan. We ordered all the specials such as their BBQ and Karahi but they were not as good as the locals had raised our expectations to be. We also thought it was a little too expensive.  After the spicy lunch, we were all craving some meethi lassi, and what better place than Fiqqay ki Lassi. So we headed straight to Gawalmandi to try out the famous Fiqqay ki Lassi. We had to wait almost an hour for our turn because there was such a long queue of people waiting for their glass. The wait had made us a little disdain and tired, but as soon as that first sip went down our throats, all the misery in our lives vanished and we were happy happy people. To everyone who visits there, know that the wait is worth it.

The amazing lassi had us energized again, which is weird because generally lassi makes people sleepy. Anyways we thought we would visit the malls of Lahore and experience the modern side of the city as well. We went to Emporium Mall to do some shopping. We found the mall much more spacious as compared to the malls in Islamabad. One thing that really caught us eye was the Bounce Lahore at the top floor. It was basically a glorified bouncy castle for adults. We hopped in for an hour and jumped around and played with each other. It was a really fun experience. We also tried the haunted house train ride in the mall; it was average. We also visited the Packages Mall but the parking was really far away and we were tired so we decided not to go in.

It was 4pm and we were exhausted. We needed to rejuvenate; hence we headed back to our rooms for some shut eye. After a 90 minute power-nap, we were fully charged and ready to head out again. We drove to Wagah Border for the intense parade. Wagah border is the border between India & Pakistan and hosts a flag parade every day at sunset. We barely made it there on time to find a place to stand. The seats were already taken when we got there. The atmosphere was unbelievable. I have never seen Pakistanis so patriotic and zealous ever. We could hear chanting of slogans from both sides and it was just so energetic and intense. We enjoyed every minute of it. 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 border .The armies of both countries do a routine at the border that includes exchanging newspapers, opening up the border, taking down the flags and closing the gates again. Trip to Lahore is never complete without visiting Wagah Border for the parade.

By the time we got back to the city, it was dinner time. We were stuck between Butt Karahi and HAVELI restaurant at the food street. I wish we could have tried both places but our tummies only allowed for one, so we decided to head to the food street. The food street is a long queue of small restaurants, most of which are devoid of ample seating capacity, hence it is common for people to eat outside on the pavement. We took a seat at the Haveli Restaurant and ordered their special platter along with other items such as chicken handi and seekh kebab. The food lived up to its mark and the restaurant also provided a view of Badshahi Masjid as a bonus.

It was almost 11pm and the hustle and bustle of the city was the same. It is said that Lahore never sleeps and that is very true. We came across an amazing gaming zone and played COD for an hour. The setup really surprised us because we have nothing like it in Islamabad. After that we decided to get some cold coffee for which we went to Red Apple. We stayed out till 4am roaming the streets of Lahore, playing some snooker, interacting with locals, and the city kept going and going. After the hectic and truly memorable day that we had had, we were done for the day. We just went to our beds and slept like babies. When we woke up a good 10 hours later, it was time to head back. We were both sad and happy to be going back. Sad because we were leaving this truly gem of a city, and happy that we had experienced Lahore in its true glory and discovered why it was called the Heart of Pakistan. The memories we took back with us will stay forever.