By Renee Tucei
Renee is a retired member of the Texas/Oklahmoa/Louisina Chapter and has traveled to TCC 167.
Over 3,500 years old, with a population of 13 million, Lahore is teeming with history, things to see, and people. Traffic is chaos between motorbikes, donkey carts, tuk-tuks and cars. The Avari hotel offers luxury, a good breakfast and a central location to just dive in!
Start at Dilkusha Garden, a caravanserai housing the Tomb of Emperor Jahangir (1605-1627). The walls lining the entry to the tomb are made of red sandstone inlaid with marble and semi-precious stones (turquoise, lapis lazuli, malachite, etc.). The tomb itself is stunning in white marble, again with inlaid semi-precious stones. The detail is amazing.
Proceed to Shalamar Gardens, a UNESCO-listed, 3-tier royal water garden built by Sha Jahan in 1642. The gardens include frescoes, a marble waterfall, and more than 400 fountains. We ate lunch each day back at the hotel for better assurance of hygiene and a nice restroom! But for a treat, check out Khalifeh Khatai bakery in Lahore—known for its almond khatais (a type of cookie). Delicious!
No visit is complete without a visit to the Lahore Museum. Built in 1890, it is a treasure trove of artifacts dating as far back as 2600 BC. The final stop of the day is Badshahi Mosque, which was built in 1673. We visited during the evening call to prayer at sunset, so the lighting and overall experience were beautiful. Interestingly, the former red light district is just adjacent to the mosque! We had a wonderful rooftop dinner at Haveli, a former brothel!
Start the next morning with a tour of the Walled City in a jingle rickshaw (the streets are too narrow for a car to pass). A bit hair-raising at times, highlights include Wazir Khan Mosque (spectacular Kashakari tiles) and Shahi Hamam (public bath house), famous for restored frescoes.
Before leaving, you must make a final stop at Lahore Fort. Commissioned by Akbar the Great in 1566, it is comprised of 21 monuments, including Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors), adorned with glass mosaics, the Jahangir Picture Wall and the Samadhi (tomb) of Ranjit Singh, a Sikh politica leader who died in 1839.
This will whet your appetite for a return visit!
