The historical monuments and buildings of Lahore stand as the specimen of Mughal art and architecture. However, the heritage also has a touch of Aryans, Arabs, Persians, British, Sikhs and Greeks.
We come across cultures ranging from Sikhs, Hindus, Afghans, and Muslims. Due to this vast cultural mix, Lahore is well known for its cultural diversity. This walled city of Lahore has transited immensely by British Raj, which further utilized the city's infrastructure.
The Walled City rose in prominence after being selected as the Mughal capital, which resulted in construction of the Lahore Fort - now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Walled City was bestowed with numerous monuments during the Mughal era, such as Wazir Khan Mosque, Badshahi Mosque, Shahi Hammam, etc.
The Shalwar kameez, Achkan, Sherwani and Kurta shalwar Kameez are the national dresses of Pakistan and is worn by men and women in all five provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Gilgit-Baltistan in the country and in Azad Kashmir.
Lahore residents enjoy a comfortable and active lifestyle which can include dining out, entertaining, diplomatic functions, tennis, golf, horseback riding, cooking and photography classes, visiting museums and art galleries, participating in charitable organizations and a host of additional opportunities.
LAHORE THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CAPITAL OF PAKISTAN
Is Lahore a nice place to live?
Gulberg Lahore is known for merging the rich heritage of the city with up-to-date trends, offering a lively environment to make a living. The area is surrounded by many recognized shopping outlets, restaurants, and markets, making it a preferred choice, especially for those sticking to their roots.
The original research extended to the major languages of Lahore (Punjabi, English, Urdu, Ara- bic, and touching briefly on Pashto) describing conventions of use, how the languages are appropriate to different contexts within the larger social organiza- tion.
Nihari. Known as the "national dish of Pakistan", the word 'nihari' is derived from the Arabic word “nahaar” (morning), implying that this dish was meant to be eaten as the first meal of the day. Learn more.
Lohri. Lohri can be said to be the most important festival of Punjab. Celebrated during the winter solstice, or the last day of the month when winter solstice takes place, Lohri has a lot of cultural and historical significance.
The following is a list of some foods popular in Lahore.
Chicken Lahori.
Gosht karahi (chicken or mutton cooked with a spicy tomato-based gravy in a concave-shaped cooking vessel that resembles a wok) is a speciality of Lahore.
Dal gosht (meat cooked with pulses)
Murgh Cholay/Channay (chicken cooked with chickpeas)
It is estimated that the city of Lahore, Pakistan, has a Muslim majority with 94.7% and a Christian minority constitutes 5.1% of the population whilst Sikhs and Hindus constitute the remaining 0.2%. There is also a small but longstanding Zoroastrian community.
A Hindu legend based on oral traditions holds that Lahore, known in ancient times as Nokhar (City of Lava in Sanskrit), was founded by Prince Lava, the son of the goddess Sita and Rama; Kasur was founded by his twin brother Prince Kusha.
Lahore is one of Pakistan's major industrial, educational and economic hubs. It has been the historic capital and cultural centre of the wider Punjab region, and is one of Pakistan's most socially liberal, progressive, and cosmopolitan cities. Lahore's origin dates back to antiquity.
The culture of Pakistan (Urdu: ثقافتِ پاکستان, romanized: S̱eqāfat-e Pākistān) lies at the intersection of Turko-Persian, Arab, and North Indian cultural traditions. Over centuries, the region has developed a distinct cultural identity, shaped by a fusion of Middle Eastern, Central Asian and North Indian influences.
With a rich history dating back over a millennium, Lahore is a main cultural centre of Punjab and Pakistan. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains an economic, political, transportation, entertainment, and educational hub.
Rama was the ruler of Lahore and he was a 'Solanki'- solar or Sun – Hindu Rajput. Ancient Sanskrit scripts identify the cities named after his sons as Lo-awar, meaning the fort of Loh, and Kus-awar, meaning the fort of Kash. Hence the names of Lahore and Kasur have their origins in Rajput epic rulers of the land.
Balochi language, one of the oldest living languages of the Indo-Iranian group of the Indo-European languages. A West Iranian language, Balochi is spoken by about nine million people as a first or second language in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, India, and Baloch diaspora communities.
English is the primary language used by the government of Pakistan, alongside Urdu, on the national level. While being spoken natively by only a small percentage of the population, it is the primary language used in education, commerce, administration, and the legal and judicial systems.
Each region of Pakistan has safety concerns and issues, and some areas should be considered high-risk and not advisable for travel unless absolutely necessary. Medium risk. Petty crime and protests possible; Lahore generally safer for tourists.
The patriarchal system has created the social and cultural environment that is supporting persistence male domination, remains the major obstacle in the intellectual, social, and economic growth of women. Cases of rape, honor killing, murder, and forced marriages in backward areas are also reported.
Gulberg: There are high-rise buildings, luxury apartments, and commercial buildings in this region and it is known for luxury real estate. Gulberg is known for destinations like MM Alam Road, which offers great investment opportunities. It is Lahore most prestigious and high-demand area.
Bhangra is the most famous dance form in Punjab and across the world. This dance form was originally associated with the harvesting season of Punjab and traditionally performed during the festival of Baisakhi.
A handwoven fabric, Phulkari's history is embedded in the culture of rural Punjab and its people. The thread work of Phulkari was done by women on Khaddar (coarse cotton) since cotton was harvested throughout Punjab.
Rakhri or Rakhrhee (Punjabi: ਰੱਖੜੀ) is the Punjabi word for Rakhi and a festival observed by Hindus and Sikhs. In the Punjab region, the festival of Raksha Bandhan is celebrated as Rakhrhya (Punjabi: ਰੱਖੜੀਆ). Rakhrhya is observed on the same day of the lunar month of Sawan.
