Modern Day Lahore - High End Living

Whenever the city of Lahore is mentioned, the first idea that pops up in one’s head is history and heritage. Yes, Lahore is known for its historical value but the modern era is taking its toll too on the city. Lahore has now expanded in size and is one of the most modern cities of the country. Housing high end restaurants, hotels, malls along with entertainment spots the city now projects high end living.

Areas such as Defence, Bahria Town and M M Alam Road reflect the newer and modern side of Lahore residing the posh community and providing them with facilities to support their high end living

The construction of malls such as Fortress Square, Mall of Lahore and many more, Lahoris now are provided with multinational brands whether considering clothing brands or food items. This has drastically improved the standard of living and further on provided the rich, luxuries within their reach.

Fortress Square Lahore

Lahore once known for its simple road side food shops and stalls now houses state of the art restaurants and hotels including Pearl Continental and Avari which introduce not only international cuisine but also bring a modern touch to the desi food. A new trend has been set with the establishment of multinational fast food chains such as Burger King and McDonald as well the introduction of high end cafes offering a range of delicious and unique drinks and snacks.

Pearl Continental

With the increasing high end living standards of Lahore, the introduction of international standard entertainment joints too has left a mark on the city. From golf courses to cinemas, arcade zones for children to beauty spas, the city of Lahore offers all facilities. The once simple city now has transformed to a city that offers new experiences to the natives in the form of a state of the art water park known as Oasis, camping and safari facilities at Rana Resort and many such places.

Rana Hunting & Luxury Resort

There was a time when women used to go out for buying UN-stitched clothes to places such as Anarkali and Saddar and would return to the tailors to get them stitched according to their liking. This trend is gradually vanishing due to the arrival of designer boutiques which offer a wide range of ready to wear products under one roof. Women now enjoy a higher living standard by simply purchasing ready made clothes from boutiques placed all over the city rather then getting into the hassle of buying UN-stitched materials and then running after the tailors to get them stitched.

As the standard of living is improving drastically in the city of Lahore, luxuries are more of a preference including trips to beauty salons and spas where both men and women have time to relax and get pampered. Whether it be Shapes or New Look, appointments are usually booked before time for the Lahoris to enhance their beauty and refresh then up.

High end lifestyle is also supported by the local availability of luxury imported vehicles with world renowned automobile companies such as Audi and Porsche setting up their dealerships in the city to provide luxury within reach.

A developing city, bring modernization to the area, Lahore is now a city that attracts the rich to spend their high end lives and benefit from the luxuries the city now has to offer.

You can discover more places on Locally Lahore App. Locally Lahore is a must have App, which allows you to explore Lahore and it covers up all point of interest. It gives you information about latest events and happenings in Lahore. 

Download Locally Lahore Android & iPhone App. Join locally lahore on G+ and Facebook to get in touch with the latest information and events of Lahore. 

Find out more information of Locally Lahore App on www.locallylahore.com

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Posted by Unknowna at Tuesday, June 30, 2015 0 comments

10 unique things about Lahore

There is a famous saying about the city of Lahore that even the little children say out loud with pride, JINAY LAHORE NI WEKHYA O JAMYA NAI! (The person who has not seen Lahore yet hasn’t been born). People often wonder why this saying or slogan is so famous. Well obviously its famous and holds vale due to unique things found in Lahore. Let’s have a look on some of the unique things of Lahore. 

As soon as the city Lahore is spoken about the first thing that clicks to the mind is food. How can it be possible to talk of Lahore without mentioning its unique food and the love of natives for it. Whether it be breakfast consisting of Halwa Poori or Paye to dinners consisting of BBQ or Taka Tak. Lahore houses 2 food streets known for their traditional food, one housing classic roadside food shops while the other consists of posh high quality restaurants. 

Another unique thing about Lahore is the night life of Lahore. With food shops open at almost every block, trucks playing classic folk songs and rickshaws rushing down the roads, this city just doesn’t want to sleep. Taking advantage of these roads are street racers and sport bikers roaring down streets.

Badshahi Mosque at Night

Canal Road

Theaters in Lahore are another unique asset of Lahore. Shows are usually held at night in which comics dramas are performed live for the audience usually consisting of labor class who tend to enjoy with such shows after a hard day of work.

Alhamra Lahore

If its left upon me, I shall refer to Lahore as shopping heaven. The saying, You name, it has it defines Lahore’s offering for shopaholics. Modern days malls e.g Mall of Lahore house Multinational brands and on the other hand markets such as Anarkali gives shopping a new meaning with small shops in tight streets giving the public access to locally made clothes, bangles and other traditional goods at cheap rates.

Mall of Lahore

When it comes to religion Lahore holds in shrines of several sufi saints, the most of which is Data Darbar, the shrine of Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery. The shrines are always full of followers how come to pray and show their affection towards saints by whether simply offering prayers or distributing of Langar (food)

Data Darbar

The canal divides Lahore into 2 parts and is often decorated with lights and floats depicting traditional culture attracting not only the natives but those in the suburbs of Lahore to pay a visit and adore the beauty too.

Canal Bank Road

Lahore also holds the largest zoo of Pakistan established in 1872. The zoo is a massive attraction for the locals giving them a chance to be up close with the wildlife and adore Allah’s creation. Often packed with families at weekends the Lahore Zoo is a major attraction in the city.

Lahore Zoo

How can it be that if talking about the uniqueness of Lahore, the Mughal Architectural buildings are left behind. Lahore Fort, Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque are just a few architectural gems placed in the city adored by tourists all over the world. The old Lahore and its gates, tight streets help Lahore establish a unique historical and cultural image.

Mughal Architecture Building

Lahore isn’t behind in sports too. On Sundays parks and streets are occupied by cricket fanatics playing in almost every corner of the city. Sport facilities such as Gadaffi stadium help Lahore maintain its uniqueness as it’s the biggest stadium in the country.

Ariel View of Gadaffi Stadium

Parks and garden are another unique feature of the city specially considering Shalimar Garden, Laurance Park and Jillani Park which hold historical meaning to the city as well as offer the natives chances to blend in with nature during their free time.

Shalimar Garden

Well there is a reason why they say Lahore, Lahore Aye! The cities values, culture and tradition make it stand out and makes sure that whoever visits the city for the first time admits to the fact that there is no city such as Lahore. 

You can discover many more places of Lahore city and on going events on Locally Lahore App. Locally Lahore is a must have App, which allows you to explore Lahore and it covers up your all point of interest. It gives you information about latest events and happenings in Lahore.

Download Locally Lahore Android & iPhone App. Join locally lahore on G+ and Facebook to get in touch with the latest information and events of Lahore.

Find out more information of Locally Lahore App on www.locallylahore.com

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Posted by Unknowna at Monday, June 15, 2015 2 comments

Anarkali Bazar (Old Bazar & New Anarkali)

Anarkali Bazar is one of the oldest existing market in Lahore as well as in Pakistan. Anarkali bazar is the heart of Lahore. It is located on the very famous Mall road.

Anarkali is divided into two sections; old Anarkali and new Anarkali. In old Anarkali there are variety of food items and in new Anarkali there are different traditional handicrafts, clothes and gift centres.

History

This bazzar is older more than 200 of years and known as Anarkali due to a nearby tomb that known as Anarkali’s tomb a slave girl that buried alive by the order of Mughal Emperor Akbar. The Prince Saleem, Akbar’s son fell in love with her and in a result of that relation she was buried alive. Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aybak’s tomb is also situated in this bazaar.

Anarkali Bazar is the oldest bazaar of Lahore, Pakistan, yet it has coped with the changing times by introducing new trends in business. Today it can be considered as one of the best business centres of Pakistan.

Old Anarkali

In front of this bazaar you can found Lahore Museum. On one side Punjab University Old Campus, the historical Government College Lahore, know The Government college University and on the other side “KEMC” (King Edward Medical College) is situated.

Hundreds of years old buildings, glittery sale points (shops) busy streets make this bazaar a heart of Lahore and “Lahorian” (People of Lahore). The prices varies many ranges and in the reach of every one.

Food Street

There is a street called “Food Street” in the old Anarkali, where you can taste many types of traditional (Desi) delicious and spicy foods, and also for fast food lovers there are many fast food items also available with juices and drinks.

Old books

If you get a chance to visit Anarkali Bazaar on a Sunday, you will notice a lot of vendors selling old books on a throw away price. Your chances of getting hold of rare books are high. Don’t you feel excited reading a 1970’s edition of Readers Digest or National Geographic Magazine. I am proud to have a copy of a 1972 magazine that had some of the fabulous pictures that I could not locate on the web.

New Anarkali

The new Anarkali market is a heaven for the people who loved to shopping. Dhani Ram road is famous for its high-class crockery, handy crafts. Neela Gumbed is for every type of cycles, clothes and readymade garments, leather jackets, automobiles parts, shoe stores and many more that you can imagine. 

This bazaar is a must-see place for visitors or tourists coming from all over the world that highlight the cultural and historical values of Pakistan.

You can discover more amusement parks and many more places of Lahore city on Locally Lahore App. Locally Lahore is a must have App, which allows you to explore Lahore and it covers up your all point of interest. It gives you information about latest events and happenings in Lahore.

Download Locally Lahore Android & iPhone App. Join locally lahore on G+ and Facebook to get in touch with the latest information and events of Lahore.

Find out more information of Locally Lahore App on www.locallylahore.com

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Posted by Anonymousa at Tuesday, April 28, 2015 0 comments

Jahangir's Tomb & Ravi Riverside Photo Walk 2015

Locally Lahore Team organized its 2nd exploration tour & photo walk of year 2015 spring season to promote Lahore's tourism and historical importance. The main location of tour was Jahangir's Tomb which is a mausoleum built for Jahangir, who ruled the Mughal Empire from 1605 to 1627.

This event was meant for general public, student groups, tourists and photographers who is having interest in history. The event starting time was 8:15 AM on Fort Road Food Street, Badshahi Mosque. But because of some parking issues the event started around 9:00 AM. It was full sunny day. When every one was there, Adil Lahorei elaborate them the complete plan of the tour in 5 minutes and then we all prayed to have a safe and successful tour. There we had a group photo, out side the Badshahi Mosque. Then we all settled ourselves in to the coaster and left for the location. We all had 'Khalifa's Sweets' during the journey.

There were more than 40 participants in this event. All the participants were energetic and fun loving. They cooperated with the team very well. Every member got a 'coupon ticket' which was used in tea, lunch and gifts process.

We reached Tomb around 9:20 AM. On entrance Adil Lahorei described the history of the tomb and the historical value of the place. The walk was lead by one of the best photographer of Lahore Sir Abbrar Cheema. Who has strong foundation in Art, Creativity, Photography, Multimedia productions, Documentary making, Commercial Art and computer applications complemented by knowledge of business operations and the need for customer-focused service.

Adil Lahorei telling the history of Place

Group Photo on start of Walk

Entering the Tomb

We took a group photo on the entrance and started visiting the places. The climate was very hot and sunny. Every one was busy in taking photographs. Then every one was told to have tea at 10:30 AM on a specific place where the Locally Team arranged the tea.

Tea Time

Khalifa's Khatai

The region was a "favorite spot" of Jahangir and his wife Noor Jahan, when they lived in this city. The tomb, along with the adjacent Akbari Sarai and the Tomb of Asif Khan, is on the tentative list as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After the Taj Mehal, Emperor Jahangir's tomb is well known for its beauty and texture which also is a living example of taste and sense of beauty of King Shah Jahan.

Jahangir's Tomb

Building of Tomb is constructed at 5 feet high platform, 267 feet in square. The exterior of the monument including the lowest stage of the towers has red sandstone. There are 5 floored nearly 100 feet high octagonal minarets . We saw a beautiful view of Lahore city from the minarets. Amulet of grave is located in the center of the building. This has been surrounded by rooms whose total number is 40. Every room has a corridor ahead. Important thing is that every room has different design of corridor. In these rooms, Hufaaz and Islamic Scholars were living who were reciting Quraan in Mughal era, in order to reward the King Soul.

View of Jahangir's Tomb

Amulet of grave is built on 13 feet long and 9 feet wide platform. The platform of grave is made at 12 1/2 feet height from ground. Marble grave is engraved with the 99 attributes of ALLAH. Verses of Quran engraved on Head side while feet side registered: Aillah Hazrat, Gufran-e-Pannah, The king of India, Noor-u-Din Muhammad Jahangir AH 1037"

Amulet of Jahangir's grave

Architecture

The entrance to the mausoleum is through two massive gateways of stone and masonry opposite each other which lead to a square enclosure known as the Akbari Serai. This enclosure leads to another one, on the Western side, giving full view of the garden in front of the mausoleum, which is traversed by four bricked canals proceeding from the center, and in which many fountains were placed which are now ruined. The corridor around the mausoleum is adorned with a very elegant mosaic, representing flowers and verses from the Quran.

The mausoleum is a building with one floor. The ground floor has a square shape. Its structure consists of a platform with a tall, octagonal tower and a projecting entrance in the middle of each side. The exterior of the mausoleum, including the lowest stage of the towers, is clad with red sandstone facing with rich panel decoration inlaid with marble decorative motifs.

The four minarets  of the tomb, with the white marble cupolas, rise in five stages have a zigzag inlay of white and yellow marble. The building is divided into a series of vaulted compartments. The interior is embellished with floral frescoes with delicate inlay work and marble of various colors. Inside the mausoleum is the white marble cenotaph with its delicate and colorful Petra dura flowers.

The interior of the mausoleum is an elevated sarcophagus of white marble, the sides of which are wrought with flowers of mosaic in the same elegant style as the tombs in the Taj Mahal at Agra, India. On two sides of the sarcophagus the ninety-nine attributes of God are inlaid in black.

It was a beautiful place. Every one enjoyed the tour and got fresh photographs of that place. After complete view of tomb we all came back for lunch at 12:30 PM. After Lunch Sir Abbrar Cheema shared his experience of working with all of us and also gave advice and tips of Photography. The sun was on its peak and it was too hot. We did lunch and moved for 'Tomb of Asif Khan'.

Sir Abbrar Cheema

Asif Khan Tomb 

Asif Khan was the brother of Empress Noor Jahan, and father of Arjumand Bano Begum, who became the consort of Shah Jahan under the name Mumtaz Mahal.

In 1636, he was elevated as Khan-e-Khana and commander-in-chief and a year later became the governor of Lahore. Asif Khan died on 12 June 1641 in a battle against the forces of rebel Raja Jagat Singh. His tomb was commissioned to be built in the Shahdara tomb complex in Lahore by Shah Jahan. It was built to the west of the tomb of Jahangir, facing it. It took four years and was completed in 1645 at a cost of 0.3 million rupees.

Asif Khan Tomb 

The main chamber is of octagonal plan, with a large central double-layered bulbous dome. It stands in the centre of a large Mughal garden, which is divided into four squares. Octagonal tombs were never used for emperors but they were commonly employed for burial of high-ranking noblemen such as Asaf Khan. The bulbous dome that crowns the tomb is an innovation of Shah Jahan's era that was used to great effect at other sites such as the Taj Mahal.

Architecture

The tomb is built entirely of brick.The floor of the platform on which the tomb stands was created in Sang-e Abri, while the outer walls were covered with red sandstone. Each side has a deeply recessed iwan, or alcove, with a door and arched window looking into the tomb. The exterior originally was adorned with marble stone inlay work and veneered with stucco tracery, and blue kashi tiles typical of Lahore. The floors were decorated with marble, inlaid with precious stones.

Amulet of Asif Khan's grave

The interior was renowned for its lavish use of white marble and precious stone inlay, which has since disappeared. The inner dome ceiling is decorated in a high plaster relief of interlacing patterns, but much of it has fallen off. The tomb contains the marble cenotaph, carved with inscriptions from the Qur'an, similar to that in Emperor Jahangir's adjacent tomb.

Discussion Time with Adil

After that we moved to Ravi Riverside about 3:15 PM. The weather was quite pleasant that time as cool breeze was blowing. We reached Ravi at 3:35 PM and spent almost an hour there. Candidates took pictures there and some enjoyed the view of Ravi and i was one of them. Then after one hour we moved back to the Food Street and dropped all the participants there.

Ravi Side View

It was an awesome and energetic event. Start time was disturbed but Locally Team managed it very well. Thanks to all the Participants who joined us and made this event successful. For more Pictures you can visit 'Locally Lahore' photo album Jahangir's Tomb & Ravi Riverside Photo Walk 2015 on Facebook.

Download Locally Lahore Android & iPhone App. Join locally lahore on G+ and Facebook to get in touch with the latest information and events of Lahore.

Find out more information of Locally Lahore App on www.locallylahore.com

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Posted by Anonymousa at Wednesday, April 08, 2015 0 comments