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'''Lahore''' ({{lang-ur|لاہور}}) is the second biggest city in [[Pakistan]]. It is the [[capital city|capital]] of the province of [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]]. It is also known as the 'City of Gardens' because of its many parks and gardens. This city is known for its rich culture and lively atmosphere. [[Pakistan|Pakistan']]s major Urdu film industry [[Lollywood]] is based here at the "Cultural Heart of Pakistan". It is 60 km (35 mi) west of [[Amritsar]], [[India]]. It has a [[semi-arid climate]] (''BSh'' in the [[Köppen climate classification]]).
[[File:Quaid-e-Azam Library in Jinnah Garden.jpg|thumb|right|Quaid-e-Azam Library in the Lawrence Gardens, [[The Mall, Lahore]]]]

==Origins==
According to legend, the city was founded thousands of years ago by Lava or [[Lav]],<ref>JW McCrindle ''Ancient India as Described in Classical Literature'', London 1901, np</ref> son of the deity [[Rama]] (hero of the [[Ramayana]]). Its original name was either 'Lav-garh' (Fort of Lav/Lava) or 'Lavapuri' (Place of Lava/Lav) which was later changed to 'Lavhur' or 'Lahor' and then 'Lahore'.<ref>Dr ZH Salahuddin, ''Lahore since Ancient Times'', Lahore:Moon Publishers, 1999, p.13</ref>

According to historians and archaeologists, Lahore was the capital of several [[Hindu]] dynasties from around 300-250 BC onwards. Probably the first of these dynasties was the 'Loh'(or Lav) dynasty of the [[Gujar]] tribe. Some people also believe that this city is the same one mentioned by [[Ptolemy]] in his ''Geographia''.<ref>Cited in R Thapar ''A History of India Vol 1'', Pelican edition 1966, p.101</ref>

The ancient 'Walled City' was the old, proper Lahore, which later expanded in different directions. Quite a lot of work was done on it by the kings of the [[Delhi Sultanate]]<ref>Thapar, p.236</ref> and then the [[Mughal]]s. Most of the newer areas and suburbs of the city are from the later [[British Raj]] from 1849 to 1947.

==Historical importance==
[[Image:Badshahi Masjid 1.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A night view of the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore]]
Lahore is historically an important place in the [[South Asia]]n [[Subcontinent]].<ref>Isobel Shaw, ''Pakistan Handbook'' 1988 ed</ref> Famous buildings made here during the time of the [[Mughal Empire]] include the [[Badshahi Mosque]], the [[Lahore Fort]] and the [[Shalimar Gardens]]. It was capital of the Sikh Empire of the early 19th century. Many of the city's old artifacts and historical treasures over the ages, can be seen at the famous [[Lahore Museum]] built later in the 19th century during [[British India]]n rule.<ref name="Shaw, aa">Shaw, aa</ref>

Lahore is also important due to its role as a center of the [[Pakistan Movement]] later, and the famous [[Lahore Resolution]] of 1940 was passed here by the [[Working Committee of the All-India Muslim League]], which eventually led to the making of an independent state of Pakistan in 1947. This event is commemorated by the [[Minar-e-Pakistan]] building in [[Iqbal Park]].

To the north of Lahore, near the [[Ravi River]], lies the old suburb of [[Shah Dara]], which is also considered to be historically significant, as the tombs of the [[Mughal]] Emperor [[Jahangir]] and his wife [[Nur Jahan]], are situated here.<ref name="Shaw, aa"/> According to the early [[English people|English]] traveler, [[Thomas Coryat]], who visited Lahore in its 'Golden Age' during the reign of Jahangir, it was probably the finest city in the world at that time, and 'exceedeth evene Constantinople in greatnesse' (It was even greater than [[Constantinople]]).<ref>Coryat, quoted by W Dalrymple, ''In Xanadu:A Quest'' London, 1989, p.184</ref>

==Education==
Lahore is Pakistan's top educational center. The old [[University of the Punjab]] has two campuses in the city. Other old and famous institutions of higher learning include the [[Government College University]] (GCU), the [[Forman Christian College]] and the [[Kinnaird College for Women]]. The [[National College of Arts]], a specialized fine arts institute, is also located here.

The city is also home to Pakistan's most prestigious high school and college, the [[Aitchison College Lahore]]. Other institutions include the Central Model School, St Anthony's School, the Beaconhouse School System, Lahore College of Arts and Sciences (LACAS) and the Lahore Grammar School and the world famous King Edward Medical University is also located in Lahore.

==Cultural life==
Lahore is Pakistan's cultural, literary and artistic heart. It has some of the best food in the whole [[Indian subcontinent]] at the [[Gawalmandi Food Street]], near the old Walled City; and several notable cultural centers like the [[Alhamra Theatre]], the Punjab Arts Council, the [[Lahore Museum]], the [[Shakir Ali Museum]], the [[Fakir Khana]] museum and the Rafi Peer Theatre Group. The [[Lawrence Gardens, Lahore]] are another site from British times that is worth visiting. The famed [[Heera Mandi]] in the old [[Taxali Gate]] area is also a part of Lahore's historic culture. The [[Anarkali Bazaar]] is also a great place for traditional shopping.

Lahore is also important in Pakistan as a center of cultural and religious tolerance.<ref>TJ Stephens, 'Lahore:The Living City of Saints' article in daily Dawn, Karachi, Pakistan, January 21st 1997</ref> The city does not have many religious fanatics or extremists, unlike some other parts of this country. The main reason is because of the strong influence of many famous [[Sufi]] saints who lived here in the past. The [[shrine]]s (burial places) of some of them are still visited by many people. The shrines of [[Hazrat Daata Sahib]] and [[Mian Mir Sahib]] are specially famous.

==Related pages==
* [[List of notable Lahoris]]

==Additional reading==
* Griffin and Massey, Chiefs and Families of Note in the Punjab, revided edition 1910-11.
* WG Osborne, The Court and Camp of Runjeet Singh, London, 1846.
* Lady Emily Eden, Up the Country, new edition, London, 1983.
* Hakim Ahmad Shuja, Lahore ka Chelsea (Urdu), Lahore, 1969.
* Ian Talbot, Divided Cities: Lahore and Amritsar:1947-1957, Karachi, 2005 edition.
* FS Aijazuddin, Lahore: Illustrated Views of the 19th Century, Lahore, n.d.
* WJ Glover, Making Lahore Modern: Constructing and Imagining a Colonial City, Karachi, 2011.
* B. Gascoine, The Great Mughals, London, 1971.
* M. Athar Tahir, Punjab Portraits, Lahore, 1992.
* Isobel Shaw, Pakistan Handbook 1988.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons|Lahore}}
* [http://lahore.gop.pk/ Metropolitan Corporation Lahore] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191123200751/http://lahore.gop.pk/ |date=2019-11-23 }}

[[Category:Lahore| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Capital of Pakistan]]

Lahore - Revision history

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