Hiran Minar (Minaret of Antelope) is a Mughal site in Sheikhupura, Pakistan, near Lahore. Hiran Minar itself is a tower constructed by Mughal Emperor Jahangir as a monument to one of his pet deer. It is set next to an artificial square lake with an observation pavilion in the middle.
Sheikhupura Fort (also known as Qila Sheikhupura) is a fort near the city of Sheikhupura in Punjab, Pakistan, not far from Lahore. The fort was built by Mughal Emperor Jahangir in the early 17th century. It was later occupied by the Sikhs during their reign over Punjab. These days, there are still a lot of frescos left and it is somewhat possible to imagine how glorious the fort once was. Unfortunately, the fort is slowly crumbling to ruin and bats occupy some of the buildings. It is normally not open to the public but my guide knew someone who was able to let me in and give me a tour of the site.
Data Darbar Shrine is a Muslim shrine located in the city of Lahore, Pakistan, near the Walled City. It houses the remains of a Sufi saint known as Daata Ganj Baksh. He is said to have lived on the site in the 11th century.
The Walled City of Lahore, also known as the “Old City”, is the section of Lahore, Pakistan, that was fortified by a city wall during the Mughal era. It is located in the northwestern part of the city and includes both the Imperial Mosque and the Fort (Shahi Qila).
Shahi Qila (Royal Fort) is a Mughal citadel in Lahore, Pakistan. It is located on the other side of Hazuri Bagh from the Badshahi Masjid. It was built by Mughal Emperor Akbar in the late 16th century.
I was (again) in Lahore, Pakistan for a few months this autumn: I took the opportunity to go visit some of the major landmarks in the area. Today, I will post photos of the Badshahi Masjid (Imperial Mosque) in Lahore: It was built in 1673 by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb and, for a long time, was the largest mosque in the world (now 5th). It is one of Lahore’s most famous landmarks and a major tourist attraction.
The Arc de Triomphe (Arch of Triumph ) is one of the most famous landmarks of Paris. It stands in the centre of the Place Charles de Gaulle at the western end of the Champs-Élysées. The top of the monument houses an open air observatory with a good view on Paris.
At the end of the summer, I had to be in Paris for one day. I walked around, first to Montmartre and the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur. Then I walked to the Centre George Pompidou before going to the Gare de Lyon railway station.
The Parc des Buttes-Chaumont is a public park opened in 1867 and located in northeast Paris. Its most famous feature is the Temple de la Sibylle, inspired by the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli, Italy, and perched at the top of a cliff above the waters of an artificial lake. After the park, I walked back to the Gare de Lyon train station, first going through Place de la Nation, then taking the Promenade Plantée, a linear park cutting through Paris from Vincennes to Bastille.
After getting back to the valley from my hike to La Jonction, it was still relatively early so I took the bus to the village of Chamonix and tried to go the Aiguille du Midi, using the ropeway. Unfortunately, it was full for the rest of the day. So instead, I took the train to Montenvers to have a look at the Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice), France’s largest glacier (7km long, 200 m thick). The Ice Cave had already closed when I got there however.