Jinnah Garden (Bagh-e-Jinnah in Urdu) is a well-maintained park in Lahore, Pakistan, located on Mall Road next to the Lahore Zoo. It is named after Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. The park has many kinds of plants, walking trails and lawns where to rest. It also houses a number of sports and entertainment facilities, as well as the Quaid-e-Azam Library.
The Lahore Zoo was established in 1872 and is one of the oldest zoos in the world. These days, the zoo houses a collection of about 1380 animals of 136 species, making it one of the largest zoos in South Asia.
The Shalimar Gardens (sometimes written as Shalamar Gardens) are a Mughal garden complex located in Lahore, Pakistan. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan (of Taj Mahal fame) in the mid-17th century. The gardens have been laid out from south to north in three levels of terraces. In the terraces, there are basins with 410 fountains in total. Unfortunately, none of them were working while I was there.
The Wagah border closing ’lowering of the flags’ ceremony, or The Beating Retreat ceremony, is a daily military practice that the security forces of India (Border Security Force) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) have jointly followed since 1959. The Wagah Border is only a short car ride from Lahore and the spectacle of the ceremony attracts many visitors from Pakistan. The other side seemed packed as well.
Rohtas Fort (Qila Rohtas) is a historical garrison fort located near the city of Jhelum in Punjab, Pakistan. It was built in the 16th century under the orders of Afghan king Sher Shah Suri, to subdue the rebellious tribes of the region. It was captured by Mughal emperor Humayun in 1555. Rohtas was also occasionally used for administrative purposes by the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh after he captured it in 1825.
Katasraj Mandir is a Hindu temple complex situated in Katas village, Punjab, Pakistan, in the Salt Range mountains. Since it is not very far from the Khewra Salt Mine, I went there after the mine, before going back to Lahore. Dedicated to Shiva, the Katasraj temple complex is believed to date back to the Mahabharata era. Many legends are associated with the temples: The five Pandava brothers, heroes of the Sanskrit epic the Mahabharata, stayed here for 4 of the 13 years they spent in exile. Another story goes: After the death of his wife Sati, Shiva cried so much and for so long that his tears created two holy ponds, one in Rajasthan, the other here at Katas. The temple complex was abandoned by local Hindus when they migrated to India during partition in 1947 and no one stayed back. However, it has remained a place of pilgrimage for Hindu worshippers (especially from Sindh).
The Khewra Salt Mine is located in the Salt Range mountains in Punjab, Pakistan, between Lahore and Islamabad. It is Pakistan’s largest and oldest salt mine and the world’s second largest. It is said to have been discovered when horses in the army of Alexander the Great began licking the stones near the mine. It is now a major tourist attraction in the area.
Gurdwara Janam Asthan is an important temple (gurdwara) for the Sikhs, built by Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the 19th century to mark the birthplace of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak. It is located in Nankana Sahib near Lahore, Pakistan.
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.