Rangeela Rikshaw Walled City Guided Tour Lahore

The Lahore Fort (Shahi Qila) in Lahore, Pakistan is a large complex of fortifications, marble mosques and palaces built by Mughal Emperor Akbar, known as Akbar the Great. Whilst there were buildings and fortifications on the site since the 11th century and even before, it was under Akbar the Great that the current fort flourished.

The King of all mosques in Lahore the Badshahi Mosque ruled over the throne of being the world’s largest mosque for over 313 years in history. The grandeur of the mosque can be adjudged by the fact that for the first 70 years after its construction in 1673, the mosque was simply known for its exceptional and extraordinary size which was visible from almost ten miles away! No doubt that the mosque was so significant back in the day and still is! Even today this historical and holy artifact speaks for itself as it stands with great splendor and magnificence.

Wazir Khan mosque was built in 1634 by Shaikh Ilm-ud-din Ansari, Viceroy of Punjab under Shah Jahan. Ansari hailed from humble origins in the town of Chiniot in the Jhang district of the Punjab. He studied medicine under Hakim Dawi and was hired by the Mughal court as the personal physician of Prince Kuram, the future Shah Jehan. The young prince was so taken with Ansari's competence that he awarded him with the title Wazir Khan in 1620. Wazir is a title meaning "Minister" in Urdu. Wazir Khan acquired a large tract of land in Lahore bounded by the Delhi Gate to the east and the Lahore Fort to the west. He founded the mosque that now bears his name on the site of the tomb of Syed Muhammed Ishaq (also known as Miran Badshah), a saint who had migrated from Iran in the 13th century. Wazir Khan also established a bathhouse (Shahi Hammam) and other commercial establishments along the road to the mosque whose income was intended to ensure maintenance of the mosque into perpetuity.

The 17th century Shahi Hammam fell into disuse during the decline and fall of the Mughal Empire and the chaos that followed. The 1,000 m² complex was rehabilitated over two years and interventions included the exposure, conservation and display of the original waterworks, drainage and heating networks as well as the historic floor level, restoration of the original entrance, internal chambers and architectural features including provisions for internal and external illumination. The original frescoes, dating from the Mughal period, were also conserved. The hammam, once neglected, is alive with cultural programming and events.

Lahore is a historical city and currently is the 2nd most important and business hub of Pakistan. The Walled City of Lahore is very famous and currently, the talk of the town is its Surjan Singh Street. Surjan Singh was a poet and Hakeem by profession. He was a very generous person and according to some researches, he treated the royals too which became the reason for his popularity. The street he resided in Lahore was named after him as Gali Surjan Singh. Gali Surjan Singh is a model street of the walled city Lahore and for some time, this street has become a hot topic in Lahore. Many people astonishingly ask, “What is in this street that has made it so popular?” So, guys, the thing is its cleanliness and decoration that surprises the people. The residents of Gali Surjan Singh have decorated the street with the help of the Walled City Authority to beautify Surjan Singh Street.

Mian Sultan was a famous contractor during the British Rule. Have you ever heard of him or his haveli inside the Walled City of Lahore? Well, before I jump on to his Haveli, which is no doubt a mesmerising piece of art, let me tell you who this contractor was. Mian Muhammad Sultan, at the young age of 12, came to Lahore from Kashmir as his maternal family was residing in Lahore at the time. He was not an affluent neither belonged to such a family. As per historic accounts, he was a lower middle class person and to make both ends meet he did all sorts of tedious jobs. Historic references also state that he was the first to start manufacturing soap in Lahore, that’s an interesting fact! Well some historians write that he also practiced wrestling for a living and during that Maharajah Sher Singh had rewarded him and presented him a horse, at that time it was big prize for Sultan, who never knew where his fate would take him.

This gate is located on the eastern side of the Wazir Khan Square. This was the original Delhi Gate until the British reconstructed a new Delhi Gate about 100 meters beyond it. This gate was finished with white glazed lime plaster hence it was called Chitta Darwaza or White Gate because the Punjabi word "Chitta" means white. Dina Nath the Raja of Kalankor built this gate and the well near it. This gate used to have wood and marble embellishments on it. The WCAL has recently restored it as it lies on the Shahi Guzargah or Royal Trail.

Iqbal was one of the major inspirations behind the Pakistan Movement, and is revered in Pakistan as Muffakir-e-Pakistan (The Thinker of Pakistan) or Shair-e-Mashriq (The Poet of the East). Iqbal died on 21 April 1938 in Lahore at the age of 60. Thousands of visitors come to the mausoleum every day to pay their respects to the poet-philosopher.It is said that Mustafa Kemal Atatürk sent earth collected from Maulana Rumi's tomb to be sprinkled on this grave. Soon after Iqbal's death in April 1938, a committee was formed that was presided over by Chaudhary Mohammed Hussain. The architecture has a combination of styles however it reflects mainly the Mughal style. The structure is entirely constructed of red sandstone, which was brought from Jaipur, British India, and building marble from Makrana, Rajputana. After the independence of Pakistan in 1947, construction was affected due to export restrictions of red stone from India.

The street was reconstructed and opened in 2012 as a tourist attraction, by offering Lahori cuisine and views of Badshahi Mosque.

Many of you must have visited the Royal Trail or Shahi Guzargah which is inside Delhi Gate of Lahore. It has one of the most significant monuments of Mughal, Sikh and British era. At the end of the beautiful streets on the Royal Trail, which is known as Gali Surjan Singh, there is an Imam Bargah or haveli known as Haveli Alif Shah. This historic haveli is more than three hundred years old and was converted into an Imam Bargah somewhere in 1861. This haveli is said to be among the most venerated havelis of the walled city during Muharram and Safar processions. The life here during Muharram is completely different from other days and people from all sects visit it. The processions from 7th till 10th of Moharram come out of it even though this haveli is smaller than Nisar or Mubarak Haveli. The haveli’s courtyard is an Imam Bargah where you will see hundreds of mourners during Moharram and Safar. They are all dressed in black as is the custom during those times.

Phajja Siri Paye is the oldest Paye shop in Lahore. It is more than 100 years old, located in Taxali Gate near Shahi Qila (Lahore Fort). People come from far.

Masjid-e-Shab Bhar In Lahore - Masjid Built In One Night This mosque was built in one night, over a dispute between Hindus and Muslims over the plot of land during the British colonial period.