Lahore, Pakistan’s city of gardens is the second largest city in Pakistan with a population of nearly 4 million. It is also the provincial capital of Punjab. Apart from being the cultural and academic center of the country, Lahore is the Mughal "Show-Window" of Pakistan. Legend has it that son of Lord Ramachandra founded Lahore about 4,000 years ago.

In the early 11th century, it came under Muslim rule and evolved as a center of Islamic culture and learning as well as trade and commerce. it touched the zenith of its glory and got some of the finest architectural monuments that are extinct today in this period. Lying on the main trade and invasion routes to the South Asia, Lahore has been ruled and plundered by many dynasties.

Lahore is a great commercial and trade center. It has combined the life style of east and west and presents a lively mixture of some old and new patterns of life. In the modern day Lahore, there are a large number of industrial units running day and night. Lahore is also an important center of journalistic activities. A large number of newspapers, journals and magazines are published here. Lahore, 250km southeast of Islamabad, lies on the main national line between Peshawar and Karachi.

It is serviced by a plethora of international and domestic carriers and there are frequent direct services to all major destinations. Lahore is a city filled with life and color. It offers something to everyone, native or tourist. Beautiful gardens, historical exotic forts, mosques and shrines, Mughal architectures and museums, fairs and festivals all add-up to make Lahore a city loved by all. There are ample enough destinations of tourist interest in Lahore.

Historical monuments and Shrines :

The most important example of the Moghul's architecture in Lahore is the Royal Fort (Shahi Qila). Constructed initially by Mahmood of Ghazna and later by Akbar, it is dated around 1566 A.D. The structure of the Royal Fort is rectangular. The main gates are located alongside the center of the western and eastern walls. Interestingly, every succeeding Mughal Emperor as well as the Sikhs, and also the British, added a pavilion or wall to the Fort.

Emperor Jehangir extended the gardens and constructed the palaces, while Shah-Jehan added Diwan-e-Khas, Moti Masjid. Aurangzeb built the impressive main gate between the Badshahi Mosque and the Fort. The Famous Sheesh Mahal or Palace of Mirrors, in the north-east corner of the Fort, is the most beautiful palace in the Fort and is decorated with small mirrors of different colours set.

At the West side and across the courtyard from Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort is the Badshahi Mosque. The Mosque, made up entirely of red sandstone, was built by Emperor Aurangzeb In old Lahore, Wazir Khan's Mosque, the most beautiful Mosque of South Asia, is located. It is a marvelous specimen of tile work and arabesque paintings.

Parks and gardens :

The famous Shalimar Gardens are located at a distance of just five kms east of old city. Set out in typical Mughal style, the gardens are laid out by Mughal Emperor ShahJehan in 1642 A.D.. the gardens are surrounded by high walls with watchtowers at the four corners. The Golden Mosque is also situated in the Kashmiri Bazaar. It was built in 1753 A.D. by Deputy Governor of Lahore, Nawab Syed Bhikari Khan.

The enticing refuge of shady parks and gardens, blending contrast of Mughal and colonial architecture, and the exotic thrill of its congested streets and bazaars, are the few temptations of the gardens.