The Soul of Pakistan—Lahore Fort

Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens are located in Lahore, a cultural city in eastern Pakistan. They are known as 'The Soul of Pakistan' for their representation of the splendid Mughal culture and their dazzling Mughal architectural charm. This architectural gem of the Mughal dynasty is a must-visit place. The predecessor of this ancient fort was a mud fort, built in 1021 AD. At that time, it was just a military fortress made of mud. In 1566 AD, during the prosperous period of the Mughal dynasty, Emperor Akbar built a brick and stone fortress surrounded by high walls to resist foreign invasions after demolishing the old city. As Lahore gradually became a commercial center and summer capital on the South Asian subcontinent, successive Mughal emperors continuously added and expanded gardens, fountains, and palaces within the ancient fort, transforming the originally military-only ancient fort into a magnificent royal garden. The patterns on the ancient fort are dyed with plant dyes, so they are now severely weathered. They are also slowly being restored, but it is difficult to restore their previous beauty. 'Shalimar' means 'Palace of Entertainment' or 'Palace of Joy'. Shalimar Gardens was ordered to be built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan more than 300 years ago in 1642. The entire park covers more than 17 hectares. The designer, Ali Mardon, built pavilions with milky white marble according to the requirements of Emperor Shah Jahan, and even the water channels were built with snow-white marble. Many Pakistani literati have referred to it as 'The House of Love' in their works. Many scenes in the Pakistani film 'Eternal Love' were shot here.