Lahore’s architectural heritage reached its zenith with the Mughal rulers who lived and ruled for about 200 years from the early 16^th century. Examples of that great heritage can be relived in the monuments that have withstood the ravages of time. Amongst these great structures, the Lahore Fort and the Shalimar Gardens were included in UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1981.

Emperor Akbar built the grand Lahore Fort in 1566 on an ancient 11th century mud fort. The later Mughal kings added the spectacular buildings, gardens and pavilions that make the Fort an outstanding monument.

Akbar’s son Jehangir, who was a great lover of gardens, created the beautifully laid out quadrangular spaces with well-laid out gardens and palaces. Shah Jahan the builder-Emperor added grandiose buildings and palaces like the Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of Private Audience), the Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque) and the Sheesh Mahal (Palace of Mirrors).

Nestling in the northeastern corner of the fort, the Sheesh Mahal is a stunning building, decorated with mosaics of tiny coloured mirrors that broke and reflected light to create a scintillating atmosphere inside. The palace walls have intricately carved marble screens for privacy.

 West of the Sheesh Mahal is the Naulakha Pavilion, gaining its name from the 9,00,000 semi-precious stones that were once set in exquisite pietra dura work on its walls. The Diwan-e-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) is also from the same period. A noteworthy site at the fort is the 14-foot Zamzama, or large cannon, that found reference in Rudyard’s Kipling’s epic novel Kim.  

To the west of the Lahore Fort across the Alamgiri Gate is the grand red sandstone Badshahi Mosque, built in 1673-74 during the rule of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. It is, one of the finer specimens of Mughal architecture.

With its imposing gateway, lofty minarets, large domes and a huge courtyard, the Badshahi Mosque is believed to be one of the largest mosques in the world. The chambers above the entrance gateway house the relics of Prophet Mohammad. 

Within the old city inside Kashmiri Bazaar is the Golden Mosque, another marvel of Mughal architecture.  Built in 1753 by the Deputy Governor of Lahore, the mosque gets its name from the three golden domes that crown it.

 Near the Bhati Gate is the shrine of Data Ganj Bakhsh, one of Pakistan’s most revered Sufi saints. The Darbar or shrine houses the mausoleum of the saint, the hujra of saint Hazrat Khawaja Moenuddin Chishti of Ajmer (India) and a mosque. The death anniversary of Data Ganj Bakhsh is marked with celebrations at the mausoleum in the 2^nd month of the Islamic calendar.

 About 5 kms east of Lahore lies the renowned Shalimar Gardens complex, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Laid out in 1642 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the garden reflects the Mughal-Persian style that was perfected by the dynasty. There are three lakes, about 450 fountains and a marble pavilion over which water flows down to create a waterfall. Small earthen lamps placed in the niches created a magical effect by their interplay with the cascading flow. Lahore has several other parks and modern playgrounds that have given the city its epithet of the City of Gardens. Maintained by the Lahore Development Authority, these include the Iqbal Park, Race Course Park and the Model Town Park. 

Amongst the other significant Mughal structures that have remained is Wazir Khan’s mosque, built by the Governor of Punjab in 1634. The mosque has some valuable frescoes and mosaic tile decorations on the outer and inner walls.  About 8 kms northwest of Lahore on the banks of the Ravi is the marble and sandstone mausoleum of Emperor Jehangir.  Built by the Emperor’s favourite queen Noor Jahan in 1637, the tomb is surrounded by symmetrical gardens known as Dil Khusha (pleasure) gardens. The vaulted chamber houses the Emperor’s marble gravestone, inlaid with intricate pietra-dura work and the 99 attributes of Allah.

 Outside Jehangir’s mausoleum lies the Tomb of Noor Jehan, literally the “Light of the World”. A powerful figure in Mughal history, the Empress herself prepared a marble cenotaph for the grave. The tomb lost most of its original decorations after the decline of the Mughal dynasty and the rule of the Sikhs. 

Another interesting piece of Mughal architecture is the Tomb of Anarkali. The circular structure is crowned with a dome that is supported by 8 arches. Other structures that remain within the city include the Dai Anga Mosque, Mariam Zamani Mosque and the Tomb of Allama Mohammad Iqbal, the famous poet of Pakistan.  Made of red sandstone and located outside the Badshahi mosque, the tomb of Allama Iqbal is a synthesis of Afghan and Moorish architecture.

The Minar-e-Pakistan in Iqbal Park was built to commemorate Pakistan Day. It stands at the spot where leaders of the All India Muslim League adopted the resolution for the creation of Pakistan in March 1940. Combining elements of Mughal architecture with modern elements, the Minar or tower stands 60 metres tall.

 Lahore also has several Sikh monuments dating back to the time when it was the capital of the Sikh Empire. The Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjit Singh is the most important building, standing near the Badshahi Mosque. A single fluted dome crowns the inner chamber.  Inside is a marble urn carved like a lotus and containing the ashes of the ruler.  Other smaller vessels hold the ashes of four of his queens and some slave girls. The interior walls are richly decorated with frescos. The mausoleum is open only for Sikhs.  North of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s samadhi is the Gurudwara (shrine) of Guru Arjan Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru. Built by the great Maharaja himself, the shrine is covered with a gilded dome.  It is believed to mark the place where the Guru disappeared into the Ravi while escaping persecution by Emperor Jehangir (Mughal ruler).

The Lahore Museum opposite the old University Hall is the oldest and largest museum of Pakistan. Inaugurated in 1894 by the British, the museum has 17 galleries that cover the history and culture of Pakistan and its neighbouring countries. The rich display includes a valuable collection of miniature paintings, especially of the Pahari School, exquisite gandhara sculptures and wooden carvings from the Mughal and Sikh periods.

Other exhibits include ancient musical instruments, jewellery, pottery, arms, textiles and examples of Graeco-Bactrian and Tibetan thangkas (paintings). At the centre of the archaeology gallery is a stupa from Sikri that has carvings depicting scenes from the Buddha’s life.

Inside Bhati gate in the old city area is the Faqir Khana Museum, a private museum housed in the ancestral mansion of the Faqir clan. The museum has a collection of artefacts that chart the Sufi heritage of the city.  It is one of the largest private museums in southern Asia and has a display of paintings, sculptures, old manuscripts and art objects. Ancestors of the Faqirs were trusted courtiers in Maharaja Ranjit Singh court and most of the objects displayed here are gifts from the Maharaja. Some of the curiosities at the museum include a tiny brass cannon that fired at noon every day, calligraphic manuscripts, valuable 17^th and 18^th century paintings, royal garments and weaponry and a stone poison filter.

 The Mughal Museum at Poonch House on Multan Road is a modern industrial and commercial museum. Built in 1950 it showcases Pakistan’s industrial and economic resources.

 Lahore zoo, founded in 1872, is one of the oldest in the sub-continent. Amongst the various sections, the lion house is probably the oldest original structure remaining, with seven dens in the rear and two grottoes for exercising the animals. There are two aviaries for peafowl and a round aviary for the songbirds.  Other animal enclosures are provided for elephants, rhinoceros and hippos, monkeys and leopards. The Lahore zoo also has a collection of very old trees, some of which are estimated to be nearly four centuries old. There are huge grassy lawns for visitors to picnic and children’s parks with recreational facilities.