Lahore, which is the second-largest city of Pakistan, is probably one of the liveliest metropolises on earth. It’s a historic city with a glorious past, the remnants of which can be found all across its cityscape. Often referred to as the ‘cultural heart of Pakistan’, this massive commercial district of Punjab has always caught the attention of both local and international tourists.
In recent years, many YouTubers and Vloggers from all around the world have started visiting Lahore to take an up-close look at its amazing city life. All these noteworthy developments have dramatically uplifted the charm of tourism in the city, owing to which Lahore has recently been listed among the top places to visit in 2021 by the New York Times—one of the most renowned American publications.
The web article titled ‘52 Places to Love in 2021’ is based on the views expressed by the readers of NYT about the places that have delighted, inspired, and comforted them in 2020, which has been mentioned as a ‘dark year’ in the article.
It’s a major achievement and the entire nation should be proud of it. So, let’s take a closer look at some of the key factors that promote tourism activities in the City of Gardens
Key Factors Promoting Tourism in Lahore
The most prominent and significant factors based on which Lahore is listed among the top destinations to visit in 2021 have been listed and discussed below.
- Astounding Cultural Heritage
- Sumptuous Traditional Delicacies
- State-of-the-art Infrastructure
Astounding Cultural Heritage
Be it the glorious structure of Badshahi Masjid or the majestic Lahore Fort, the iconic marvels of Mughal architecture can be spotted all across the City of Gardens. These sites are well-preserved and are considered among the greatest tourist attractions in the country. Constructed in 1556 by the Mughal Empire, Lahore Fort (Shahi Qila) has been even included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Pakistan.
When discussing the most popular places to visit in Lahore, mentioning the name of Shalimar Gardens is a must. It is also one of the most glorious remnants of the Mughal Era, located right in the vicinity of the Walled City of Lahore. Minar-e-Pakistan is another great place for tourists in the city to hangout. The structure stands tall with all its glory in the Greater Iqbal Park (formerly known as Minto Park).
So, if you’re visiting Lahore, your trip would definitely be incomplete without exploring all these beautiful landmarks. Also, don’t blame yourself if you get carried away by the aroma of delicious food that engulfs the streets of Old Lahore as it is another specialty of the city. In fact, it is one of the biggest factors promoting tourism in Lahore.
In the next section of our blog, we will take a look at the most exciting culinary traditions of Lahore that greatly add to its cultural significance.
Sumptuous Traditional Delicacies
Tasting the local food served out on the streets of Lahore is a must for you if you’re visiting the city. Foodies from the entire country head over to this bustling city to try its traditional delicacies, which, according to many, are irresistibly good.
Some of the most popular dishes of Lahore include Siri Paye, Murgh Cholay, Hareesa, Tawa Chicken, and of course Chicken Karahi served at Butt Karachi. It is considered among restaurants serving the best desi food in Lahore. Most of these delicacies are also used as breakfast items including the very famous ‘Halwa Puri’. Here’s a list of some of the top places to have a hearty breakfast in Lahore.
State-of-the-art Infrastructure
Infrastructure development is one of the key factors promoting tourism in Lahore and authorities are well aware of it. This is why the urban landscape of Lahore has witnessed the development of some groundbreaking infrastructures and mass-transit projects in recent years including Lahore Ring Road, which is an architectural marvel in itself, and the state-of-the-art Lahore Metro Bus and Orange Line Metro Train Systems.
All such developments have revolutionized the city life in Lahore, facilitating the local commuters and foreign visitors alike. The metropolis of Lahore now proudly boasts an ultramodern infrastructure and looks more beautiful than ever before, giving you all the more reasons to fall in love with it.
These were some of the most significant reasons why Lahore has been mentioned as one of the dream destinations to visit in 2021 in NYT’s article. We hope you have found this post informative. If you have any questions or feedback related to it, we’d love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out to us at blog@zameen.com.
For more interesting tourism pieces and travel guides to different tourist attractions across Pakistan, keep reading Zameen Blogs and become a subscriber of our daily email newsletter.
If you enjoyed reading this piece, share it among your friends and family so that they would also feel proud of the fact that our culture, history, and traditions are being highlighted in international publications like New York Times!
