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If you are someone who lives for Instagram, then you must be on a continuous lookout for the best places to be photographed at. If you are in Lahore, then you’re in for a treat because the city offers you breathing archaic landscapes as well as some of the most vibrant and modern sites to be photographed at. Read through this blog to find out all about the most instagrammable places in Lahore that should be featured on your timeline.
Instagrammable Places In Lahore
Lahore, one of Pakistan’s biggest metropolises and a historical city built by the Mughal rulers, grew in popularity under British rule as well. It is a city that has always been central to economic activity, and thus has experienced rapid growth, especially in the last decade. This is attributed to a sustained move towards modernization, growth in the real estate sector, commerce and industry. The historical city has been preserved while modern developments are more prominently dotting the skyline. This perfect mosaic of old and new is what sustains this city as an eclectic hotspot, and offers a wide range of instagrammable spots for you to feature prominently on your website.
These sites can be divided into historical and new.
Historical Instagrammable Sites In Lahore
Lahore’s multiculturality is owed to centuries of settlements. The city is home to a large number of ethnicities and communities, which is mainly reflected in the various historical sites here. These sites are:
Walled City Lahore
Walled City Lahore is a mini city of 12 doors. These doors are tucked away in Walled City Lahore and define various neighbourhoods, carrying some of the most treasured sites that give Lahore’s its unique flavor.
Encapsulated within a mud mall, lies the old Lahore which saw some of the greatest infrastructural developments. A number of prominent sites are located here, such as:
Lahore Fort in Alamgiri Gate
Shahi Qila is the breathing vestige of the Mughals and boasts of all the things that distinguish this empire. The red-brick architecture and the philosophy of the open design is something that attracts thousands of visitors here each year. From the grandiose designs to the intricate marble designs and paintings, this fortress should be prominently featured on your insta feed.
Badshahi Mosque in Alamgiri Gate
Opening right at the mouth of Shahi Qila is Badshahi Mosque which can house 100,000 worshippers on any given day. This was constructed by Emperor Shah Jahan and features white marble tiles that have been adorned with intricate patterns, the likes of which can not be found anywhere else. Moreover, in the structures lining the expansive courtyard is a museum with religious scriptures and rare artifacts.
As this is a mosque, all visitors are required to remain quiet and talk only when absolutely essential. Moreover, it is essential for women to cover their heads on the premises.
Shahi Hamam in Delhi Gate
This Wazir Khan Hamam features Persian influences and has one of the most beautiful archways that open in narrow alleys leading to the main chambers of the bath. What particularly sets this bath apart from most other Mughal-era buildings is its natural ventilation and lighting features, which till today remain an undiscovered technique.
Masjid Wazir Khan in Delhi Gate
This mosque is located in Delhi Gate’s bazaar leading up to Shah Alam Market. This mosque is built around an ancient tomb of a saint Syed Mohammad Ishaq Gazrooni. This mosque, although built in the Mughal era, is distinctive in design as it seems to be more influenced by Islamic architecture, such as kashi kari, fresco painting, engraved stones and brick outline fresco (taza kari). These styles add distinct color palettes to the mosque which against the red and blue central courtyard offers something right out of a fairytale.
If you’re wondering about how kept these sites are, you need not worry because the Walled City of Lahore Authority and UNESCO World Heritage Center have introduced a number of projects to restore and rehabilitate these sites. It is because of these series of interventions that Shahi Hamam and Wazir Khan Mosque have been made functional for tourists.
Food Spots in Lahore
Lahore, the food capital of Pakistan, has a lot to offer in terms of cuisines. Since it’s no longer just about the flavours, these food places have been constructed in a way that offer the best breath-taking views of the city.
Food Street, Lohari Gate
This food street is located right next to the Badshahi Mosque and offers power-packed flavours through a wide variety of restaurants. The street is lined with Mughal Architecture, featuring antique shops and tea stalls that can completely transform you to an old bazaar of the Mughal era. The interiors of each restaurant is done in a Mughal marble finish with historical artefacts. What is even better is how the terraces take you deep into the Badshahi Mosque’s courtyard and that is a sight you should not miss on enjoying.
Mall 1, Gulberg
The ever-growing commercial hub of Lahore, Gulberg features a prominent food street: Mall 1, which comprises various eateries offering a blend of continental cuisines. These eateries, all lined neatly across both sides of the street, have uber chic interiors, dim lighting and comfortable outdoor seating that makes ‘posing with food’ all the more fun.
What is particularly interesting is how the interior and even outdoor sitting area of each cafe is unique along with the artwork. There’s no way you can miss the busy, Lahore metropolis vibe in your pictures on any given day here.
Dervish Food Souk, Barki Road
This is a relatively new place in Lahore, and remains a largely unexplored food street because of its location on Barki Road. This mini food street offers chai spots with qawali, a revered Punjabi tradition that attracts regular customers on a daily basis.
With various quintessential Lahori flavours being offered, you’ll find a number of thematic spots in various cafes which have also been featured prominently in most advertisements on Instagram.
Parks in Lahore
Known as the city of parks, Lahore’s parks are insta-worthy, especially during Spring when the Pakistan Horticulture Authority (PHA) arranges flower exhibits and uses floriculture to arrange exquisite green decor. These are some of the most beautiful parks, featuring a range of floral species and breathtaking landscapes:
Shalimar Gardens, Walled City
Built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in 1642, Shalimar Gardens features three-terraced garden complex with artificial water cascades, pools, fountains and seating areas. It also features a number of red-brick buildings of Mughal architecture, and since 1981 has been in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Lawrence Garden, Mall Road
This is located on Mall Road and is more commonly known as Bagh-e-Jinnah. Featuring rare species of trees and flowers, the park hosts thousands of visitors each week. There are dedicated spaces for playing sports, walking and jogging, and cycling as well. Amongst the thick vegetation and a hill, the cacophony of city noise almost disappears, and presents the visitors with a view of abundant greenery and freshness.
Jallo Park, Bhagwanpura
This park, spanning an area of over 400 acres, houses a Butterfly House, lake, sports complex, and a zoo. If you are someone who loves and appreciates nature and its wilderness, this is definitely the place for you.
Let us know which place you’ll feature first on your Instagram by commenting below. For any queries, you can write to us at blog@zameen.com. Also, keep checking Pakistan’s largest property blog, Zameen Blog for the latest information on Pakistan.
