Liberty Market
Kareem and Moon Market
Ichra Bazar
Anarkali
Shopping Malls in Lahore
Lahore is known for its history, art, food and colourful traditions. This is why it is often dubbed the “cultural heart of Pakistan”. The city is always pulsing with commerce and life and has a never-ending list of shopping centres and lifestyle destinations.
Apart from having traditional shops in the old parts of the city, Lahore has witnessed significant development in retail shopping. Thanks, in part, to the emergence of several low-end as well as upscale shopping malls, the residents of Lahore and people visiting from other cities now have more places than ever before to do shopping in Lahore.
Best Places to Go Shopping in Lahore
Now, let’s take a look at some of the most popular retail destinations in the city where you can find amazing clothes, jewellery, and accessories.
Liberty Market
Liberty Market is one of the oldest and most popular commercial centres in Lahore. The place offers a delightful mix of old-fashioned shops and newly developed retail outlets. You’d be supposed to know that many traders and shopkeepers in Liberty Market have been successfully running their businesses here for quite a long time now and the place hasn’t changed much in decades.
Talking about the shopping experience at Liberty Market, most of the shops here offer clothing and accessories, especially for women. When you are done with your shopping spree, you’d always find some roadside eateries and food kiosks that have been set up around the commercial centres to cater to shoppers and visitors alike.
The place also looks attractively colourful after the sunset. In recent years, with the installation of signboards that now have LED lights, the nightlife at the market has become more interesting and brighter than ever before.
As a part of Gulberg III — the most centrally located and sought-after business district in Lahore — Liberty Market not only enjoys great commercial significance but is also easily accessible from many different locations around the city.
Kareem Market and Moon Market in Iqbal Town
While discussing the shopping scene in Lahore, we can’t skip out on mentioning the names of Kareem Market and Moon Market, both of which are located in Iqbal Town. These are also women-centric shopping destinations. A variety of clothing items including ready-made and unstitched pieces of fabric are available in the shops located in these vibrant commercial centres of Iqbal Town. You can also buy different types of tailoring accessories that are used for stitching and sewing.
Besides offering a lively shopping experience, these places have also become a foodies’ haven. You can easily spot many different types of restaurants and roadside food stalls across Kareem Market that offer you fast food and snacks as well as traditional delicacies.
Moon Market and Kareem Block Market in Iqbal Town are only a few minutes’ drive away from each other and are seamlessly linked via Fazal-e-Haq Road, which further connects it with Multan Road. Surrounded by signal-free corridors, these two shopping districts in Lahore are within easy reach of many different neighbourhoods in Lahore.
Ichra Bazar
Another traditional place to do shopping in Lahore for different occasions, especially Eid, is the Ichra Bazar. It is one of the oldest bazaars in the city and is famous for different types of retail outlets dealing in bridal dresses and wedding accessories. You would also find a large array of clothing items and accessories for men, women and children.
Ichra Bazar is also very popular among locals and tourists because of its affordable shopping experience. Many items that are available here are usually very reasonably priced, far cheaper than many other markets in the city. You’d also come across different types of commercial spaces in this shopping district that are selling traditional and cultural dresses and accessories.
The experience of visiting this bazaar is no different from any other commercial centre in Lahore. The market is surrounded by a plethora of food spots. So, if you want to make the most of your trip to Ichra Bazar, don’t forget to try some desi foods and snacks available in your whereabouts, such as Lahori fried fish, karahi, and a platter of samosas and end your day on a delicious note.
Anarkali
Based on a bustling maze of tiny shops and narrow streets Anarkali is a very unique and historic place to visit in Lahore, the origins of which can be traced back to colonial times. The bazaar takes its name from the legendary courtesan ‘Anarkali’ who fell in love with the Mughal Prince Saleem. However, she was later entombed alive by his Emperor father, Akbar. Her tomb was completed by Prince Salim aka Nuruddin Muhammad Jahangir in 1615. Hence, the name Anarkali, which means pomegranate flower, was given to the marketplace that sprung up around it during the British era.
Although keeping in view the liveliness of this place, we find it hard to imagine that the Anarkali Bazar dates back almost 200 years. The market is home to many shopping centres and shops that sell a plethora of items, such as handicrafts to traditional/western clothes, footwear and jewellery among accessories.
Primarily, the market is divided into two parts. You have the ancient district where the Old Anarkali food street is located. It is one of the most popular historic food streets in Lahore. Whereas, the new Anarkali bazaar is where you can actually go for a shopping spree.
Upon your visit to this vibrant commercial district of the city, you can also explore the Walled City of Lahore, which is often referred to as Old Lahore, and take a closer look at Badshahi Masjid, Lahore Fort and Shalimar Garden among other world-famous historical sites. They are just a short drive away from Anarkali Bazar.
Shopping Malls in Lahore
If you are looking for a more comfortable and convenient experience, try visiting one of the shopping malls around the city. These are considered among the best places for shopping in Lahore — and for good reason. Developed in recent times, most of these places are fully-fledged lifestyle destinations that include retail outlets of local and world-famous brands, in-house entertainment and of course, ultramodern food courts with kiosks of many popular restaurants.
Some of the most popular shopping malls in Lahore are the Mall of Lahore, Emporium Mall, Fortress Square, Gulberg Galleria, Packages Mall and Xinhua Mall. All of these retail and lifestyle destinations are redefining the concept of shopping centres in the city by offering air-conditioned environments with robust security measures and ample car parking arrangements. Finding these extremely popular commercial spots is absolutely not a big deal. Just add one of them as your destination and the Google Map will take you straight to your desired shopping mall.
There you have it — a detailed round-up of the best shopping centres in Lahore.
Hope you enjoyed reading about the different types of retail destinations found in Pakistan’s second-largest city. Don’t forget to share this piece with your friends and family to make them aware of these must-visit places. You can also plan a shopping trip together, which could be a fun experience.
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*Cover Credits: Facebook/Liberty Market
