The Versatile Design of Buildings in Lahore
The Famous Buildings of Lahore
Architechure
Kashmir Gate
Walled City
Sheesh Mahal
Architechure
Walls of Protection
Related: The Appealing Sikh Gurdwara in Lahore
Mughal Architecture: Fusion of Tradition and Emerging Trends
Mughal Courts
Sikhs and The Golden Temple
In case you are thinking that Mughals are the sole custodian of the region their unique architecture and choice of designs chosen for building forts, palaces, mosques and buildings, you are ignoring the presence of some renowned gurdwaras in the region. You are getting it right as the Sikhs architecture is also famous for symbolizing pristine beauty, intricacy and incessant progressiveness through the flowing lines in the majority of the constructed walls. The golden temple stands as an ideal example of comprehending the Sikh architecture with its straight lines and many curves. Moving ahead, the gurdwara, known as a guru’s dwelling place, also stands as an all-inclusive representation of the Sikh architecture.
Samadhi of Ranjit Singh
If you get a chance to visit Badshahi mosque and the Lahore Fort, you can’t miss the mausoleum of Maharaja Ranjit Singh known as the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh can not overlooked. Kharak Singh started the construction of this mausoleum after the cremation of his father which completed by his other son, Duleep Singh. The gilded fluted domes and the ornate balustrade at the top alongside cupolas make the mausoleum unique from the rest of the constructions that you find within the city, be it modern or historical. Although the ashes of Ranjit Singh are preserved in a lotus-shaped urn made of marble, there are two monuments located west of the main mausoleum to commemorate Nau Nihal Singh and Kharak Singh and their family.
Related: Brief Look at Lahore – The Heart of Pakistan
British Raj
The British Raj had its own taste arts, culture and civilization. The architects of the eighteen and nineteen centuries applied the eclectic approach combining the victorian, gothic and Mughal styles to build the colonial architecture diverse in style, rich in terms of cultural heritage and presented the British as the custodians and masters of all these ancient civilizations and their cultures. The list of buildings constructed on British principles and architectural taste is quite long. Let us look into it so that you can discriminate one from the other. The British government constructed the General Post Office buildings to honor and commemorate the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria. Many monuments and clock towers were built on the account of this celebration across British India.
Badshahi Mosque
The influence of religion is evident in most of the buildings constructed during the reign of Muslim empire. Most of the architectural monuments that we find in the city are meant to collect and disseminate the teachings of Islam across the world. Badshahi Mosque represents the zeal of the Mughal emperors of that time for spreading the light of Islam.
The gigantic architecture of this mosque and the artwork found in its walls signifies the spirit of Islam filled in the hearts and souls of the resident of that epoch. That was not the only mosque. There were others built for ladies as well such as the Zenara Masjid built near the Quadrangle for ladies. You can find Masjid Sardar Jahan known to be the most primitive mosque during the reign of Jahangir and built close to Lohari gate. The golden mosque also termed as Sunehri mosque was built during the last stages of the Mughal empire. Emperor Shah Jahan built Masjid Sara i Shahjahani next to the tomb of Emperor Jahangir. Hence, you can find plenty of mosques built by the aesthetic taste of the Mughal emperors.
Shrine of Data Darbar
Tomb of Jahangir
The Tomb of Jahangir is a mausoleum constructed in the seventeenth century for emperor Jahangir. The mausoleum is located in Shahdara Bagh, Lahore and dates back to 1637 along the banks of Ravi. The site is famous for being decorated with marble from the inside and pietra dura to beautify its outer boundaries. It stands among the UNESCO’s declared World Heritage sites.
Read More: The Wonders of World – Lahore Fort