Lahore: My favorite city

Lahore the most impressive city in Pakistan and inhabited by friendly people.

I was fortunate to visit this place to study B.Ed., I lived for a year and had the best experience of my life. My classmates were the best I’ve ever met.

 

by wikipedia

History of Lahore: It is the second largest city district in Pakistan. It is originally the largest city of the Punjab region. Since its creation it has changed hands from Hindu,Buddhist, Greek,Muslim, Sikh, and British rule to becoming the cultural capital and the heart of modern day Pakistan.

A mythological legend based on oral traditions, states that Lahore was named after Lava , which means” particle,” son of the Hindu god Rama who supposedly found the city.

Ptolemy celebrated astronomer and geographer mentions in his geographia, a city called Labakla, situated between the Indus river and Patna.

The oldest authentic document about Lahore was written anonymously in 982 and is called Hudud-i-Alam it’s an original Arabic phrase which means, “The Limits Of The World.” It was translated into English by Vladimir Fedorovich Minorsky and published in Lahore in 1927. In this document is referred as a small city with impressive temples, huge markets and huge orchards.

Wikipedia image of Ichhra  Bazar in Lahore

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Limerick for Lahore City

Lahore is a wonderful city

I cannot go back it’s a pity

The fare is high

I’m unable to reach sky

Even though I know it is so pretty!

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DP Daily Prompt: A Bird,A Plane,You! Ranu’s post https://sabethville.wordpress.com

Dhaka city (Photo credit: ulricjoh)

Official logo of Lahore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Super power,I’d like to choose is : The ability to speak and understand any language. It is my lifelong dream.It’d be awesome if suddenly I become someone who can speak and understand any language.

I’d enjoy so many things I’d travel anywhere in the world without worrying about understanding or speaking the native tongue. To have the power to speak and understand any native tongue,is plus for anyone. Think about it you visit a place like “Timbukto” start speaking like one of them, not only you’d feel proud of yourself,the inhabitants will greet you with open arms.No one would dare conspire against you because you’d know what they are saying. Their food habit will not be unknown to you,you will enjoy everything dished out to you. Come to think of it you might feel closer to heaven,the power of language is so important.

Then there is our neighbor Quebec they won’t give you an evil eye because of a language barrier. Bon jour,bon soir,merci ,je parle francais,will be at the tip of your tongue. The locals will be more than glad to entertain you. You’d feel you are at the top of the world.

People don’t really believe you can speak any language ,they’ll transport you to Lahore to see how you can cope,you look around and find a Lahori, to get his/her attention , you say,” itthey kon rahenda hai”?(who lives here?) wide eyed people look at you tongue tied,you make yourself comfortable, the inhabitants are taking you for a spy, you doze off for a minute and find yourself in Dhaka,while you’re trying to figure out where you are,someone taps your shoulder and says,”ki moshai apni kotha theke aashchhen”?(Mr. where are you coming from?”)

Being tossed around from one place to another,is beginning to make you grouchy,you are thinking I must say something,you give a disgusting look and say,” Kotha theke abaar amar barhi theke aashchi moshai.” (I am coming from home mister).

By now you’ve had enough of the tongues and the places,now you’d like to be back in your house and saying to yourself,”I am not sure I like all the experiment I went through,I am glad to be “HOME”!

DP Writing Challenge: Traces Ranu’s Post http:// sabethvelle.wordpress.com

The 17th century Badshahi Mosque built by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Lahore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I left my footprints on Peshawar road Rawalpindi years ago. I loved the city.Our house was on that street. I remember going up to the gate of our house,waiting for the bus. It picked me up at 6 A.M.We were the first ones picked up on that street and dropped off at 4:30 P.M.

I would come home hungry,I’d have my breakfast at 4:30 A.M..It was my last meal before 4:30 P.M.  I was too shy to eat in front of all the people including my classmates.Mom religiously gave food for my lunch. I left it uneaten. I’d come home and give it to my younger siblings. I told them not to tell Mom.

I had another option,my Mom sent food for me and my elder sister,I never ate it. My sister had fun sharing the food with her friends.

One day I was so hungry. I came home and rushed to the kitchen to eat. Our servant served the food. The food was cold.I started crying .My Dad asked me why I was crying.I told him, Bari,the servant gave me cold food. My Dad was furious. The servant was warned .From then on,Bari heated the food when he saw me getting off the bus.

I liked my school,we learned so many different things. The nuns were strict,they were also very kind. We left Rawalpindi when my Dad passed away. I still miss walking and running around with my younger siblings.

The other picture is of the famous Badshahi mosque in Lahore. I was a student at Lady Maclagan College. We used to go sight seeing when we had time. I was keen to see the mosque.It is a beautiful mosque. We had to take off our shoes before we went in. I took off mine and threw them on the pile.The guard at the gate, looked at me and let me know by his expression, I should not throw them. I picked them up and carefully placed them.

Something that amazed me about the gate keeper  was he could hand over our shoes without help. His memory was unbelievable!

English: A view of peshawar road rawalpindi cantt (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lahore song from the movie posted and translated by Ranu

Food street Lahore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There was a movie made about Lahore,back in 1949. I studied there for my B.ed degree. I loved the city.I had wonderful friends. When I saw this on youtube, I decided to post it.

Before playing the song,a brief introduction of the city is given. This is what he says:  I rambled a lot in the lanes of Delhi and Indore. We did not forget the lanes of Lahore.

This is Lahore, heart of Punjab. Lahore brightens our eyes, and palpitates our heart,when we think of it. Its name stirs our imagination of awesome pictures. The secret of its beauty is not the historical buildings or immaculate gardens.The citizens make it beautiful by their sheer presence.

It is a true story of a family. Real names are not used.

Now the song of the two lovers:

Let our world of love stay forever young.

I’d like to live where my sweet heart lives.

We will   live  this short life our way

and amend the path of love.

Whether we are here or not

doesn’t sadden us

we want to leave it

As a   sign of  our love in this world.

It will be sweet memories of our love,

After we are gone,

It will turn into a story

left by us  and fondly remembered

as two lovers who

remained as one soul till the end!

Ack deen Raatey Aami shopno dekhinu,One night I had A Dream by Tagore translation by Ranu

One night I had a dream

‘Look’  ‘look’ Binu was saying.

I look out and what do I see a mutual beating of the batten and the beams,

Kolikata is shaking and moving about.

The huge brick houses are moving straight,

the doors and windows are noisy and looking great.

The road is slithering like a huge serpent,

on its back the tram and the vehicles are advancing boom boom.

The shops and the bazaar go up and down,

The roofs are knocking each other dead.

Howrah bridge the massive scorpion is moving with its might,

Harrison road is going close  behind it.

The monument looks like a crazy elephant’s trunk

English: A female African Bush Elephant raises her trunk as a warning sign in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

waving its snout in the empty sky.

Our school is speeding in a hurry,

the math book runs so does grammar.

The maps on the walls are getting restless and fidgety,

Birds seem to flap their wings with authority.

The bell keeps swinging,ding dong ding dong___

thousands of people say wait,wait,wait,

where will we go from where,this is truly crazy!

Kolikata is not listening it’s in a frenzy,

her intoxication of dancing is visible on pillars and walls.

I think ,there is nothing to worry,

let Kolikata go straight to Mumbai.

Dilli can go to Lahore, and Agra too__

I will wear a Pugree on my head and Nagra on my feet.

But if it goes off today to London instead

the Brits will be visible in boots,jackets and hats.

When I woke up suddenly by some noise,

I see Kolikata hasn’t gone anywhere  boys.

Lahore—–Pakistan

Children at Data Durbar Complex (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Shrine in lahore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Food street Lahore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: A 4 Megapixel picture of Badshahi Mosque, Lahore, Pakistan. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Aphie and Susan were interested in Mughal architecture.I knew they have already seen the ones in India.My idea was to take them to Lahore,and decide for themselves if there were any similarities and difference between Lahore and Delhi. I wanted them to visualize what they have seen in Delhi and compare it with Lahore.This might give us a chance to exchange ideas.We can also know our preferences.We know we all think differently,it would help to have a kind of debate on the subject.This way we can awaken the giant lying in all of us. Gepetto however was contented to see,enjoy and also from time to time give his input whenever it was feasible. We were satisfied with his reply.

Lahore is the capital of Punjab.It is the second largest city in Pakistan.It has a rich history going back over a millennium.Lahore was ruled by Shahi kingdoms in the eleventh century,Ghaznavids in the twelfth century,Mughal Empire in the sixteenth century.In the nineteenth and early twentieth century it was the capital of the Punjab region under the British Raj.

Mughal structures such as the Badshahi Mosque,The Lahore Fort, Shalimar Gardens and Mausolea of Jehangir and Nur Jehan are tourist attractions.It is also home to many British Colonial structures built in the Indo-Saracenic style,such as The Lahore High Court,The General Post Office,Lahore Museum,and many older universities including the University of Punjab.The Lahore zoo is,thought to be fourth oldest in the world,has its roots here.

It is known as the cultural heart of Pakistan.It hosts most of the arts,cuisine,festivals,film-making,music,gardening.It is known for its affiliation with poets and artists,It has the largest number of educational institutions in Pakistan and some of the finest gardens on the continent.It is an important religious centre.There are a lot of temples,mosques and shrines like Data Durbar Complex.

A 2010 government estimate puts the population of Lahore to be ten million.It is ranked thirtieth in the most populated urban areas in the world and the eighth largest city within the organization of Islamic co-operation.It has almost doubled area-wise in the last twelve to fourteen years.The Guardian has rated it as the second best tourist  destination in Pakistan.In the ancient days it was known as Lavapuri (or city of Lava in Sanskrit.It was founded by Lava or Loh. He was the son of Rama the Hindu deity.Even now ,Lahore fort has a vacant temple dedicated to Lava also pronouncedLoh,Loh-Awar or “The fort Of Loh”).

The twentieth century Egyptian Astronomer and Geographer mentions a city called Labokla .This probably is the ancient city of Lahore.The city of Lahore went through a lot of changes.It was ruled by a lot of different rulers. It is now a Pakistani city. It is also the capital of Punjab.

The climate of Lahore is hot and semi-arid.It has extremely hot summers and dry warm winters.

The Pakistan-Railways has its headquarter in Lahore.The central railway was built during the British Colonial era.It is located in the heart of the city. The government built a new city airport in 2003. It is named Allama Iqbal International Airport .It is named after the great,Poet-Philosopher of Pakistan. It also has a general aviation airport.

Punjabi is the native language of the Province. It has a number of hospitals,the current literary rate is 74%,

It is a beautiful city and has a variety of things to do and see. If possible one must try to visit this great city.

Susan,Alphie,Gepetto and I,Ranu had a great time in Lahore.If you are there,don’t forget to taste aaloo chholey.It is delicious.

We hope you all have enjoyed our presentation.Thank you for visiting. Thank you to all our friends,who take the time to leave their comments,what can I say they are a superb group of people!

Allah Hafiz and God bless you all,all the best till we meet again!

English: Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: The Punjab University Old Campus Building aka Allama Iqbal Campus Picture taken by Pale blue dot on June 21, 2004. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Shalamar Gardens is a Persian garden built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Lahore Museum (Photo credit: Wikipedia)