SCAT | Directions

As the old Punjabi saying goes “those that haven’t seen Lahore, haven’t been born”. As opinionated as it may seem, there is a suggestion of truth in the statement. It is literally from the very first minutes of being specifically in Lahore that our beliefs about Pakistan get shattered and habitual patterns get broken. The friendliness and hospitality of the locals, their willingness to offer help or advice, share delicious food, and educate you on the history of the city i.e. the genuine hospitality of the Lahorites definitively wins people over.

So does the unbelievable hotchpotch of uniquely balanced cultures and traditions. And it couldn’t have turned out otherwise. According to researchers, Lahore goes back to the 2nd century A.D. Even the dynasty of the Great Mongols had the most profound respect for the ancient city. This, however, did not prevent them from conquering it in the early 16th century and turning it into one of their residencies. But without destroying or wiping it off the face of the Earth. The other way around, they created something of their own.

Afterwards came the Sikhs, followed by the British Empire. These days Lahore is an entanglement of the Muslim Mongolian architecture, flamboyant Sikh and donnish Victorian British architects. Even though India is close by, travelers that are well familiar with Southern Asia don’t get to see here erratic traffic, hordes of panhandlers or homeless, squalor, lack of basic hygiene, or cows roaming the city streets.

The city is the history itself.

To-do list for those arriving in Lahore.

Popular places

Find an authentic cafe for the dinner.

This is no formidable task – Lahore features an entire food street, and this is exactly what it’s called. It’s fine to buy snacks from street vendors, or head to small restaurants on the roofs of the buildings, each offering a one-of-a-kind vista point. Do not be apprehensive about trying the Pakistani cuisine, if you are into spicy food, of course. The culinary to-do list includes lassi, the national sour-milk drink complete with a variety of puddings, tikka biryani, a dish that bears some resemblance to pilaf, any dishes with the word “masala” in their name, various kebabs and grilled meat.

Pay a visit to the Old City.

It takes up an area of 256 hectares with a population of 200,000. To this day it features 13 ancient gates that were used as entries to the fort. Labyrinthine and picturesque alleyways in the old city’s central part have remained almost intact since the time of their construction. Some of them are barely a meter in width. The locals live in two or three-storey houses with brick facades, flat roofs, and carved wooden balconies.

Visit the Lahore Fort.

It was built in the late 12th century as the king’s residence. The fort was destroyed time and time again for it garnered attention of foreign invaders due to being located at the intersection of the routes between Persia, India, and Tibet. The current Lahore Fort was built from red sandstones and burned bricks at the behest of Emperor Akbar. The entry to the fort is the magnificent Alamgiri front gate, behind which sit masterpieces of the Mongolian architecture, featuring the Pearl Mosque and the Palace of Mirrors. All of the buildings are decorated with mosaic, glasswork, and marble carvings.