1. Begum Shahi Mosque
Colloquially known as the “Mother of all Mosques,” the Begum Shahi Mosque was built between 1611 and 1614 under Emperor Jahangir in honor of his mother, Mariam Zamani.
The relatively small mosque sits across the way from the famous Lahore Fort, and is one of the oldest historical places in Lahore and is actually the city’s oldest surviving Mughal Era s
The architectural design of Begum Shahi gave inspiration to the Wazir Khan Mosque that was built several decades later. The mosque itself is impressive- complete with elaborate 400+ year old frescoes and unique geometrical embellishments- but its namesake even more so
Mariam Zamani was far from average herself- the former Hindu princess was known for expanding the Mughal kingdom’s racial and religious tolerance when she married Emperor Akbar.
Her true rise to fame accelerated under her son, however, when she became a prolific trader in the kingdom and was gifted numerous high-level responsibilities.
Better yet- as this mosque is a bit of an offbeat Lahori attraction, you’re likely to be the only tourist there!
Visiting Hours: 5 AM- 8 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
2. Mohenjo-Daro
You won’t have a complete list of historical places in Pakistan without including Mohenjo- Daro- one of the largest cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. The ancient city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was built around 2500 BCE and remained undocumented for over 3700 years until archeologists discovered it in the early 1920’s.
Mohenjo-Daro’s size (over 300 hectares) and inclusion of public buildings seem to represent a high level of social organization according to historians. Wild right? Though the ancient city is unknown by most people, it’s one of the most important landmarks in Asia.
You can find Mohenjo-Daro near the city of Larkana in Pakistan’s Sindh Province where it can then easily be reached by auto rickshaw.
Though unknown to most, this is truly one of the most incredible archeological sites in the world, and should be on every Pakistan itinerary.
Visiting Hours: 8:30 AM- 7 PM in summer, 9 AM- 7 PM in winter
Entrance Fee: 600 rupees foreigners, 20 rupees locals
3. Rohtas F
This example of military architectural excellence sits about 15km away from the city of Jhelum is one of the best historical places to visit in Punjab for good reason!
Construction of the fort began in 1541 under the reign of Sher Shah Suri, an ethnic Pashtun who took control of the Mughal empire in 1538.
Rohtas Fort spreads out over an area of 70 hectares and is considered to be one of the largest and most formidable fortresses in South Asia. It’s located about 2 hours from Islamabad and 4 hours from Lahore.
Visiting Hours: 9 AM- 5 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
4. Taxila
So many historical sites in Pakistan happen to be ancient civilizations- and the lost city of Taxila is one of them! The origin of the city dates back to 1000 BCE, though some ruins at the site are thought to be as old as 3360 BCE. Woah!
Due to its strategic location just off the Grand Trunk Road, it changed hands many a time throughout its history.
Interestingly, the University of Ancient Taxila is considered to be one of the oldest in the world, though this is still disputed amongst scholars. In 1980, the entire city was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Keep in mind that Taxila is not just one spot but rather more than a dozen ancient structures that include a cave, a monastery, stupas and more spread out over a pretty wide area.
There is also a museum near the ruins that charges an entry fee.
Due to its close proximity to Islamabad (32 km), Taxila has long been one of the most popular historical places in Pakistan and can be easily visited as a day trip from the capital.
Visiting Hours: Museum is open from 9AM-5PM, ruins are more flexible
Entrance Fee: Ruins are free, the museum costs 200 rupees for foreigners and 50 for Pakistanis
5. Wazir Khan Mosque
Lahore is chock-full of incredible pieces of history and it can easily have its own list. But as for this one, the beautiful Wazir Khan Mosque is a must- mention. The mosque took its architectural queues from that from the Begum Shahi, and though the similarities are evident, the Wazir Khan is notably larger and more colorful.
The mosque was commissioned by Emperor Shah Jahan and stood completed by the year 1641. Incredibly intricate buon frescoes and elaborate tile work cover almost every square inch of it- you could really spend hours admiring it all!
The Wazir Khan Mosque can be found a few hundred meters after entering through the Delhi Gate in Lahore’s Walled City.
Visiting Hours: 5 AM- 8 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
6. Katasraj Temples
Hindu temples in Pakistan- say what?! Yup you read that right- the Katasraj Temples are located near the village of Dulmial in Punjab and are said to be from the 7th Century CE or earlier. The temples surround a lake that is even fabled to have magical powers!
The famous Hindu epic Mahabharata also gives them a mention, and it’s well known that the founder of the Sikh Faith- Guru Nanak- often visited the site in more recent centuries.
Sadly, the temples fell into a state of disarray post-Partition and still remain in less-than-stellar shape today. Nevertheless, as far as historical buildings in Pakistan go- the Katasraj Temples speak to the complicated history of the Subcontinent in a way few other structures can.
The temples are located in Katas, which is about 2 hours from Islamabad and 3 hours from Lahore.
Visiting Hours: 7 AM- 8 PM
Entrance Fee: Free
Good
ReplyDelete