Religion in Lahore
Encyclopedia
Before the independence of Pakistan
in 1947, Lahore
had sizeable minority of peoples belonging to other South Asian faiths such as Buddhist, Hindu
, Sikh
and even Jain residents but overall, the city had a Muslim majority. According to the 1941 population census, the total population of the Municipality of Lahore was 671,659, out of which Muslims constituted a majority of 64.50 per cent. Except for a small Christian
community and some individuals from other minor groups, the rest were Hindus and Sikhs who together made up 36 per cent of the population. In the Lahore District
as a whole the situation was similar. Muslims were 60.62 per cent while Hindus and Sikhs together formed 39.38 per cent of the population. The Hindus and Sikhs, however, owned the overwhelming bulk of the property in the city and in the district.
According to the 1998 population census, 93.9 percent of Lahore's population is Muslim
, up from 50.1 percent in 1941. Other religions include Christians 5.80 percent (higher in rural areas where they form around 9.0 percent of the rural population) as well as Ahmadis at 0.20 percent and a small number of Bahá'ís, Hindus, Parsis, and Sikhs.
There were 300,000 Hindus and Sikhs living in Lahore as independence approached. By August 19 (5 days after Pakistan's Independence) that number had sunk to 10,000, and by the end of the month to just 1,000. The majority moved to India.
There are many legends about the city of Lahore. While a focus for Islamic and Sufi thought, Lahore has historically been always been a traditional destination for those travelling along the ancient silk route or Middle Eastern and Central Asian caravans. It represented the final border between West, Central and South Asia. The city is also of significant importance to the Sikhs) of South Asia
, a reformist sect of the late 16th century that arose out of the wider Panjab region. The Sikhs still call it Lahore-Sharif.
To the Muslims of Pakistan, Lahore represents a link to the Mughal and Sufi past. It is called the City of Data Ali Hujwiri (Data Ki Nagri), the Sufi who spread Islam to this corner of the subcontinent.
Some neighbourhoods of the city were entirely non-muslim, others were mixed, while some were solely Muslim. Gumti Bazaar was an almost purely Hindu neighbourhood. Outside the gated city, other predominantly Hindu neighbourhoods included Krishan Nagar
, Sant Nagar, Rajgarh (Kamni Kaushal lived here), Ram Galli, Nisbet Road, Qila Gujar Singh
, Shah Alami and Gowalmandi, while the population of Beadon Road and Nicholson Road was a cosmopolitan mix. Ichhra and Model Town lay outside the city as it then was.
Ichhra, a Muslim-majority area, was said to be the original Lahore, the very site where the foundation of the city had been laid by Prince Lava
, the son of the Hindu god Rama
. Model Town was founded by rich and upper middle-class. Every house was fronted by a large lawn with lush fruit trees, especially ones that bore mangoes in summer. There was also a Model Town bus service that took people into the city, right up to Serai Rattan Chand, Gowalmandi and Shah Alami.
In British times, only a handful of Lahore’s Muslims could be called affluent. Even in the Walled City of Lahore
, most of the grand mansions or havelis belonged to non-muslims, for example, Haveli Kabuli Mal, Haveli Dhyan Chand and Haveli Rai Diwan Chand. The only exception was Haveli Mian Khan, which was located between Rang Mahal and Mochi Gate
. Mention, however, might be made of much smaller havelis owned by Muslims in the inner city. One was located in Mohalla Sammian. It was known as Haveli Judge Latif. The other was called Haveli Barood Khana where the family of Mian Amiruddin lived. It was located between Pani Wala Talab and Koocha Langay Mandi.
sounded from the North Western Railway loco shop and Makandri Lal’s factory. The call to morning prayers was sounded from the city’s many mosques, while bells would be rung in Hindu temples
to begin morning worship. Makandari Lal’s factory was located in Badami Bagh. Minto Park was where people took their morning walks and performed exercise. Cows and buffaloes were a common sight in city streets. Hindus respected the ox because they believed it to be Shivji Maharaj’s mount. The cow was of course sacred to all Hindus. Sometimes these animals would become a nuisance, blocking traffic as they would decide to sit in the middle of the street. Some Hindu shopkeepers would place large slabs of rock salt on the street for animals to lick. The more devout Hindus had built water troughs here and there for these animals to drink from.
In all Hindu neighbourhoods, you found wedding halls called Janj Ghar, which were a boon for families that did not have the means to hold wedding ceremonies at home. While Hindu women did not observe the purdah
as many Muslim women did at the time, unmarried Hindu girls were not allowed to apply makeup or go around immodestly dressed.
Whenever a Hindu funeral passed through the bazaar, Hindu shopkeepers would drop whatever they were doing, come down from their shops to stand on the street with their hands joined together in respect to the dead. When a Hindu died, his body was removed from the bed and placed on the bare floor, the belief being that if the dead person was left where he had died, his spirit would not leave the house. If a very old man died, his body was taken to the burning ground called Shamshan Ghat, led by a band playing merry music, including a popular movie hit of the time, Chal Chal re Naujawan (March on, march one, young man). Lahore’s three or four shamshan ghats were located outside the city, one on the banks of the Ravi River
. The remaining ashes which were called phool were placed in an urn and emptied into the Ravi River
. The most famous shamshan ghat in the city was located beyond Taxali Gate
.
As the banking capital of the British Raj, Lahore was the first area in which violence erupted as it was claimed by all ethnic groups. Communal tensions started in earnest following the provincial elections of 1945-6. Although the Muslim League achieved a majority of votes in the Punjab, they were unable to rule due to a cross party coalition.
Although non-Muslims comprised less than 40% of Lahore's population, they owned most of the property in the city and surrounding areas.
The result of the escalating violence in Lahore was the creation of refugee camps outside the city, holding around 40,000 refugees - mainly Sikhs. To the Sikhs the violence in the city had been orchestrated by both the Muslim League, Punjabi politicians and often times, their own Sikh leaders.
Partition of India
The announcement on 3 June 1947 placing Lahore on the west side of the boundary (effectively in the new Pakistan) led to an even greater escalation of violence in the area. Furthermore, the final boundary award confirming Amritsar to be within the borders of India was also the signal for massive genocidal conflict. Armed Sikh bands raided Muslim majority villages in east Punjab at a rate of three or four per night throughout the month of August.
From the above, it certainly seems possible to conclude that the decision for ethnic cleansing of the Punjab based on religious grounds was made in advance and prior to the date of the partition of Punjab and the subsequent independence of Pakistan, and a day later, of India. Certainly, the violence in the Punjab was political in that it was linked to claims for territory and, indeed, the extremities of the violence in Lahore and Amritsar may well have influenced acceptance of the partition of the Punjab.
, Zorastrian/Parsi
, Buddhist, Christian
, Hindus, and Sikhs.
Due to Lahore's diverse culture, there are many mosques
, shrine
s, synagogue
s, Hindu and Jain temples
, Sikh Gurudwaras, and churches across the city. Some of the most famous mosques include: Badshahi Masjid, Dai Anga Mosque
, Data Durbar Complex
, Shia Masjid
, Suneri Mosque
, Wazir Khan Mosque
, Moti Masjid
, Masjid-e-Shuhda (Martyr's Mosque) and Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum
. Some of the famous shrines include: Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal
, Bibi Pak Daman
, Samadhi of Ranjit Singh
, Tomb of Shah Jamal
, Tomb of Lal Hussain
, Tomb of Anārkalī, Tomb of Jahangir
, Tomb of Empress Nur Jehan
and Tomb of Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan
. Some of the well-known churches include Regal Church, Hall Road Church
, Convent of Jesus and Mary
and Sacred Heart Cathedral
.
There is a curious liking for Sikhs in Lahore. The moment locals see a Sikh, they warmly greet him "Sat Sri Akaal Sardar Ji!" and go out of the way to enquire about his health. Shopkeepers often treat Sikh visitors to free goods and give considerable concessions in their business dealings with them.
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
in 1947, Lahore
Lahore
Lahore is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and the second largest city in the country. With a rich and fabulous history dating back to over a thousand years ago, Lahore is no doubt Pakistan's cultural capital. One of the most densely populated cities in the world, Lahore remains a...
had sizeable minority of peoples belonging to other South Asian faiths such as Buddhist, Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
, Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
and even Jain residents but overall, the city had a Muslim majority. According to the 1941 population census, the total population of the Municipality of Lahore was 671,659, out of which Muslims constituted a majority of 64.50 per cent. Except for a small Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
community and some individuals from other minor groups, the rest were Hindus and Sikhs who together made up 36 per cent of the population. In the Lahore District
Lahore District
Lahore District is a district in the Punjab province of Pakistan that contains the city of Lahore, the district and provincial capital. The total area is...
as a whole the situation was similar. Muslims were 60.62 per cent while Hindus and Sikhs together formed 39.38 per cent of the population. The Hindus and Sikhs, however, owned the overwhelming bulk of the property in the city and in the district.
According to the 1998 population census, 93.9 percent of Lahore's population is Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, up from 50.1 percent in 1941. Other religions include Christians 5.80 percent (higher in rural areas where they form around 9.0 percent of the rural population) as well as Ahmadis at 0.20 percent and a small number of Bahá'ís, Hindus, Parsis, and Sikhs.
There were 300,000 Hindus and Sikhs living in Lahore as independence approached. By August 19 (5 days after Pakistan's Independence) that number had sunk to 10,000, and by the end of the month to just 1,000. The majority moved to India.
There are many legends about the city of Lahore. While a focus for Islamic and Sufi thought, Lahore has historically been always been a traditional destination for those travelling along the ancient silk route or Middle Eastern and Central Asian caravans. It represented the final border between West, Central and South Asia. The city is also of significant importance to the Sikhs) of South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
, a reformist sect of the late 16th century that arose out of the wider Panjab region. The Sikhs still call it Lahore-Sharif.
To the Muslims of Pakistan, Lahore represents a link to the Mughal and Sufi past. It is called the City of Data Ali Hujwiri (Data Ki Nagri), the Sufi who spread Islam to this corner of the subcontinent.
Neighbourhoods
Krishan Nagar
Krishan Nagar is part of the Islampura neighbourhood of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was named so because of the Hindu temple dedicated to Krishna, one of the key Hindu deities...
, Sant Nagar, Rajgarh (Kamni Kaushal lived here), Ram Galli, Nisbet Road, Qila Gujar Singh
Qila Gujar Singh
Qila Gujar Singh is a town located in the central part of Lahore. As shown by name it was the fort of Gujjar Singh Banghi. Some walls and a gate still remains as a memory of the Gujar Singh's fort. All the area of fort has became local property. There is a busy market in streets of Qila Gujar...
, Shah Alami and Gowalmandi, while the population of Beadon Road and Nicholson Road was a cosmopolitan mix. Ichhra and Model Town lay outside the city as it then was.
Ichhra, a Muslim-majority area, was said to be the original Lahore, the very site where the foundation of the city had been laid by Prince Lava
Lava (Ramayana)
Lava or Luv and his twin brother Kusha, were the children of the Lord Rama and his wife Sita, whose story is recounted in the Ramayana. Per that text, he is known as the founder of Lavapuri,that is, the modern day city of Lahore,...
, the son of the Hindu god Rama
Rama
Rama or full name Ramachandra is considered to be the seventh avatar of Vishnu in Hinduism, and a king of Ayodhya in ancient Indian...
. Model Town was founded by rich and upper middle-class. Every house was fronted by a large lawn with lush fruit trees, especially ones that bore mangoes in summer. There was also a Model Town bus service that took people into the city, right up to Serai Rattan Chand, Gowalmandi and Shah Alami.
In British times, only a handful of Lahore’s Muslims could be called affluent. Even in the Walled City of Lahore
Walled City of Lahore
The Walled City of Lahore, also known as the "Old City," or "Anderoon Shehr ," is the section of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, that was fortified by a city wall during the Mughal era.-Origins:The origins of the original Lahore are unspecific...
, most of the grand mansions or havelis belonged to non-muslims, for example, Haveli Kabuli Mal, Haveli Dhyan Chand and Haveli Rai Diwan Chand. The only exception was Haveli Mian Khan, which was located between Rang Mahal and Mochi Gate
Mochi Gate
The Mochi Gate locally known as Mochi Darwaza is located within the Walled City of Lahore in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Mochi Gate is a historical gate built by the Mughals. It is at the site of one of the thirteen gates of the old walled city of Lahore.The Darwaza used to exist next to the...
. Mention, however, might be made of much smaller havelis owned by Muslims in the inner city. One was located in Mohalla Sammian. It was known as Haveli Judge Latif. The other was called Haveli Barood Khana where the family of Mian Amiruddin lived. It was located between Pani Wala Talab and Koocha Langay Mandi.
Business
Many of the non-muslims who lived in the city traded in gold and silver, food grains and textiles, both wholesale and retail. Many of the moneylenders of Lahore were non-Muslim. Every business in Suha Bazaar, Machhi Hatta, Gumti Bazaar, Bazaaz Hatta and Shah Alami was owned by non-Muslims. Dabbi Bazaar had a number of small bookshops, mostly Muslim-owned. In the same Bazaar, Kashmiri Pandits who sold shawls and fine wool fabrics, could be found.Lifestyle
Morning in the inner city in those pre-1947 days began with the sirenSiren
In Greek mythology, the Sirens were three dangerous mermaid like creatures, portrayed as seductresses who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on an island called Sirenum scopuli...
sounded from the North Western Railway loco shop and Makandri Lal’s factory. The call to morning prayers was sounded from the city’s many mosques, while bells would be rung in Hindu temples
Temples in Lahore
Before partition of India in 1947, Lahore was a cosmopolitan city with Hindu, Sikh and Jain residents. There were many temples in Lahore.In 1941, 48% of the population of Lahore was Hindu, Sikh or Jain...
to begin morning worship. Makandari Lal’s factory was located in Badami Bagh. Minto Park was where people took their morning walks and performed exercise. Cows and buffaloes were a common sight in city streets. Hindus respected the ox because they believed it to be Shivji Maharaj’s mount. The cow was of course sacred to all Hindus. Sometimes these animals would become a nuisance, blocking traffic as they would decide to sit in the middle of the street. Some Hindu shopkeepers would place large slabs of rock salt on the street for animals to lick. The more devout Hindus had built water troughs here and there for these animals to drink from.
In all Hindu neighbourhoods, you found wedding halls called Janj Ghar, which were a boon for families that did not have the means to hold wedding ceremonies at home. While Hindu women did not observe the purdah
Purdah
Purdah or pardeh is the practice of concealing women from men. According to one definition:This takes two forms: physical segregation of the sexes, and the requirement for women to cover their bodies and conceal their form....
as many Muslim women did at the time, unmarried Hindu girls were not allowed to apply makeup or go around immodestly dressed.
Whenever a Hindu funeral passed through the bazaar, Hindu shopkeepers would drop whatever they were doing, come down from their shops to stand on the street with their hands joined together in respect to the dead. When a Hindu died, his body was removed from the bed and placed on the bare floor, the belief being that if the dead person was left where he had died, his spirit would not leave the house. If a very old man died, his body was taken to the burning ground called Shamshan Ghat, led by a band playing merry music, including a popular movie hit of the time, Chal Chal re Naujawan (March on, march one, young man). Lahore’s three or four shamshan ghats were located outside the city, one on the banks of the Ravi River
Ravi River
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region ....
. The remaining ashes which were called phool were placed in an urn and emptied into the Ravi River
Ravi River
The Ravi is a trans-boundary river flowing through Northwestern India and eastern Pakistan. It is one of the six rivers of the Indus System in Punjab region ....
. The most famous shamshan ghat in the city was located beyond Taxali Gate
Taxali Gate
The Taxali Gate, is one of the gates of Walled City of Lahore, Pakistan. Also known as the Taxal, or royal mint, it was built during the reign of the mughals. There is a very famous shoe market located here known as Sheikupurian Bazar. There are a variety of foodstuffs available in and around this...
.
Communal Tensions
Communal tensions began to rise in the winter of 1945-46 when provincial elections were held. In March 1947 the first communal clashes took place in Lahore. When Partition took place, a few months later in mid-August, Lahore had been emptied of almost all the Hindus and Sikhs. The demographic consequences of such change were indeed profound and everlasting. The departing Sikhs and to a lesser extent Hindus left behind many remnants – buildings, residential colonies and charitable institutions - that are reminiscent of their once very visible presence here.As the banking capital of the British Raj, Lahore was the first area in which violence erupted as it was claimed by all ethnic groups. Communal tensions started in earnest following the provincial elections of 1945-6. Although the Muslim League achieved a majority of votes in the Punjab, they were unable to rule due to a cross party coalition.
Although non-Muslims comprised less than 40% of Lahore's population, they owned most of the property in the city and surrounding areas.
Reasons of Violence
Some indicators of the reasons and levels of violence in Lahore follow:- Poor British Colonial policing and improper planning for safe passage of refugees
- Violence in Lahore seems to have been triggered by attrocities commited against Muslim refugees in west Panjab who came flooding into Pakistan without harrowing tales of violence.
- The decision by Khizr Tiwana to step down, in March 1947, first sparked violence in Lahore
- Furthermore, Sikh leader, Master Tara Singh, further incited violence with calls for inter communal warfare
- Initially, the death of a Sikh constable was the trigger to communal violence and was blamed on the Muslim League
- Hindu students clashed with police
- The above led to arson on Hindu businesses and violence against Sikhs
- Rawalpindi massacre - isolated non-Muslim communities in the area of Rawalpindi were attacked and killed
- Leaders of the Indian National Congress advised Sikhs and Hindus not to leave Lahore, as a minority, so they were easy targets
- Withdrawal of British administrators left a huge void
- Whilst the majority of the middle classes managed to leave Lahore in safety, the lower classes were targeted as they could not arrange speedy departures from the city
- As terrorism in the area of Amritsar began to escalate it produced reprisal attacks by the Muslims in Lahore
The result of the escalating violence in Lahore was the creation of refugee camps outside the city, holding around 40,000 refugees - mainly Sikhs. To the Sikhs the violence in the city had been orchestrated by both the Muslim League, Punjabi politicians and often times, their own Sikh leaders.
Partition of IndiaPartition of IndiaThe Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
From the above, it certainly seems possible to conclude that the decision for ethnic cleansing of the Punjab based on religious grounds was made in advance and prior to the date of the partition of Punjab and the subsequent independence of Pakistan, and a day later, of India. Certainly, the violence in the Punjab was political in that it was linked to claims for territory and, indeed, the extremities of the violence in Lahore and Amritsar may well have influenced acceptance of the partition of the Punjab.
Present
According to the 1998 census, 94% of Lahore's population is Sunni or Shia Muslim, up from 60% in 1941. Other religions include Christians (5.80% of the total population, though they form around 9.0% of the rural population), and a small number of Bahá'ísBahá'í Faith
The Bahá'í Faith is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind. There are an estimated five to six million Bahá'ís around the world in more than 200 countries and territories....
, Zorastrian/Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
, Buddhist, Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
, Hindus, and Sikhs.
Due to Lahore's diverse culture, there are many mosques
Mosques of Lahore
Mosques of Lahore: There are a large number of new, old, and ancient mosques in the city of Lahore, Pakistan. This is consistent with the general personality of the city, which has a culture that mixes the old and the new with superb ease....
, shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
s, synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s, Hindu and Jain temples
Temples in Lahore
Before partition of India in 1947, Lahore was a cosmopolitan city with Hindu, Sikh and Jain residents. There were many temples in Lahore.In 1941, 48% of the population of Lahore was Hindu, Sikh or Jain...
, Sikh Gurudwaras, and churches across the city. Some of the most famous mosques include: Badshahi Masjid, Dai Anga Mosque
Dai Anga Mosque
Dai Anga Mosque is a mosque situated near the railway station of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.This historic Mosque is in the Naulakha area, about quarter mile away from Lahore Railway Station. It is widely believed that Dai Anga built this mosque in 1635 AD , before she went to perform Hajj...
, Data Durbar Complex
Data Durbar Complex
Data Darbar , located in the city of Lahore, Pakistan is one of the oldest Muslim shrines in the sub-continent. It houses the remains of a Sufi saint, Abul Hassan Ali Hajvery...
, Shia Masjid
Shia Masjid
The Shia Masjid is one of the largest Shia mosques in the mainly Shi'ite populated area of Islampura in the city of Lahore, Pakistan....
, Suneri Mosque
Suneri Mosque
The Suneri Mosque or Golden Mosque is located in the centre of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. The founder of the mosque was Nawab Syed Bhikari Khan, son of Raushan-ud-Daula Turrabaz Khan, deputy governor of Lahore during the reign of Muhammad Shah and the viceroyalty of Mir Noin-ul-Malik. The Golden...
, Wazir Khan Mosque
Wazir Khan Mosque
The Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, is famous for its extensive faience tile work. It has been described as ' a mole on the cheek of Lahore'. It was built in seven years, starting around 1634-1635 AD, during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jehan...
, Moti Masjid
Moti Masjid (Lahore)
Moti Masjid , one of the "Pearl Mosques", is a 17th century religious building located inside the Lahore Fort. It is a small, white marble structure built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, and is among his prominent extensions to the Lahore Fort Complex...
, Masjid-e-Shuhda (Martyr's Mosque) and Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum
Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum
Mosque of Mariyam Zamani Begum also known as Begum Shahi Mosque is a mosque situated Walled City of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It was built by Nuruddin Salim Jahangir, for his mother Mariam-uz-Zamani, and the wife of Mughal Emperor, Akbar...
. Some of the famous shrines include: Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal
Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal
The Tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal is a simple but impressive structure located in Lahore, Pakistan in the Hazuri Bagh lawn between the Badshahi Mosque and the Lahore Fort where both the grand structures face each other. Official guard is maintained by Pakistan Rangers...
, Bibi Pak Daman
Bibi Pak Daman
Bibi Pāk Dāman is the name given to the shrine and mausoleum of Ruqayyah bint Ali located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Legend has it that it holds the graves of six ladies from Muhammad's household...
, Samadhi of Ranjit Singh
Samadhi of Ranjit Singh
The Samadhi of Ranjit Singh is the mausoleum of the Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh. It is located near the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan...
, Tomb of Shah Jamal
Tomb of Shah Jamal
The Tomb of Shah Jamal is the tomb of Sufi Saint Baba Shah Jamal. It is located in the city of Lahore - the capital of Punjab, Pakistan. There is a masjid built around the tomb which incorporates a graveyard....
, Tomb of Lal Hussain
Shah Hussain
Shah Hussain was a Punjabi Sufi poet who is regarded as a Sufi saint. He was the son of Sheikh Usman, a weaver, and belonged to the Dhudha clan of Rajputs. He was born in Lahore...
, Tomb of Anārkalī, Tomb of Jahangir
Tomb of Jahangir
Tomb of Jahangir, is the mausoleum built for the Mughal Emperor Jahangir who ruled from 1605 to 1627. The mausoleum is located near the town of Shahdara Bagh in Lahore, Pakistan. His son Shah Jahan built the mausoleum 10 years after his father's death. It is sited in an attractive walled garden....
, Tomb of Empress Nur Jehan
Nur Jehan
Begum Nur Jahan , also known as Mehr-un-Nisaa, was an Empress of the Mughal Dynasty that ruled much of the Indian subcontinent...
and Tomb of Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan
Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan
Abdul Hasan Asaf Khan was the father of Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaz Mahal, who was the wife of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, the Emperor of India. Asaf Khan was also the elder brother of Mehrunissa, , the empress of Shah Jahan's father, Jahangir. Many scholars have been researching...
. Some of the well-known churches include Regal Church, Hall Road Church
Cathedral church of Resurrection
The Cathedral Church of Resurrection is a Church in the Heart of Lahore, Pakistan across the Lahore High Court. It is in the Neo-Gothic style of architecture...
, Convent of Jesus and Mary
Convent of Jesus and Mary (Lahore)
Convent of Jesus and Mary, Lahore is a girls-only school located in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Classes start with preschool and end with Grade 11. It was founded on the 17th of November 1876 and received official recognition in 1881...
and Sacred Heart Cathedral
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore
Sacred Heart Cathedral, Lahore was consecrated by Bishop Fabian Eestermans, Bishop of Lahore on 19 November 1907. The design of this Cathedral was made according to the Roman Byzantine style by a Belgian architect, Dr. Dubbeleere of Antwerp....
.
There is a curious liking for Sikhs in Lahore. The moment locals see a Sikh, they warmly greet him "Sat Sri Akaal Sardar Ji!" and go out of the way to enquire about his health. Shopkeepers often treat Sikh visitors to free goods and give considerable concessions in their business dealings with them.