On March 7th, 2007, my husband and I, our daughter and several friends-and-relations spent the day at Lahore Fort, in the old part of the city. It took us about one hour to get there, due more to the traffic than the distance. The city has crowded around the Fort and the surrounding buildings, and there is a swarm of people in constant activity, but once you get inside the protective walls, time slows down and it is easy to imagine life as it once was in this ancient place.
This is but one wing of the fort, which comprises several wings and several acres of land.
This is a view of a Sikh Temple, from a window in the sleeping quarters. There is a church on the other side, but I couldn’t see it from where I stood.
We were allowed inside a restricted area that is better preserved, with the ceiling decorations still in place.
The glass mosaic in the ceiling reflected candlelight, giving a chandelier effect. The guard lit a candle and we saw for ourselves. The fireplaces still work! This was a royal bedroom, which hundreds of years ago had views of a river, which has now dried.
The whole place was decorated like this ceiling over a doorway. The colors are lovely and still bright.
19th century carved door.
To think that this was all done by hand. Hand-carving is still practiced in Pakistan, and solid wood furniture and decorative arts are beautifully made.
Detail of a ceiling decoration.
Decorated marble in an outer courtyard. There are fountains and paintings everywhere, and it must have been a beautiful and impressive palace when in use. I was told that some of the buildings are sometimes used for important events. When Diana, Princess of Wales came to Lahore she attended a dinner here.
I loved this place. So much history, in the middle of a bustling city. It’s like stepping back from all the noise, of buses blowing horns as they squeeze past tiny cars and rikshas carrying women to the market. The past and the present mingling together to shape the future.
