Population Of Lahore

Lahore is the second largest city of Pakistan after Karachi.Lahore is the capital of the province Punjab According to the 1998 survey, Lahore's population was 6,318,745,and in 2003 the estimated population was 8.5 million.It is believed that in 2011 Lahore population will be more than 11 million.And in 2025 this population will be double approx 22.3 million.
Such an Increase may cause very adverse effects on the economy of the country.Most of the people living in Lahore are migrants from different villages in the south,north and west of pakistan.

LAHORE

The people of Lahore, when they want to emphasise the uniqueness of their town say “Lahore is Lahore”. The traditionall capital of the Punjab for a thousand years, it has been the cultural center of Northern India extending from Peshawar to New Delhi. This pre-eminent position it holds in Pakistan as well. Lahore is a city of poets, literateurs, artists, wrestlers, colleges and some of the finest gardens in the sub-continent. The ancient legend says, it was founded by Loh, son of Rama Chandra, the hero of the Hindu epic Ramayana. The people of Lahore, when they want to emphasize the uniqueness of their town say "Lahore is Lahore". The traditional capital of Punjab for a thousand years, it had been the cultural center of Northern India extending from Peshawar to New Delhi. This preeminent position it holds in Pakistan as well. It is located near the river Ravi and the Indian border, at 31°34′N 74°20′E (31.560000 North, 74.35000 East). It has a population of 6.5 million and the second largest city in Pakistan and considered to be the 24th largest city of the world. Lahore is known as the cultural center of the Pakistan and it has vast array of historic buildings and gardens from the pre-historic, Mughal and British periods. The Data Durbar of Hazrat Syed Abul Hassan Bin Usman Bin Ali Al-Hajweri is the most widely visited and venerated place for the natives and represents pre-Mughal times’ architecture. Mughal architecture can be seen in the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens. While the Lahore Museum and Lahore High Court’s buildings represent British architecture. Map of Lahore Geography & Climate: Lahore city is bounded on the north and west by the Sheikhupura district, on the east by India and on the south Kasur district. The river Ravi flows on the northern side of Lahore. Lahore covers a total land area of 404 km.² Lahore witnesses extremes climates during the months of May, June, and July, while temperatures soar to 45–50 Celsius and it is the hottest time of the year. The summer leads into the monsoon which brings heavy rainfall throughout the city and province as well. While December, January and February are the coldest months when temperatures drop to 0 −1 degree Celsius Government and administrative division: The Lahore district comprises nine administrative towns and one separate military cantonment but there are also some historic neighborhoods of Lahore. Administrative towns: · Aziz Bhatti Town · Ravi Town · Shalimar Town · Wagah Town · Data Ganj Baksh Town · Gulberg Town · Allama Iqbal Town · Samanabad Town · Nishtar Town Other neighborhoods: · Gawalmandi · Qila Guger Sing · Johar Town · Faisal Town · Model Town · Lahore Cantonment · Township · Green Town · Garden Town Demographics: According to the 1998 census 86.2%, or 6,896,000 of the population are Punjabis, 10.2% or 816,000 are Muhajirs. There are known to be more than a million Pashtun in Lahore probably about 15% of the population. Finally, the Seraikis at 0.4% number about 32,000. Sites of interest: Lahore is famous as being the cultural center of Pakistan, every nook and corner of Lahore has a rich history and cultural importance. However following historic sites and buildings are must if one visits Lahore. · Badshahi Masjid · Lahore Fort (Sheesh Mahal, or Palace of Mirrors) · Azeri Bagh · Mausoleum of Muhammad Iqbal · Data Sahib (Data Darbar) · Shahi Mohalla · Mina-e-Pakistan · Anarkali · Chauburji · Lahore Museum · Gawal Mandi · Ichhra · Shalimar Gardens · Shahdara · Shimla Pahari Walled city of Lahore: The Walled City of Lahore, also known as the Old City or Anderoon Shehr is the section of Lahore which was fortified by a city wall during the Mughal era. Much of the wall remains intact today. The thirteen fabled gates of Lahore are: · Akbari Gate · Bhati Gate · Delhi Gate · Kashmiri Gate · Lohari Gate (also known as 'Lahori Gate') · Masti Gate · Mochi Gate · Mori Gate · Roshnai Gate · Shahalmi Gate · Shairanwala Gate (the lion’s gate) · Taxali Gate · Yakki Gate Festivals and celebrations: As Lahore is known as the cultural center of Pakistan, therefore it has rich and special flavor of its own. The Laborites are generally known in Pakistan as the Zinda Dilan Lahore owing to their liveliness and flare for celebration. Here are some celebrations and festivals celebrated in Lahore. · Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha · Basant · Independence Day · Lahore marathon · Mela Chiraghan · National Horse and Cattle Show Major universities and colleges: Lahore is considered one of the most open-minded and enlightened cities of Pakistan and is the home of most of the prominent educational institutions. A list of premier education institutions in the city of Lahore is given below: · University of the Punjab · University College of Information Technology (PUCIT) · University of Central Punjab · University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore · Government College University · Aitcheson College · Lahore University of Management Sciences · Lahore Grammar College for Women · Lahore College for Women University · Superior University Lahore · Lahore School of Economics (LSE) · COMSATS Institute Of Information Technology · University of Lahore · National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences (formerly FAST) · King Edward Medical College · Forman Christian College · Iqra University · Allama Iqbal Medical College · National College of Arts (NCA) · University of Management and Technology · Minhaj University, Lahore · Institute of Management and Sciences · Kinnaird College for Women

Quick guide for eating out, mid-range

Lahore is known across Pakistan for many things, and food is one of them. 

A highly recommended place for good mid-range Lahori food is at Mirchi on M M Alam Road. You should try their tamatar paneer cut and the sheesh tauk.

Lahore is famous for its dahi bhallay, so visit Chakhara in Mini Market near M M Alam Road, to taste this dish. You will find snack food there like samosas and chaat as well.

In the old city of Lahore, Cuku's Cafe is worth the visit. If you eat on the topmost floor in the evening, you will get a staggering sight of Badshahi Mosque, which is across the road from the Cafe. The food is all brought from the neighboring roadside restaurants, and is pulled up using the pulley system, which the women in the Inner City use for their daily shopping.

In the up market area Gulberg III, there is Bandu Khan Restaurant in Liberty Market. Bandu offers good standard Pakistani food. The mutton karahi is delicious but coming at Rs 500 is little higher than other dishes.

If you are looking for traditional setting, then Village Restaurant is a must. With waitors dressed in traditional clothes and restaurant interior designed to reflect a village setting, you cannot help but feel transported back in time. Village offers some excellent food.

Other midrange restaurants are concentrated in Defence and Gulberg. Freddy's, on M M Alam Road, is a family-oriented restaurant which has a safe, vaguely continental menu. Freddy's offers an afternoon high tea buffet which offers a full variety foods and some drinks for approximately Rs. 500.

Salt n Pepper is a good chain, with both Pakistani and continental food.

Lahore has seen the birth of several cafes recently; the best for cakes, desserts and coffee is Masoom's on M M Alam Road, while the best sandwiches can be had at Coffee, Tea and Company nearby. In Defence, Hot Fuzon is a Masoom's franchise.

Lahore many a large number of Chinese restaurants .  Hsin Kuang, a pagoda-like structure near Mini Market, is very popular, but the quality varies. It is renowned for its strong-flavoured 19-B soup. Dishes are typically in the Rs 200 to 300 range. Other Chinese restaurants are Shanghai Chinese Restaurant and Sheng Zheng Chinese Restaurant in Gulberg, and Mei Kong in Fortnress Stadium. Note that the Chinese food is ‘Pakistani’ style, so expect it to be heavily adapted for local tastes.

There are also several foreign chains, including Nando's, McDonald's, KFC, Subway and Dunkin Donuts for those tourists who want to stick to their traditional brands.

The approximate cost for eating out in Lahore is:

• At fast food restaurants:  300 – 500 Rupees
• At mid-range restaurants and 3/4 star hotels:  500 – 900 Rupees
• High end restaurants and 5 star hotels:  900 – 2000 Rupees

History of Lahore City

Overview

The city of Lahore had existed during the ancient times. References to this city can be found in Ptolemy’s Geographia, which is written about AD I50. It refers to it as ‘Labokla’ and locates it with reference to the Indus, Ravi, Jhelum and Chenab rivers.  

The Muslims conquered Lahore in 713 CE under the leadership of Muhammad bin Qasim, who was dispatched by the Umayyad Khaleefah Al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik to make inroads to India. Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Punjab, and most of the present Pakistan from Kashmir to the Arabian Sea.

Later, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni placed it under the rule of his governor, Malik Ayaz. When Sultan Qutub-uddin Aybak was crowned in 1206, he became the first Muslim Sultan of the subcontinent. From 1524 to 1752 Lahore was part of the Mughal Empire.

During Akbar’s rule, Lahore was the capital of the empire from 1584 to 1598. During this time a massive fort, the Lahore Fort, was built on the remains of an older fort in the 1560s. This fort was later extended by Jahangir, a Mughal emperor who is now buried in the city. Shah Jahan, his son, was born in Lahore and is famous for building the world-renowned Taj Mahal in India. He, like his father, extended Lahore Fort and built many other structures in the city, showering more affection on his hometown than any other city. The last of the Mughals, Aurangzeb, ruling from 1658 to 1707, built the city's most famous monuments, the Badshahi Masjid and the Alamgiri Gate next to the Lahore Fort.

With the decline of the Mughal Empire, Lahore was captured by Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh, who declared himself Maharajah of the Punjab. Ranjit troops to desecrate many of the city’s beautiful Islamic shrines, including the Badshahi Mosque. Sikhs ruled Lahore from 1799 to 1849, making it the capital of their empire. However the last Anglo-Sikh war resulted in a British victory, bringing Lahore under the rule of the British crown.

The famous Lahore Resolution was passed in the city in 1940 that called for the creation of a separate Muslim state. Pakistan came into existence in 1947 with the end of the British Empire.

Other Lahore Attractions

Lahore Zoo
Established in 1872, was once considered one of the largest zoos in Asia.

The Mall
Historically a key city road, has many buildings from Mughal era and British Rule.

Walled City
Also known as the Old City, is the section of Lahore that was fortified by a city wall during the Mughal era. The wall had 13 gates, and much of the wall remains intact today.

Data Durbar
Complex where Hazrat Syed Abul Hassan ibn Usman ibn Ali Al-Hajweri, the famous Sufi saint of South Asia, is buried. Complex includes Hajveri Mosque, built in pre-Mughal era. 

Chauburji
Chauburji has remains of an extensive garden known to have existed in Mughal times. Today, Chauburji is also known for its big bustling markets.

Hiran Minar
Just north of Sheikhupura town (on the outskirts of Lahore) lies a hunting complex known as the Hiran Minar. Hunting grounds were an important part of the physical environment of Mughal emperors, and the Hiran Minar is one of the best known and most beautiful of such sites. Its structures consist of a large, almost-square water tank with an octagonal pavilion in its center, built during the reign of Shah Jahan; a causeway with its own gateway connects the pavilion with the mainland and a 100-foot-high minar, or minaret. At the center of each side of the tank, a brick ramp slopes down to the water, providing access for royal animals and wild game. The minar itself was built by Emperor Jahangir in 1606 to honor the memory of a pet hunting antelope named Mansraj.

Lahore

Lahore (Urdu: لاہور,Punjabi: لہور;pronounced [laːˈɦɔːr] ( listen)) is the capital of the Pakistaniprovince of Punjab and the second largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi. The city lies along theRavi River, situated approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) from the Wagah border crossing and is 32 kilometres (20 mi) from the Indian city ofAmritsar.

Historically, Lahore has been a center of cultural heritage for many civilizations. It successively served as regional capital of the empires of the Shahikingdoms in the 11th century, the Ghaznavidsin the 12th century, theGhurid State in the 12th and 13th century, theMughal Empire in the 16th century, the Sikh expansion in the early 19th century, and it was the capital of the Punjab region under the British Raj in the mid 19th and early 20th century. The traditional capital ofPunjab for a thousand years, Lahore was the cultural center of the northern part of the subcontinent which extends from the eastern banks of the Indus Riverto New Delhi.^[16][17]Mughal structures such as the Badshahi Mosque, the Lahore Fort, Shalimar Gardens, and the mausolea of Jehangir andNur Jehan are popular tourist attractions for the city. Lahore is also home to many British colonial structures built in theMughal-Gothic style, such as the Lahore High Court, the General Post Office, Lahore Museumand many older universities including theUniversity of the Punjab. The Lahore Zoo, world's third oldest zoo, is also situated here.

Lahore is also referred to as the cultural heart of Punjab as it hosts most of the arts, cuisine, festivals, film making, music, gardening and intelligentsia of the country. Lahore is also known for its affiliation with poets and artists; it has the largest number of educational institutions in Punjab and some of the finest gardens in the continent.^[16] Lahore has always been a centre for publications, where 80 percent of Punjab's books are published. It remains the centre of literary, educational and cultural activity in Punjab.^[18] It is also an important religious center as it is a home to manytemples, mosques and shrines like Data Durbar Complex.^[19]

According to the 1998 census, Lahore's population was 6,318,745.^[20] A mid-2006 government estimate now puts the population at approximately 10 million.^[14] It is ranked 40 in the most populated urban areas in the world and the 8th largest city within the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. In 2008, Lahore was ranked as a city with High Sufficiency to become a Gamma world city.^[21] In 2010 it was ranked by The Guardianas the 2nd Best Tourist Destination in P

Lahore لاہور لہور
—  City District  —
Clockwise from top: Kim's Gun, Badshahi Mosque,Samadhi of Ranjit Singh, Lahore Museum, Shalimar Gardens, Lahore Fort and Minar-e-Pakistan
Emblem
Nickname(s): Paris of the East[1][2][3] The Pearl of Punjab[4] The garden of the Mughals[5][6] The cultural capital of Pakistan[7] Data Ki Nagri (City of Ali Hujwiri)[8] The heart of Pakistan[9][10] City of Gardens[11][12]
Location of Lahore (in red) in Punjab, Pakistan and (inset) Punjab in Pakistan
Coordinates: 31°32′59″N 74°20′37″ECoordinates: 31°32′59″N 74°20′37″E
Country	Pakistan
Province	Punjab
City District Government	11th September 2008
City Council	Lahore
Towns	9
Government
- Type	City District
- Divisional Commissioner	Jawad Rafiq (CSP/D.M.G)
- City Nazim
- Naib Nazim
- District Coordination Officer	Ahad Khan Cheema (CSP/D.M.G)
Area[13]
- Total	1,772 km2 (684 sq mi)
Elevation	217 m (712 ft)
Population (2009[14])
- Total	10,000,000
	Combined population of Lahore City and Lahore Cantonment
Postal code	54000
Dialling code	042

akistan.

Hindu heritage

The city of Lahore has a Rajputorigin. The earliest princes were said to be Rajputs and traditional panjabi tribal origins.Hieun Tsang, the Chinese traveller, who visited the Punjabin 630 AD, speaks of a large city, containing many thousands of families, chieflyBrahmans, situated on the eastern frontier of the kingdom of Cheka, which he says, extended from the Indus to theBeas river. Around 580 BC., when king Bimbisara ruled South Asia, the society came to be divided into different communities based on their occupation.[dubious – discuss][citation needed] One of their communities was called Kshatriyas and King Luv's descendants were classed with them and came to be known as Luvanam, which was also referred to as Luvana.[citation needed] The Luvanas from Loharghat became known as Loharana (masters of swords;[dubious – discuss][citation needed] or iron ("Loha") chiefs ("Rana")), which later became Lohana.[dubious – discuss]

Chinese traveller Fa-hien, who visited South Asia between 414 and 399 B.C., calls Lohana a brave community ruling the northwest territory of South Asia, in his diary.[citation needed] Another Chinese traveler, Kurmang who came in the eleventh century A.D. speaks of a Lohrana kingdom as a mighty power.[citation needed][dubious – discuss] Historian Burton writes Lohanas were brave people and says they were spread over today's Baluchistan (Pakistan), Afghanistan and eastern fringes of Central Asia.[citation needed] Col. Todd, who delved into history of Rajasthan, describes Lohanas as one of the oldest Kshatriya community.

The old Hindu city

Present view of the Ichhra Bazaar(Market) at night. The market, because of being designed in very old style is very narrow for vehicles to cross and shoppers to walk.

Many historians agree that Lahore was founded by an ancient Rajput colony sometime between the first and seventh centuries, probably as early as the beginning of the second; that it soon rose to be a place of importance, the parent of other colonies, and eventually the capital of a powerful principality, to which it gave its name. There are some grounds supporting that the oldHindu city of Lahore did not occupy exactly the site of the modern city. Tradition points the site of old Lahore to the vicinity of Ichhra - which is now a part of Lahore city - but was back then a village about three miles to the west.

The name of the village was formerly Icchra Lahore . Moreover, some of the oldest and most sacred Hindu shrines are found within this locality, namely Bhairo ka sthain and the Chandrat. The gate of the present city, known as the Lahori or Lohari Gate was so called as being the gateway looking in the direction ofLohawar or old Lahore just as the Kashmiri Gate looks towards Kashmir, and the Delhi Gate of modern Delhi to the ancient city of that name.^[5]

There are no architectural remains of the old Hindu city of Lahore, a circumstance which might well be explained by the absence of stone material, and the numerous destructive invasions to which the city has been subjected. But also, in accordance with what all Indian architectural researchers tend to show namely, that the northern Hindus were not, until a comparatively late period, in the habit of building temples, or durable edifices of any kind. Even at Delhi, the seat of Hindu dynasties from upwards of a thousand years before CE to more than a thousand years after CE, and there, where is abundance of stone, no specimens of Hindu architecture exist dating earlier than the tenth or eleventh century.

Early Muslim dynasties

At the period of the first Muslim conquests, Lahore was in possession of aChauhan prince, of the family of Ajmer. Whether owing to change of dynasty, or to Lahore's exposed position on the high road fromAfghanistan to India, it was subsequently deserted and the seat of the government was removed to Sialkot or its vicinity, where it remained until the period of the conquests of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi in the beginning of the eleventh century; that the conqueror re-occupied the deserted city, and established a garrison in a fort, which was built possibly, like the Old Fort at Delhi, on the ruin of the old Rajput stronghold.

In 682 AD, according to Ferishta, the Afghans of Kerman and Peshawar, who had, even at that early period, embraced the Islam, wrested certain possessions from the Hindu prince. A war ensued, and in the space seventy battles were fought with varied success, until the Afghans, having formed an alliance with the Ghakkars, a wild tribe inhabiting the Salt Range of Punjab, compelled the Raja to cede a portion of his territory. The next mention of Lahore is in the Rajputana chronicles, where the Bussasof Lahore, a Rajput tribe, are mentioned as rallying to the defence ofChittore, when besieged by Muslim forces in the beginning of the ninth century.

Image of Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi in his court where noblemen and noblewomen convened.

At length, in 975 AD,Sultan Sabuktigin, Governor of Khorassan and father of the celebrated Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi advanced beyond the Indus. He was met by Raja Jayapala, the Raja of Lahore whose dominion is said to have extended from Sirhind to Laghman and from Kashmir to Multan. By the advise of theBhati tribe, the Raja Jayapala formed an alliance with the Afghans, and, with their aid, was enabled to withstand the first invasion. However, Sabuktigin later repeated his conquest on his succession to the throne ofGhazni. A battle ensued in the vicinity of Lamghan ending with the defeat of the Raja and overtures being made for peace. His terms were accepted and persons were sent, on the part of Sabuktigin, to take the balance of the stipulated ransom. On reaching Lahore, Jayapala proved faithless and imprisoned those commissioned to receive the treasure. On learning intelligence of his perfidy, Sabuktigin, in the words of the Ferishta, "like a foaming torrent, hastened towards Hindustan".^[7]

Another battles ensued, in which Jaipal was again vanquished, and he retreated, leaving the territory to the west of the Nilab or Indus in the hands of the invader. The invader did not retain the conquests that he had made for in 1008 AD, a confederation headed by Anandapala, the son ofRaja Jayapala, again met the advancing army, now commanded by Mahmud, son and successor of Sabaktagin, in the vicinity of Peshawar. Lahore was allowed to remain intact for thirteen years longer. Anangpal was succeeded by Nardjanpal, while Mahmud pushed his conquests into Hindustan. But in 1022 AD, he suddenly marched down from Kashmir, seized Lahore without opposition, and gave it over to be plundered.^[8]Nardjanpal fled helpless to Ajmer, and the Hindu principality of Lahore was extinguished forever. A final effort was made by the Hindus in the reign of Modud, 1045 AD, to recover their lost sovereignty, but after a fruitless siege of six months, they retired without success.^[9]

Mahmud and Ayaz
Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi is to the right, shaking the hand of the Shaikh, with Ayaz standing behind him. The figure to his right is Shah Abbas I, who reigned about 600 years later.
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, Tehran

Few references to Lahore exist for times before its capture by Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi in the eleventh century. In 1021,Mahmud appointed Malik Ayaz to the throne and made Lahore the capital of the Ghaznavid Empire.

The Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi took Lahoreafter a long siege and battle in which the city was torched and depopulated. As the first Muslim ruler of Lahore, Ayaz rebuilt and repopulated the city. The present Lahore Fort stands in the same location. Under his rule, the city became a cultural and academic center, renowned for poetry. The tomb of Malik Ayaz can still be seen in the Rang Mahal commercial area of town.

After the fall of the Ghaznavid Empire, Lahore was ruled by various Muslim dynasties known as the Delhi Sultanate, including the Khiljis, Tughlaqs,Sayyid, Lodhis and Suris.^[10] When Sultan Qutb-ud-din Aybak was crowned here in 1206, he became the first Muslim Sultan of South Asia.^[11] It was not until 1524 that Lahore became part of the Mughal Empire.