Lahore is known as the heart of Pakistan.

2. A legend based on oral traditions holds that Lahore was known in ancient times as
Lavapuri, City of Lava in Sanskrit (Lava is also referred to as Loh). Raja Loh was
son of Sri Ram Chandar Jee, the hero of Mahabharta, who established the city in his
name.¹ The period of Raja Loh is told around 1200 BC.
Claudius Ptolemy (90 AD – 168 AD), a Greek astronomer and geographer, has
mentioned in his renowned work Geographia, an area as Labokla. In his maps,
Labokla was situated on the route between Indus river and Palibothra or Pataliputra
The city of Lahore
(Patna), in a tract of country called Kasperia (Kashmir), described as extending along
the rivers Bidastes or Vitasta (Jhelum), Sandabal or Chandra Bhaga (Chenab), and
Adris or Iravati (Ravi). Wilfred and Kingham both endorsed to the theory of Labokla
being the old name of Lahore².
One of the oldest documents that was written about Lahore anonymously in 982 AD is
called Hudud-i-Alam³. It was translated into English by Vladimir Fedorovich
Minorsky and was published in Lahore in 1927 AD. In this document, Lahore is
referred to as a small shahr (city) with impressive temples, large markets and huge
orchards. It refers to two major markets around which dwellings exist, and it also
mentions the mud walls that enclose these two dwellings to make it one. The original 2
document is currently held in British Museum.

3. Origin & History
One of the oldest historical references about Lahore is found in Tareekh-ul-Hind
written by Abu-Rehan Al Beruni (973 AD – 1048 AD), who traveled to India in
1017 AD. In his book, he remembers Lahore as an area not as a city whose capital
was Mandhor kor.
Hazrat Ali Hajvery (RA), (990 AD – 1077 AD), who preached Islam in Lahore, has
also mentioned the city of Lahore in his book Kashf-ul-Mahjuub. Abul-Farj, who
was a poet in Ghaznavi period has written the name as Loha-wr. An Iranian
The city of Lahore
scholar Tahir Marozi of 11th century in his book Nazhat ul Mushtaq Fe Akhteraq
ul Affaq has mentioned Lahore as Laha-wr. Ameer Khusro (1253 AD – 1325 AD)
in his first mathnavi, Qiranus-Sa'dain that was completed in 1288 AD, has written
the name as Lao-hore when he portrays the attack of Mughals.
According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the famous Chinese traveler Yowang
Chowang has mentioned the city Lahore as the great city.
In net shell, the following variations of Lahore (city name) existed in history books:
Lavapuri, Labokla, Loha-wr, Laha-wr, Lao-hore etc., etc. Further, the references
mentioned in this short presentation establish that Lahore existed more than three 3
thousand years ago on the face of earth.

4. Minar-e-Pakistan
The city of Lahore
4

5. The city of Lahore
5
Shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajvery (RA)

6. Allama Iqbal International Airport
The city of Lahore
6

7. Railway Station, Lahore was started in 1859 under the directions of Sir
John Lawrence, the then Chief Commissioner of Punjab (1858-1859)
The city of Lahore
7

8. Wapda House
The city of Lahore
8

9. Lahore High Court
The city of Lahore
9

10. State Bank of Pakistan
The city of Lahore
10

11. Qaddafi Stadium
The city of Lahore
11

12. Gymkhana Cricket Ground, established 1885
The city of Lahore
12

13. National Hockey Stadium, Lahore is
considered to be the largest in the world.
The city of Lahore
13

14. Summit Minar
The city of Lahore
14

15. The city of Lahore
Sunset shot at Shalimar Gardens 15

16. Shalimar Gardens
The city of Lahore
16

17. The city of Lahore
17
Shalimar Gardens

18. The city of Lahore
Lahore Museum, established 1864, shifted to this building 1894 18

19. Shahi Qila
The city of Lahore
19

20. The city of Lahore
20

21. The city of Lahore
21

22. The city of Lahore
22

23. Tolinton Market
The city of Lahore
23

24. GPO Building, Mall Road
The city of Lahore
24

25. Jahangir Tomb
The city of Lahore
25

26. Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh
The city of Lahore
26

27. Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, Lahore
The city of Lahore
27

28. Saint Anthony's Church, Lahore
The city of Lahore
28

29. Cathedral Church of Resurrection, Lahore
The city of Lahore
29

30. The city of Lahore
Lahore Stock Exchange
30

31. The city of Lahore
31

32. A view on Model Town Link Road
The city of Lahore
32

33. Masjid Wazir Khan
The city of Lahore
33

34. The city of Lahore
34

35. Baadshahi Mosque was built in 1673 AD.
The city of Lahore
35

36. The city of Lahore
36
A view of Baadshahi Mosque from Alamgiri Gate

37. The city of Lahore
A view of Baadshahi Mosque from an arch in Lahore Fort 37

38. The city of Lahore
Mausoleum Allama Muhammad Iqbal 38

39. Shaikh Zayed Hospital
The city of Lahore
39

40. Services Hospital
The city of Lahore
40

41. Punjab University, Established 1882
The city of Lahore
41

42. Punjab University, Established 1882
The city of Lahore
42

43. GC University, Lahore
The city of Lahore
43

44. University of Engineering & Technology
The city of Lahore
44

45. The city of Lahore
Lahore University of Management Sciences
45

46. Government Islamia College Civilines
The city of Lahore
46

47. National College of Arts
The city of Lahore
47

48. The city of Lahore
48

49. The city of Lahore
49
Quaid-e-Azam Library

50. The city of Lahore
Wahga Border, Lahore
50

51. The city of Lahore
51

52. The city of Lahore
52

53. The city of Lahore
53

54. The city of Lahore
54

55. The city of Lahore
55

56. The city of Lahore
56

57. The city of Lahore
57

58. The city of Lahore
58

59. The city of Lahore
59

60. Lalik Chowk
The city of Lahore
60

61. Ravi River, Lahore
The city of Lahore
61

62. The city of Lahore
62

63. References
1. James Taad, 1883; Kanhya Laal, 1882; Sir Richard Temple,
1884; Tahqeeq-e-Chisti, 1867.
2. The Comparative Study of India by Wilfred, pg. 20; the
The city of Lahore
Geography by Kingham, pg. 225-228.
3. Hudud-e-Alam, The Regions of the World, A Persian
Geography.
63

64. The city of Lahore
A presentation by
Ahmad Tariq Bhatti
Lahore.
64