By Nick Sabella
Lahore is the second largest city in Pakistan with a population of roughly 8.5 million. The traditional capital of Punjab for a thousand years, it had been the cultural center of Northern India extending from Peshawar to New Delhi. The origins of Lahore are shrouded in the mists of antiquity but Lahore is undoubtedly ancient. Today, Lahore is certainly worth a visit – but don’t come expecting a tranquil city overflowing with history, art and culture – these qualities do exist but are hidden under the surface of a sprawling south Asian city. Forward planning is recommended if the tourist is going to get the most out of what Lahore has to offer – the time of year to visit, the choice of hotel, the restaurants to dine at, the art galleries and the shopping areas to frequent are all key to getting the most out of your stay.Lahore is a friendly and socially liberal city. There is an old saying, that in every Lahori, there is a Mughal prince. The city has known ages of cultural, intellectual, musical, literary and humanistic evolution, which has consequently led to the fermentation and over fermentation of this rich brew we call Lahore.
Modern Lahore has really emerged in the past few years, includes modern buildings, shopping plazas, five-star hotels, broad avenues and boulevards in the uptown accommodations of Gulberg and Defense. An ancient Punjabi saying states, “One who has not seen Lahore, hasn’t been born. The Liberty and the Gulberg Market of Modern Lahore are also quite famous for shopping. Other modern places include The Mall of Lahore, Pace, PC and the M. M. Alam Road that runs parallel to famous Main Boulevard is a commercial hub with many restaurants, fashion boutiques, shopping malls, beauty saloons and décor stores. In contrast with the Food Street in Gawalmandi, which is located in Old Lahore and is considered a budget dine out, M.M. Alam road hosts a variety of flashy high class restaurants in modern Lahore. Supermarkets is also an emerging trend in the modern lahore. The modern lahori people prefer shopping from the supermarkets rather than from the general or depratmental stores.
The famous supermarkets are Hyperstar, Metro, Makro, Al-Fatah, HKB, ChenOne, Jalal Sons, E&M and Pot-Porri. Lahori people are full of passion and enthusiasm and are famous for their liveliness and their love of food and travelling. They have their own life style which is unique from rest of the Pakistanis. They sleep late in the morning and stay awake in the night. So the night life of Lahore is livelier than the day. People of all ages are found hanging out with friends and going somewhere they find good restaurant deals to enjoy a meal with friends. Youngsters are the ones today who like to spend the evenings with their friends. With the city’s activities at their peak during the evenings the roads are crowded with motorists going to the markets or visiting their friends or relatives. As people return from work they take out their families to enjoy the world outside the walls of their homes. As the clock strikes 9, the rush is diverted to restaurants that offer Restaurant Deals in Lahore. As people love to eat food outside they are also conscious of what they are spending. When people find a nice place that offers a discount on their meals, they waste no time to try it out. The life style in Modern Lahore is pretty much different from the Old Lahore, not only in attire but also eating habits. The Lahori people are fond of food that’s why you will see a restaurant at every corner of a street and town. Modern Lahori’s prefer fast food i.e. KFC, McDonalds, Hardees and other Cafes instead of traditional foods. People are more inclined towards 4 – 5 star hotels rather than eating by the roadside. However, the people still visit Food Street and various other local restaurants for the Desi Food.
Travelling around Lahore can be an exciting challenge and many of us use drivers when we venture to less known parts of the city. Many of our faculty members choose to hire their own personal drivers although our LAS drivers are friendly, knowledgeable and almost always available for a modest fee.An eclectic mix of old and new, you will see modern high rise buildings and designer brand shops in some areas of Lahore while in the Old City the architecture is a testament to the famous Mogul era. The Lahore Fort is a Lahorian landmark as are a number of spectacular mosques dotted throughout the city.Everything you need is available in Lahore including a large range of imported goods. Enjoy the local seasonal fruits and vegetables and shop in the local markets and bazaars. A highlight is the wonderful range of stunning, handmade fabrics and carpets. Tailors are inexpensive and their work is of a very high quality and almost instantaneous. There are many great places to visit in Pakistan, unfortunately tourism’s dropped a lot in the last few years due to terrorist attacks in the country. Most places are safe in the city but there’ve been many attacks recently. There is sectarian violence between Sunni and Shiaa groups, as well as terrorist attacks by Al Qaeda. Despite all the threats, it’s worth the visit to Pakistan’s cultural capital. Recently, The US has ordered its diplomatic staff to leave Lahore, citing a specific security threat amid soaring terrorist violence in Pakistan.
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