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Monday, 1 November 2010

Lahore Railway Station

The Lahore Railway Station in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan was built by British colonists between 1859-1860 at the cost of half a million Rupees. It is of typical grand British architecture in South Asia during the British Raj period. The railway network established by the British was extensive and is one of their lasting contributions to the culture and infrastructure of this region.

The railway station has 11 platforms (1 to 9, with 2 extra platforms, 3A and 6A). Platform No. 1 is of special importance, as this platform is the destination of "Samjhauta Express", the train service between Pakistan and India.

History:

Lahore railway station was commissioned by the British Government and construction was contracted to Main Mohammad Sultan Chagatai, a formal prince of the Royal Mughal Empire. The front portion was disliked by the government (as seen in older photographs) and was subsequently rebuilt by Sultan Mohd. from his own pocket.

Beautiful Badshahi Mosque Lahore

Badshahi Masjid Lahore loosely translates to “one more angel” and is the second largest mosque in the country of Pakistan. Located in the city of Lahore, the mosque was built in 1674 and can hold up to an astounding 55,000 people at a time.

This particular mosque was built during the reign of Emperor Aurenzeb, who is fondly remembered as the last of the Mughal rulers. Build adjacent to the Lajore Fort, the mosque incurred a great deal of damage later on during the Sikh Rule and was once even used as a horse stable. At one point Muslims weren’t even allowed to worship within the mosque’s walls, forced to gather in a small place on the lawn.

After the British took control of India they used the mosque as a place to practice shooting and store their cannons. They even went as far as demolishing one of the walls to prevent the Muslims from using it as a place to gather to discuss their anti-British sentiments. Later the British returned the mosque to the Muslims, who then spent hundreds of years carrying out extensive repairs. The mosque undergoes constant construction and change to this day.