The City of Lahore

A presentation by
Ahmad Tariq Bhatti
Lahore
 Origin & History
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.
 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One of the oldest historical references about Lahore is found in Tareekh-ul-Hind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.
 Minar-e-Pakistan

The city of Lahore

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 The city of Lahore
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Shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajvery (RA)
Allama Iqbal International Airport

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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

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 Wapda House

The city of Lahore

Lahore High Court

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State Bank of Pakistan

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Qaddafi Stadium

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Gymkhana Cricket Ground, established 1885

The city of Lahore

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 National Hockey Stadium, Lahore is
considered to be the largest in the world.

The city of Lahore

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 Summit Minar

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

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 The city of Lahore
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Shalimar Gardens
 The city of Lahore
Lahore Museum, established 1864, shifted to this building 1894 18
Shahi Qila

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 The city of Lahore
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 The city of Lahore
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 Interesting, right?
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