Information about flights to Lahore
With a rich and varied history, Lahore is a city that fully deserves its place as the capital city of Punjab, Pakistan. Flights to Lahore will bring you to an intriguing cultural centre, with many historical sites and buildings to look at and explore. Lahore was known to be a regional capital during the 11th century, and has remained so ever since. The city is known regionally as the 'cultural heart' of Pakistan, due to its role as host for most events relating to the arts held in the country. It is also a centre of publishing, with 80 per cent of the books that come from Pakistan originating from Lahore. The primary spoken language of Lahore is Punjabi, with an extensive number of individual dialects also spoken. Urdu is used as a second language, and knowledge of English as a learned language is not uncommon.
Places of historical interest
Lahore holds great religious significance due to the buildings that are present in the city. The Wazir Khan Mosque was built between 1634 and 1635AD, and features unique decoration within the interior which originates from the Mughal period. The Sacred Heart Cathedral was built in 1907, and is an example of Belgian architecture. Other historical features include the Tomb of Jahangir, the garden-lined Tomb of Nur Jahan, and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lahore Fort. Lahore Museum holds many exhibits, with some dating back to prehistoric times. Sculptures and paintings are also on display, and the entrance hall ceiling features a unique mural painted by the Pakistani painter Sadequain.
Places to visit
Another area declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is that of the Shalimar Gardens, originally constructed in 1641 AD. Three terraces make up the gardens, and there are over 400 fountains positioned throughout the gardens as attractive water features.
Food in Lahore
Dishes available in Lahore are that of Pakistani cuisine. The primary influence is that of North Indian cuisine, but with certain elements taken from Afghan, Central Asian and Middle Eastern sources. As a tourist destination, Lahore also holds many restaurants that cater towards international tastes, with many American and British chain restaurants available. The most popular drink of the country is tea, which is named 'chai' locally. Black tea with milk and green tea are both common sights, with different regional variations available incorporating a number of different ingredients into the base drink.
