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Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Pakistan

admin / January 15, 2024

Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Pakistan Pakistan boasts six UNESCO World Heritage Sites. In addition to these established sites, the country has compiled a roster of 25 potential sites called the Tentative List of UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Pakistan seeking recognition. This catalog has been formally presented to the UNESCO Committee for assessment and approval. The pre-listing process is a mandatory step for the eventual acceptance of nominations onto the esteemed World Heritage list. Punjab Province The Salt Range and Khewra Salt Mine The Salt Range, rising abruptly from the Punjab plains in Pakistan, spans 180 km and features sheer escarpments, jagged peaks, and fertile valleys. Originating 800 million years ago, it formed from the evaporation of a shallow sea and underthrusting of the Indian Plate. Named for the thickest rock salt seams globally, the range is a geological treasure with fossiliferous stratified rocks and exposed strata, attracting global geologists. The region is rich in paleontological finds, including dinosaur trackways, Cretaceous belemnites, and ancient hominid remains. The Salt Range is a historical and cultural hub with sites dating from Alexander the Great‘s era to the British colonial period. Notably, Khewra hosts one of the world’s richest salt deposits, exploited for over a millennium, continuing as a mining, research, and tourism center. Badshahi Mosque, Lahore The Badshahi Mosque and its expansive courtyard are elevated on a platform accessible from the east via a grand staircase and a traditional Mughal-style gateway. The entrance, a two-story structure, boasts intricate decorations with framed and carved paneling on all facades. Square minarets with pseudo-pavilions in red sandstone and white marble cupolas adorn the four corners. Its tall octagonal minarets are positioned at the courtyard’s corners. Additionally, smaller octagonal minarets are attached to the prayer chamber’s corners, beneath three grand marble domes. The red sandstone exterior is subtly adorned with white marble inlay lines and patterns. The interior and exterior of the prayer chamber feature unique and beautifully crafted Zanjira interlacing and floral motifs in bold relief, showcasing unparalleled beauty and craftsmanship in Mughal architecture. The gateway’s inscription indicates its construction in A.H. 1084 (1673-74 A.D.). Wazir Khan Mosque, Lahore The Wazir Khan Mosque, covering an area of 279′ x 159′, is entirely constructed using cut and dressed bricks laid in kankar lime, with minimal use of red sandstone in the gate and transept. The courtyard is split into two sections, with the upper part slightly elevated and an ablution tank in the middle. Flanking the east, north, and south sides of the courtyard are 32 small hujras of varying sizes. The prayer chamber on the west side features five compartments divided by massive piers supporting wide, four-centered arches, each topped with a dome. Small rooms are created at the northern and southern ends, and an eastern gallery leads to a spiral staircase accessing the roof. Distinctive structural elements include four corner minarets, five domes, and a transept at the entrance gate on the east. According to inscriptions, the mosque was built in A.H. Archaeological Site of Harappa The archaeological site of Harappa, extending over 150 hectares, comprises eight mounds and two cemeteries situated to the south of the dry Ravi riverbed. While much of the site is buried beneath agricultural land or the modern village of Harappa, exposed structures on mounds AB and F date back to the third millennium BC. The site’s sequence spans from the fourth to the second millennium BC, with a depth of over 13 meters. The strategic location beside the old course of the Ravi River granted inhabitants access to trade networks, aquatic resources, and water for cultivation, explaining its prolonged occupation. Harappa’s town plan during the mature Harappan period (2600-1900 BC) features self-contained walled centers on raised mounds. The site’s unique urbanization declined in the second millennium BC, and subsequent developments, including brick removal for railway ballast in the 1850s and salination from irrigation agriculture, impacted the preservation of structures. Tombs of Jahangir, Asif Khan and Akbari Sarai, Lahore The Tombs of Jahangir, Asif Khan, and Akbari Sarai, designated on December 14, 1993, showcase remarkable Mughal architecture. Jahangir’s Tomb is a single-story structure with a square plan, featuring tall octagonal corner towers and a projecting entrance bay on each side. The exterior boasts red sandstone facing with intricate marble inlay decoration. The interior displays floral frescoes, delicate inlay work (pietra dura), and vibrant marble intersia. Asif Khan’s Tomb, an octagonal structure with a high bulbous dome, stands in a vast garden. Originally adorned with rich stone inlay and bold stucco tracery inside, it featured a high bulbous double dome covered with marble veneering. Akbari Sarai, between Jahangir and Asif Khan’s, includes an open courtyard with small cells, adorned gateways, and a mosque with three splendid domes. The Sarai and the entrance gateway seem part of a unified complex from Shah Jahan’s era, sharing similar styles and elements. Hiran Minar and Tank, Sheikhupura The Hiran Minar, erected under Emperor Jahangir’s reign in 1620 AD, boasts unique architectural elements. Its facade sports 210 square perforations arranged in 14 rows, while inside, a spiral staircase with 108 steps leads to the top, adorned with 11 rectangular arched openings. Divided into six tiers, the Minar showcases lime plaster possibly embellished with floral or linear frescoes. An arched entrance graces the lowest tier. Across from it lies a rectangular tank connected by a causeway to an octagonal baradari. Each corner features square pavilions with gateways. The tank, equipped with ramps, parapet walls, and staircases, connects to the Aik rivulet via a channel. Inside the baradari, intricately decorated niches and honeycomb patterns adorn the walls. The causeway, supported by 21 pointed arched pillars, links the main baradari to an octagonal platform in the tank’s center, which served as a royal residence. Tomb of Hazrat Rukn-e-Alam, Multan The tomb of Shah Rukn-i-Alam, constructed between 1320 and 1324 AD by the Tughluq ruler Ghiyas-ud-din, was initially meant for his dynasty but later dedicated to the family of the revered Sufi saint. This

City Breaks, Punjab

Walled City of Lahore

admin / November 6, 2018

The one square kilometer densely populated walled city in the heart of Lahore houses a variety of architectural treasures and was once accessible by 13 gates. The Walled City of Lahore is also known as the Old City of Lahore and was established around 1000 CE. Most of the monuments housed in the city belong to the Mughal era, notably the lavishly decorated Wazir Khan Mosque, the massive Badshahi Mosque, and the Shahi Hammam. Gates of Walled City of Lahore The Walled City of Lahore was covered by a 9-meter high brick wall and accessible by 13 gates, made of wood and iron, with their unique names. These gates were constructed during the reign of Emperor Akbar (1584-98). The Raushnai Gate, or the Gate of Lights, is located between the royal mosque and the citadels. The Kashmiri Gate is called so because of its direction towards Kashmir. The Masti Gate, actually the Masjidi Gate refers to a mosque The Khizri or the Shranwala Gate was named after Khizr Elias, the patron saint. The Yakki Gate, originally the Zaki Gate, was a name derived from the name of a martyred saint while defending the city The Delhi Gate is called so because of its opening to the highway to Delhi. The Akbari Gate was named after the Mughal Emperor Muhammad Jala-ud-din Akbar who rebuilt the town and fort. The Mochi Gate was actually called Moti Gate to refer to Pearl named after Moti Ram, an officer of Akbar who resided here at that time. The Shah Almi Gate was named after the son and successor of Aurangzeb, Mohomed Mo’azzam Shah Alam Bahadur Shah who died on the 28th of February 1712 in Lahore. The Lahori Gate, also known as Lohari Gate, has been named after the city of Lahore. The Mori Gate was the smallest of all and was used as an outlet for the refused and sweepings of the city. The Bhatti Gate was named after the Bhatis, an ancient Rajput tribe that lived in these quarters. The Taxali Gate, named after the Taxal or Royal Mint During the reign of Ranjit Singh (1799 to 1849), the damaged walls were rebuilt in 1812. All of these marvelous gates continued to exist until the 19th century. Some damaged gates were rebuilt using simple structures, except for Delhi Gate and Lahori Gate. Currently, only 6 of these gates exist including Roshnae, Delhi, Shairanwala, Bhati, Kashmiri, and Lahori. Below is the detail of the hidden architectural treasure inside the Walled City Of Lahore Badshahi Mosque Badshahi Mosque Lahore The crown jewel of Lahore, the Badshahi Mosque, was a symbol of power in the Mughal Empire. It has been the largest mosque in the world for 313 years (1673 to 1986). The grand mosque was used more as a military base by the armies of Ranjit Singh and the British troops than as a religious structure. It is now the second largest in Pakistan and South Asia and 5th largest in the world with a capacity for more than 150,000 worshippers on its grounds. Lahore Fort Lahore FortThe Lahore Fort or Shahi Qila is a citadel spreading over an area greater than 20 hectares located at the northern end of Lahore’s Walled City. It has 21 notable monuments, some of which date as far back as the era of Emperor Akbar. The Fort was almost entirely rebuilt in the 17th century when the Mughal Empire enjoyed the height of its reign. According to records, it was said to be a mud-brick fort in the 11th century but the foundation of the modern Lahore Fort was laid in 1566 during the reign of Emperor Akbar. The fort featured both Islamic and Hindu motifs in its architectural design. However subsequent amendments were carried out with the passage of time by the subsequent Mughal Emperors. However, the facility was turned into the residence of Ranjit Singh, founder of the Sikh Empire, after the fall of the Mughal Empire and later passed on to the British who made some major changes in its design as per their own need. The fort was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 for its “outstanding repertoire” of Mughal monuments dating from the era when the empire was at its artistic and aesthetic zenith. Fort Road Food Street The Fort Road Food Street is a prominent yet mystifying street clustered with a great variety of food outlets where food enthusiasts of all colors and creeds gather for a taste of their choice, mostly made inside multi-story heritage buildings and served either along the street or on rooftops. These rooftops are surrounded by significant landmarks that provide magnificent views of the buildings clustered surrounding the old city. Food Street is also the best place to enjoy the dramatic sunset. It is also a prominent tourist attraction located between Fort Road and Roshni Gate of the Walled City of Lahore. Historically the street was once taboo being a part of the renowned red light area of Lahore. Wazir Khan Mosque Wazir Khan MosqueThe Mughal architecture in the subcontinent has been archetypal and has had no matching landmarks to date. The Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore is such a unique and vivid illustration of Mughal architecture. It is also a testimony of their affinity to finesse, frescos and dexterity. It has been described as “a mole on the cheek of Lahore”. Golden Mosque The Golden Mosque, locally known as the “Sunehri Masjid” or the Talai Mosque is a late Mughal architecture-era mosque in the Kashmiri Bazar of the famous Walled City (Old City) of Lahore. The mosque was built in 1753 by Nawab Syed Bhikari Khan, son of Raushan-ud-Daula Turrabaz Khan, deputy governor of Lahore during the reign of Muhammad Shah. It was the time when the Mughal Empire was in decline. The mosque was built on an 11-foot high plinth in a congested street accessible by 16 stairs opening to a small courtyard measuring 65 x 43 feet that further leads to the