Architecture of Lahore
The old city houses a number of examples of architecture of Lahore, which have a strong influence of the Mughal style.
[citation needed] Thus it can be said that though many buildings of Lahore carry Muslim heritage, they also have the influence of other religions such as Sikhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism.
Mughal emperor Akbar during his stay in Lahore built a brick wall around the city to protect it.
These tombs commonly had entrances without doors, so that the interior was open to the outside air, and it had been suggested that this arrangement was devised to satisfy the law while evading its real meaning.
The tomb exemplifies Sikh architecture, it is gilded fluted domes and cupolas and an ornate balustrade round the top.
Under British rule (1849–1947), colonial architecture in Lahore combined Mughal, Gothic and Victorian styles.
Under British rule, Sir Ganga Ram designed and built the General Post Office, Lahore Museum, Aitchison College, Mayo School of Arts (now the NCA), Ganga Ram Hospital, Lady Mclagan Girls High School, the Chemistry department of the Government College University, the Albert Victor wing of Mayo Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram High School (now Lahore College for Women) the Hailey College of Commerce, Ravi Road House for the Disabled, the Ganga Ram Trust Building on Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, and the Lady Maynard Industrial School.
[1] He also constructed Model Town, a suburb that has recently developed into a cultural center for Lahore's growing socioeconomic elite.
The General Post Office and YMCA buildings in Lahore commemorated the golden jubilee of Queen Victoria, an event marked by the construction of clock towers and monuments all over British India.
Even today, Mall Road retains a variety of Gothic and Victorian style buildings built during the British Raj.
Its ideal location on the banks of the Ravi provided an opportunity to the rulers and lovers of beauty to plan gardens to satisfy their aesthetic taste.
Besides royalty there are a number of great people who have left an imprint on the pages of history and are now a proud heritage of Lahore.
The dome, minaret, the arch, the intricate mirror work and the extravagant use of ornaments which were features of the Mughal style, have now gone out of fashion.
Furthermore, the changing patterns of economy, industrialisation and increase in population have contributed a great deal in revolutionising the entire basis of architectural forms.
Due to changing lifestyles and trends, there has been an ever-increasing tendency to adopt Western and American forms of architecture.
In modern days, parts of Bahria Town Housing Scheme in Lahore are themed on ancient Egyptian culture.
There are many other architectural notables, including themes for different locales that make Bahria a very interesting and well conceived scheme to visit and live in.
