Lahore

Lahore, the cultural and historic heart of Pakistan, is a grand and vibrant city that reached its zenith as a capital of the mighty Mughal Empire, leaving a legacy of spectacular monuments. Facing each other across a great square stand the magnificent Badshahi Mosque, one of the largest in the world, and the UNESCO World Heritage Lahore Fort, with its ornate palaces and the dazzling Sheesh Mahal of mirrors. Beyond lie the atmospheric, teeming lanes of the old Walled City, the elegant Shalimar Gardens, Sikh and colonial landmarks, and a legendary food culture.

What you actually see

• The Badshahi Mosque - the vast, majestic Mughal mosque.
• Lahore Fort - the UNESCO fort and its Sheesh Mahal of mirrors.
• The Walled City - the teeming old bazaars and havelis.
• The Shalimar Gardens - the elegant Mughal water gardens.

When to go

October to March, the cooler, drier season, for the most comfortable sightseeing, as summers are intensely hot; spring also brings pleasant weather and festivals. Evenings in the Walled City, when the food street of Fort Road comes alive beneath the floodlit Badshahi Mosque, are magical.

Honest expectations

Lahore is a huge, busy, sometimes chaotic South Asian metropolis, with heat, traffic and the usual big-city precautions, so its appeal is its magnificent monuments, rich culture, warmth and food rather than ease or calm. Travellers should check current advice, though the city warmly welcomes visitors. For Mughal splendour, vibrant street life and some of the subcontinent's best food and hospitality, though, Lahore is unforgettable.

Nearby

The Wagah border ceremony with India and the Punjab plains are close by.