Lahore Fort

The Lahore Fort, locally referred to as Shahi Qila(Punjabi, Urdu: شاہی قلعہ) a castle located in the northwestern corner of the Walled City of Lahore. It is The trapezoidal composition is spread over 20 hectares.

Origins of the fort go as far back as antiquity, however, the existing base structure was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar between 1556–1605 and was regularly upgraded by subsequent Mughal, Sikh and British rulers. It has two gates one is known as Alamgiri Gate build by Emperor Aurangzeb which opens towards Badshahi Mosque and other older one known as Masjidi Gate which opens towards MastiGate Area of Walled City and was built by Emperor Akbar.

Some of the famous sites inside the fort include:

Sheesh Mahal

Alamgiri Gate

Naulakha pavilion and

Moti Masjid.

In 1981, the fort was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Shalimar Gardens.

Mughalks contributed a lot in the establishment of Lahore Fort. Some of which are discussed below.

Akbar

In 1566 AD - Rebuilt by Mughal emperor Akbar, in solid brick stonework on its earlier foundations. Also perhaps, its area was extended towards the river Ravi,which then and until about 1849 AD, flowed along its fortification on the north.

Akbar also built Doulat Khana-e-Khas-o-Am, the famous Jharoka-e-Darshan (Balcony for Royal Appearance), Masjidi Gate etc.

1618 AD - Jehangir adds Doulat Khana-e-Jehangir

In1631 AD - Shahjahan builds Shish Mahal (Mirror Palace).

In 1633 AD - Shahjahan builds Khawabgah (a dream place or sleeping area), Hamam (bath ), Khilwat Khana(retiring room), and Moti Masjid (Pearl Mosque).

1645 AD - Shahjahan builds Diwan-e-Khas (Hall of Special Audience).

1674 AD - Aurangzeb adds the massively fluted Alamgiri Gate.

The fort is clearly divided into two sections: first the administrative section, which is well connected with main entrances, and comprises larger garden areas and Diwan-e-khas for royal audiences.

The second - a private and concealed residential section - is divided into courts in the northern part, accessible through 'elephant gate'. It also contains Shish Mahal (Hall of Mirrors of Mirror Palace), and spacious bedrooms and smaller gardens. On the outside, the walls are decorated with blue Persian kashi tiles.