A legend based on oral traditions holds that Lahore was known in ancient times as Lavapuri, City of Lava in Sanskrit

(Lava is also referred to as Loh). Raja Loh was son of Sri Ram Chandar Jee, the hero of Mahabharta, who established the city in his name. The period of Raja Loh is told around 1200 BC. Claudius Ptolemy (90 AD 168 AD), a Greek astronomer and geographer, has mentioned in his renowned work Geographia, an area as Labokla. In his maps, Labokla was situated on the route between Indus river and Palibothra or Pataliputra (Patna), in a tract of country called Kasperia (Kashmir), described as extending along the rivers Bidastes or Vitasta (Jhelum), Sandabal or Chandra Bhaga (Chenab), and Adris or Iravati (Ravi). Wilfred and Kingham both endorsed to the theory of Labokla being the old name of Lahore. One of the oldest documents that was written about Lahore anonymously in 982 AD is called Hudud-i-Alam. It was translated into English by Vladimir Fedorovich Minorsky and was published in Lahore in 1927 AD. In this document, Lahore is referred to as a small shahr (city) with impressive temples, large markets and huge orchards. It refers to two major markets around which dwellings exist, and it also mentions the mud walls that enclose these two dwellings to make it one. The original document is currently held in British Museum.

The city of Lahore

Origin & History

One of the oldest historical references about Lahore is found in Tareekh-ul-Hind written by Abu-Rehan Al Beruni (973 AD 1048 AD), who traveled to India in 1017 AD. In his book, he remembers Lahore as an area not as a city whose capital was Mandhor kor. Hazrat Ali Hajvery (RA), (990 AD 1077 AD), who preached Islam in Lahore, has also mentioned the city of Lahore in his book Kashf-ul-Mahjuub. Abul-Farj, who was a poet in Ghaznavi period has written the name as Loha-wr. An Iranian scholar Tahir Marozi of 11th century in his book Nazhat ul Mushtaq Fe Akhteraq ul Affaq has mentioned Lahore as Laha-wr. Ameer Khusro (1253 AD 1325 AD) in his first mathnavi, Qiranus-Sa'dain that was completed in 1288 AD, has written the name as Lao-hore when he portrays the attack of Mughals. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the famous Chinese traveler Yowang Chowang has mentioned the city Lahore as the great city. In net shell, the following variations of Lahore (city name) existed in history books: Lavapuri, Labokla, Loha-wr, Laha-wr, Lao-hore etc., etc. Further, the references mentioned in this short presentation establish that Lahore existed more than three thousand years ago on the face of earth.

The city of Lahore

Minar-e-Pakistan

The city of Lahore

Shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajvery (RA)

The city of Lahore

Allama Iqbal International Airport

The city of Lahore

Railway Station, Lahore was started in 1859 under the directions of Sir John Lawrence, the then Chief Commissioner of Punjab (1858-1859)

The city of Lahore

Wapda House

The city of Lahore

Lahore High Court

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State Bank of Pakistan

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The city of Lahore

Qaddafi Stadium
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The city of Lahore

Gymkhana Cricket Ground, established 1885

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The city of Lahore

National Hockey Stadium, Lahore is considered to be the largest in the world.

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The city of Lahore

Summit Minar

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The city of Lahore

Sunset shot at Shalimar Gardens

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The city of Lahore

Shalimar Gardens

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The city of Lahore

Shalimar Gardens

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The city of Lahore

Lahore Museum, established 1864, shifted to this building 1894

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Shahi Qila 19
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Tolinton Market

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The city of Lahore

GPO Building, Mall Road

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The city of Lahore

Jahangir Tomb 25
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Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh

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The city of Lahore

Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, Lahore

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The city of Lahore

Saint Anthony's Church, Lahore

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The city of Lahore

Cathedral Church of Resurrection, Lahore

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The city of Lahore

Lahore Stock Exchange 30

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The city of Lahore

A view on Model Town Link Road

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The city of Lahore

Masjid Wazir Khan

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The city of Lahore

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The city of Lahore

Baadshahi Mosque was built in 1673 AD.

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The city of Lahore

36 A view of Baadshahi Mosque from Alamgiri Gate

The city of Lahore

A view of Baadshahi Mosque from an arch in Lahore Fort

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The city of Lahore

Mausoleum Allama Muhammad Iqbal

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The city of Lahore

Shaikh Zayed Hospital

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The city of Lahore

Services Hospital

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Punjab University, Established 1882

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Punjab University, Established 1882

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GC University, Lahore

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University of Engineering & Technology

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Lahore University of Management Sciences

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Government Islamia College Civilines

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National College of Arts

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49 Quaid-e-Azam Library

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Wahga Border, Lahore 50

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Lalik Chowk 60
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Ravi River, Lahore

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The city of Lahore

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The city of Lahore

References
1. James Taad, 1883; Kanhya Laal, 1882; Sir Richard Temple, 1884; Tahqeeq-e-Chisti, 1867. 2. The Comparative Study of India by Wilfred, pg. 20; the Geography by Kingham, pg. 225-228. 3. Hudud-e-Alam, The Regions of the World, A Persian Geography.

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The city of Lahore

A presentation by

Ahmad Tariq Bhatti

Lahore.

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The city of Lahore