Lahore Fort
UNESCO World Heritage Site (1981) Fort And Shalamar Gardens In Lahore; Managed By The Walled City Of Lahore Authority · Lahore, Punjab
Lahore Fort, the Shahi Qila, is the Mughal royal citadel of Lahore, rebuilt in brick by Akbar from the 1560s and filled with palaces by Jahangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, then used by the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh and the British in turn. It is one of the great Mughal forts, a World Heritage Site together with the Shalamar Gardens across the city. The best of it is Shah Jahan's: the Sheesh Mahal, a pavilion whose walls and ceilings are set with thousands of pieces of convex mirror, and the Naulakha pavilion beside it with its curved marble roof. Along the outside of the northern and western walls runs the Picture Wall, a vast mural of glazed tile and fresco showing elephant fights, polo, angels and hunting scenes, one of the largest decorated walls of its age. The grand Alamgiri Gate faces the Badshahi Mosque across the Hazuri Bagh. The fort has been heavily restored in recent years, including the royal kitchens, and it is best in the late afternoon.
Walled City, Lahore, opposite Badshahi Mosque across Hazuri Bagh, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
Open daily from morning to evening, with longer hours in summer; confirm current times. Tickets are bought at the entrance, with a much higher foreigners' rate than the local one, and some areas such as the Sheesh Mahal and the royal kitchens have been ticketed separately or closed at times for conservation. The main visitor entrance has moved over the years, so check which gate is in use. Friday afternoons and holidays are crowded with families.