Today, I rode in my memories book, and suddenly, I fell into my gallery. Over there, I found many pictures of my Lahore's Tour.
Today, you are going with me inside the Lahore Fort, also known as Shahi Qila[Royal Fort].
Whenever I see the gate of Lahore Fort or even think about it, Urge of visiting Dehli deepens in my heart. I want to go to Dehli and witness the splendid beauty of Red Fort.
I assume limitless memories, emotions, and feelings are attached to this place. I visited this fort when innocence used to float in my mind and in the air around. I remember that school tour when my mind wasn't that big to devour a big chunk of historical knowledge. I can recall all those flashbacks in which I am talking to my school history teacher, and she was making some jokes to make us laugh.
Should I be very specific and start narrating how we explored along with salt of history?
We, classmates, were fifty-four(if i am not wrong). We all were scattered. I didn't want to explore with my friends. In fact, I wanted to explore with my beloved. I don't know where my beloved was wandering?
I kept my face and heart at ease and went with my friends inside the Fort.
I looked above at the gate and then saw floral patterns, projected windows, and two birds who were having romance conversation while sitting over small projected window.
Mughal Emperor, Jahangir built this picture wall. This particular picture wall always made me stand and think;
"Where are all those pictures? May be time has ereased the major prints of history or successors were afraid of the legacy? I am sure all these doubts are right."
Still, I am fascinated by the architectural style, mosaics, glazed tile work, and fresco work on the wall. At least, a little from the history is still preseved.
Some recent installations in the fort, i mean, an art craft shop.
This red brick building used to be Barood khana.
Sun was throwing harsh rays that we couldn't bear the unbearable light. People, with capacity and energy, were walking under traumatizing light, but we booked a ride. We were eight and feeling great in this ride. I remember we were laughing, but reason to laugh is not clear in my mind.
A school kid, wearing a school uniform, made me think of my school trips again. He was excited and exhilarating.
I had lived these days too, now it's their time to be much more excited. Time don't allow me to be as much excited as the kids are!.
Fort's structures are aging, and its health is deteriorating, same as me.
What happened to me?
I am all fine. I am just twenty, too, and Fort has lived more than crazy five hundred years.
Shuttle stopped!
We stepped towards the first structure that was right in front of us.
Hall of Public
In this hall, the Mughal Emperor used to sit on protecting marble window with all his ROYAL PROTOCOL and used to listen to sorrows, grievances, matters, and problems. These fourty pillars of Hall absorbed all those sorrows, unheared silenced and marginalized voices of many people.
The time when we visited this hall, small protocol, consisting of only two people, was also there, but Emperor was missing.
Deewan E Aam observed so many changes in its structure. In the time of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, it used to be public hall and served as court. Later on, when Fort came under Sikh ruler, the whole structure went down due to bombardment. It was rebuilt, and then the British period came. During the British period, it served as hospital of the military due to its large and vast corridor.
We entered the Rare Museum of the fort. This museum reminded me of my mother and siblings as i visited it with my siblings and mother. It was covid period when every side looked empty.
Taj Mahal model made from ivory was enough to fascinate the eyes of seer. People were like scattered ants.
Paintings of different scenarios from the life of the Royals were preseved behind the glass. People were throwing their steady glances over them.
This museum, comparatively small from other museums, compromises three galleries. One gallery for the Mughals, one for Sikhs and One for the British and Sikh armory and artillery.
My eyes crave more and more for geometrical patterns of architecture. I am admirer of geometry, but I can not sign with mathematics.
I assume I saw three detailed, dark colored, historical, and intricate wooden doors. These used to be part of this big fort but time has changed their significance and now these woods are considered antique pieces of history.
Jahangir's quadrangle construction started in Mughal Emperor Akbar's period during his stay in Fort. It was completed during the reign of Jahangir from 1617-18. During every period, Fort witnessed an addition in the numbers of structures and buildings.
The eyes of marble fountain are dried up now. It can not cry more on the misery of the fort.
A man was standing beneath the shade of summer palace built by Mughal Emperor ~ Shah Jahan~.
I scrolled my eyes and looked above my head at elephant-shaped column brackets at the top of the supporting pillar. It is the influence of Hindu motifs on Mughal architecture. It's such a beautiful combination.
Summer palace served as summer residence place for the Royals. It was a cooling place for the Royals because of its ventilation system and flooring structure. Its floor was built with two layers. Water of Ravi river was sandwich between the two layers of floor.
Naulakha Pavillion was built in 1633 by Shah Jahan by amount of 9 Lakh. In urdu, 9 Lakh is called as Nau Lakh that's why it derived it's name Naulakha. It's vertilineer roof was embellished with precious stones that are lost in the whirlpool of history.
Ath Dara means eight doors or eight openings. This structure served as court of Maharaja Ranjit Singh during Sikh ruling period.
This red brick building served as British prison. In this Jail, many people lived the days of their misery. Even after Independence of Pakistan, many politicians stayed in these dark rooms to cut punishment.
Still many structures left to visit and explore but time called us back. We walked down through Hathi Paer[Elephant Steps-Made for elephants of the Royals].
Aladdin's Lamp!
Genie, Could you take me back to the Royal Period of the Mughals?
Wohooo, Genie of Lamp worked, and I am living the moment of old Royal time.
See you next 💫