Introduction

Lahore district takes its name from its headquarters city, which according to a Hindu legend was founded by Lahu, the don if Raja Ram of Ramayan about 4000 years ago. Historically its been proved that Lahore is about 2000 years old. Hiem-Tsang, the famous Chinese pilgrom, has given a vivid description of Lahore sity which he visited in the early parts of the seventh century A.D.

For 200 years, beginning from about 1525 A.D., Lahore was a thriving cultural centre of the great Mughal Empire. Mughal emperors beautified LAhore, with palaces, gardens and mosques. Durin the British regime many monuments sprang up in Lahore which blended beautifully with the Mughal gothic and victorian styles of architecture.

Lahore is the second largest city of pakistan and the provincial capital of Punjab. Apart from being thecultural and academic centre of the country, Lahore is the Mughal Show-Window of Pakistan. The origins of Lahore are shrouded in the mists of antiquity. Reminisicence of its hoary past are the remains of a sub-terranean temple in the northern part of the Royal Fort, attributed to Lord Rama, the legendary hero of Ramayana. Lying on the main trade and invasion route to the sub-continent, Lahore has been ruled and plundered by a number of dynasties. However it touched the zeinth if its glory during the rule of Mughals. The Mughals, who were famous as builders, gave Lahore some of its finest architectural monuments that are extinct today.

The origin of the city of Lahore and its early history is shrouded in mystery. Abu Raihan Muhammad Bin Ahmed Al-Biruni in his Tarikhay Hind, at the time of Muhmud Ghaznavi's invasion, mentions Lahore. In order to obtain conclusive evidence it was decided to use the more dependable method of archeologiccal excavations in the old fort, situated on the highest point of the city. The upper levels revealed building remains of the British and Sikh period. The Mughal period is marked by intensive building activities. The outstanding find from the lower level was a gold coin of Mahmood of Ghazni struck at Ghazni during the time of the Abbas Caliph at Qadir Ballah. Below the pre-Mughal levels the remains of the mom-Muslim or Hindu period were encountered. After the 1972 Census of Pakistan, the entire Kasur and Chunian Tehsils were taken away from Lahore district to form Kasur district. The present Lahore district, therefore consists of two Tehsil viz Lahore city and Lahore Cantonment.

Location

The district lies betweeb 31° 15' and 31° 43' north latitudes and 74° 10' and 74° 39' east longitudes.

Boundary

The district is bounded by Sheikhupura district on the north and seperation the two districts by Ravi river, on the east by the Indian district Amritsar and on the south by Kasur district.

Area

The total area of the district is 1,772 square kilometers.

Population (According to Census 1998)

Summary