The Lahore Fort (or Shahi Qilla, as we call it in Urdu) is a spectacular piece of Pakistani history. Even though it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it stands in a state of disarray, bits and pieces missing here and there, murals desecrated by graffiti, and walls gathering moss; the worst part is, no one seems to care. Thought to be first built in 800 BC, this fort contains exquisite samples of Mughal as well as traditional Islamic architecture. For more details, please read the Wikipedia entry on Lahore Fort.

Here’s a picture gallery showing some areas of the fascinating structures within the citadel; seeing the state some of these places are in will break your heart.

The Main Entrance

The Main Entrance

The door’s-a-broken – no need to knock

Loose Canon

Wall Engravings

Diwaan-e-Aam – where the king met the masses

Eagle soring over the minaret

Wall Engravings

The Jafri (window grills)

Ceiling art – desperately needs restoration

A chunk of the roof – may fall at any time

The pavement – 01

The pavement – 02

Exquisite detailing inside a doorway arch

Wallas gathering moss – blackened

The black walls

Domed till eternity

Painted ceiling

Ceiling Art – unrestored

The minaret – notice the crow on top

The minaret – notice the crow on top

The Fountain of Youth

A fountain in the resting area of the king

What could’ve been – someone’s attempt at a half-hearted restoration

A bird mural on the wall

Can you spot the Elephant?

The Elephant

What’s a pig doing on this pillar? (or is it a dog?)

A Griffin – at least that’s what it looks like to me – Interesting!

Outside the Sheesh Mahal (mirroed palace)

a wooden door with Iron fixtures for added protection

Knock-knock!

Chained

Wall engravings

Let the light in

Through the looking glass

Living the dream – carved with marble

The arches

Barren – painted walls that were once a sight to behold, with all the mirror fixtures

Roof – totally destroyed

Another roof – what it must’ve been like back in the days

A walk down memory lane

The Girih (Fascinating Islamic Tiling)

One of thousands – messed the whole place up

Marble Arches

A view of the Shish Mahal (palace of mirrors) sans the mirrors

Mesmerising – totally at a loss of words

Wall etched mural – all banged up

Wall etched mural – what craftsmanship!

The Shish Mahal (palace of Mirrors) – I was in a bit of a hurry so couldn’t wait for these guys to scram

Pillar design

Pillar design

A wall fountain

Jharoka – a balcony

Islamic pattern with girih

A nest for the pegions

A staircase

the walls of the fort

When elephants and people crowded these roads