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.¹ 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 Lahore².

One of the oldest documents that was written about Lahore anonymously in 982 AD is

called Hudud-i-Alam³. 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.

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Origin & HistoryOne of the oldest historical references about Lahore is found in Tareekh-ul-Hind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.

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Minar-e-Pakistan

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Shrine of Hazrat Ali Hajvery (RA)

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Allama Iqbal International Airport

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Railway Station, Lahore was started in 1859 under the directions of Sir

John Lawrence, the then Chief Commissioner of Punjab (1858-1859)

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Wapda House

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Lahore High Court

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State Bank of Pakistan

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Qaddafi Stadium

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Gymkhana Cricket Ground, established 1885

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National Hockey Stadium, Lahore is

considered to be the largest in the world.

Summit Minar

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Sunset shot at Shalimar Gardens

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Shalimar Gardens

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Shalimar Gardens

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Lahore Museum, established 1864, shifted to this building 1894

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Shahi Qila

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Tolinton Market

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GPO Building, Mall Road

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Jahangir Tomb

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Samadhi of Maharaja Ranjeet Singh

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Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, Lahore

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Saint Anthony's Church, Lahore

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Cathedral Church of Resurrection, Lahore

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Lahore Stock Exchange

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A view on Model Town Link Road

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Masjid Wazir Khan

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Baadshahi Mosque was built in 1673 AD.

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A view of Baadshahi Mosque from Alamgiri Gate

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A view of Baadshahi Mosque from an arch in Lahore Fort

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Mausoleum Allama Muhammad Iqbal

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Shaikh Zayed Hospital

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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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Quaid-e-Azam Library

Wahga Border, Lahore

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Lalik Chowk

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Ravi River, Lahore

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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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A presentation by

Ahmad Tariq Bhatti

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