Geography of Lahore
Lahore, Pakistan, the capital of Punjab Province. It lies in the north near the Indian border, some 650 miles (1,050 km) northeast of Karachi. Lahore, the nation's second largest city, is a major center of transportation, manufacturing, and commerce. Culturally, it is Pakistan's leading city, mainly because of its long history, Islamic tradition, and outstanding buildings and institutions. Among them are the great Badshahi Mosque, Shalimar Gardens, and Punjab University.
Lahore, an ancient city, first became prominent during the 11th and 12th centuries as capital of two Muslim kingdoms that originated in Afghanistan. Thereafter, for almost 400 years, it was devastated repeatedly by invaders, mainly Mongols from the north. A golden age came with the Moguls during the 16th and 17th centuries, when magnificent mosques, gardens, tombs, and palaces were built. Control passed to the Sikhs in 1767 and to the British in 1849. With India's partition in 1947, Lahore became part of Pakistan.
Population: 2,922,000.