We bet you didn’t know the information I am about to share related to these historical places of Pakistan. The legends behind these historical places will, for sure blow your mind.
Hiran Minar
Emperor Jehangir built this 100-foot-tall monument named a ‘Hiran Minar’ in memory of his cherished pet deer Mansraj which means ‘Light of the mind’. The deer’s grave is in that monument till today. Before you go there let us tell you that the monument is located on Hafizabad Road, a few kilometers away from Sheikhupura in a Ranikay.
There is a place at the top of the tower containing the remains of Mansraj, and the perimeter of the tower is marked with holes that were probably used to attach souvenir animal heads taken by the emperor. A weird way to honour a dead animal friend! Nay? No doubt, grief does strange things to a man!
Noor Mahal
During British Raj, Noor Mahal belonged to the Nawab of the princely state of Bahawalpur during British rule. There are different stories about the construction of this palace. According to an ancient legend, Nawab Adnan Abbasi IV built a palace for his wife; however, she stayed in the court for only one night, where she accidentally saw the graves near that palace and refused to spend any more time there. So, the palace remained unused till today.
Due to the lack of publicity, Noor Mahal is one of the Bahawalpur’s hidden gems. Pakistani army possesses this place and is open to the public. Moreover, the government uses this palace to hold meetings with delegations coming from abroad.
Taxila Ruins
Taxila ruins are one of the UNESCO’s world heritage sites and are internationally recognized. This place includes the ruins of four ancient cities, stupas, Mesolithic cave, and Buddhist monasteries. One of the most famous Hindu epic poem ‘Mahabharta’ is believed to have been first recited here and it was the home for the earliest universities in the whole world. Taxila ruins are located in a Rawalpindi district along the historic Grand Trunk Road.
Makli Necropolis
Makli Necropolis – one of the world heritage sites is an ancient Sufi – Islamic necropolis in the city of Thatta of the province of Sindh. The old legend is also attached to this place in which one of the pilgrims went into the state of spiritual ecstasy and declared the area as Makkah which later was named as ‘Makli’ by a Sufi saint.
Wazir Khan Mosque
The mosque was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, and its construction took seven years from 1634-1635. It is one of the most serene and beautiful mosques. Moreover, the Wazir khan mosque bears the name of the governor ‘wazir’ of Lahore, who ordered its construction. The mosque is famous for its kasha-Kari tiles work and all of its Mughal era embellished interior.
Rohtas Fort
Rohtas fort is one of the largest forts in the world. It stretches for 42 square kilometres, has 83 gates and a network of underground structures and tunnels. Moreover, Rohtas got its name in honour of the Battle of Rohtas which was fought between Mughals and Sher Shah Suri. The Great Mughals attached great importance to Rohtas and built many fortifications on his model. However, according to some of the other local legends, it’s been said that Rohtas Hill was named after Rohitashva, the son of the legendary king Harishchandra and so is the Rohtas fort.
Takhti Bahi
Takht-i-Bahi is a Buddhist monastic complex dating back to the 1st century BC, located 15 kilometres from the Pakistani city of Mardan. Archaeologists conditionally divided it into four main parts – the “courtyard of stupas”, monastic cells, a temple complex and a tantric monastery complex.
The first of them is a cluster of stupas, which is located in the central courtyard of Takht-i-Bahi. There are also monastic cells, a refectory and meeting rooms. The temple complex contains stupas of a later time, and the tantric monastery complex has small dark cells with a low entrance, which were previously used for meditation. In Takht-i-Bakshi there are also outbuildings built of local stone and mortar of clay and lime. It is famous for the construction of a tantric complex.
Baltit Fort
Fort Baltit is one of the many architectural landmarks of the Pakistani city of Karimbad, Hunza. The fortress was erected to control seasonal trade between South and Central Asia. Fort Baltit is a three-story structure with a rectangular base.
The fort is 700 years old and has been rebuilt and modernized over the centuries. In the 16th century, a local prince married a Balti princess, who invited artisans from Baltistan to renovate the building as a dowry.
Mohenjo Daro
It is located in the Indus Valley, 28 km south of the modern city of Larkana (Sindh Province, Pakistan). In ancient times, it was situated between the Indus in the west and the Ghaggar-Akra river (now a dry channel) in the east. The place is also known as a hill of the dead because it was once a very famous civilization which has been abandoned and the area was turned into the ruins.
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You can also get the information about the topmost schools by reading our previous article on https://www.sirmaya.com/blog/top-five-leading-schools-in-lahore/
