Heritage tourism: The Asian Study Group to visit the Walled City today

Trained guides give tours of the Shahi Guzargah.


Our Correspondent January 12, 2014
Trained guides give tours of the Shahi Guzargah. PHOTO: MEHMOOD QURESHI

LAHORE:


The Asian Study Group will be visiting the Walled City on Sunday. The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) will give the forty members a guided tour of the Shahi Guzargah (royal route) from Delhi Gate to Fort Road food street.


The tourists will be taken to the Shahi Hammam (Royal Bath) which is being restored with support from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Norwegian embassy. The tourists will also visit the Lohari Gate, heritage havelis, herbs and spices markets, Pani Wala Talaab and Langa Mandi.

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The WCLA has been conducting five to eight tours a week and close to 20 during the weekends. Tania Qureshi, the media and marketing deputy director, said, “We weren’t expecting so many tourists. We are very happy to see tourists, both domestic and international, approaching us for guided tours. Moreover, 20 to 30 photographers approach us every day to be shown less photographed areas of the Walled City”

Muhammad Javed, a senior tour guide, said, “I am amazed at the love people have shown for Lahore. We receive many tourists who want to visit the bazaars and especially the music instruments market in Heera Mandi. Foreign tourists in particular want to see artisans making musical instruments.” Muhammad Noman, another tourist guide, said that many tourists were interested in havelis and admired the architecture and stories related to the places.

More than 3500 tourists were given guided tours last month, the Marketing and Tourism Director Asif Zaheer said.

He told The Express Tribune that street performers and food items at every corner in the Walled City were of great interest to the visitors.

Kamran Lashari, the director general, said, “There is a lot of potential for tourism in Pakistan. At WCLA we are trying our best to bring tourism to the Walled City. We aim to promote our heritage and preserve our culture. Our trained guides are putting in ‘blood, sweat and tears’ to make these tours a success.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2014.

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