WCLA launches tour of Lahore Fort hidden places

LAHORE:For the first time, the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA), has launched a guided tour of the Lahore Fort in which the hidden spaces of the fort, which were closed to the general public have been opened and the tourists will be able to see them with a trained tour guide of WCLA.

This was a monthly guided tour launched by the WCLA in 2024. Places inside Lahore Fort like Arzgah, Kala Burj, Akbari Gate, Akbari Hammam, Kharak Singh Haveli with rooftop views, Akbari Mahal, Sheesh Mahal Attic Rooms, Ranjeet Singh's last living room, British barracks or jails, Mughal era water channels, The mysterious grave in the basement, torture cells near the Royal Kitchens, Zanana Masjid, Naag Temple, Summer Palace and Daulat Khana Khas-o-Aam have been opened to the general public for the first time in this tour.

It was important to mention that spaces like Arzgah, torture cells, Daulat Khana Khas-o-Aam, Rooftop rooms of Sheesh Mahal needed restoration. The tourism team explained that these have been opened up after restoration.

The Deputy Director Tourism Asghar Hussain said that these places were only opened in this tour as our guides need to accompany the tourists to these sites, as they are old, horrifying and new to the people. ‘People can easily be lost there; therefore, taking strict measures and precautions for the tourists’ safety, this tour was being conducted by WCLA,’ he added.

The Director Marketing & Tourism WCLA Tania Qureshi explained that these places were locked since decades. ‘Some were locked for no reasons and some needed conservation and rehabilitation. WCLA has restored several places in Lahore fort and thus we decided to launch a guided tour of these places for the public. This will be a monthly tour and the first tour has already been conducted by WCLA,’ she said. The Director General WCLA said, ‘I had always wished that there was more to see in Lahore fort, and thus we opened up those sites for the tourists.’