Pakistan is host to a number of world heritage sites, dating back centuries. The Swat Valley, for instance, is the centre of the ancient Gandhara civilisation. A long time ago, it was a trade crossroads and cultural meeting place between India, Central Asia, and the Middle East. A unique style of Buddhist art was developed there in the first century BCE. The country’s mosques are also spectacular to behold. Lahore’s famous Badshahi Mosque and the Shah Jahan Mosque in the Sindh province have both been on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s (UNESCO) tentative World Heritage list since 1993. We present a selection of images from some of these historical sites.
Nabeel Hassan’s picture of the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, was taken on a sunny morning. He said: “The mosque’s name translates to ‘imperial mosque’. It’s the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world. Epitomising the beauty, passion and grandeur of the Mughal era, it is Lahore’s most renowned landmark and a major tourist attraction.”
Gohar Anwar’s photograph shows a second century statue of Buddha, which sustained minimal damage during militant attacks in 2007. Carved into a 40-metre high rock, the statue is considered to be the largest in Asia, after the two Bamiyan Buddhas of Afghanistan.
In his picture, Zia Khattak captures the architecture of the Shah Jahan Mosque, located in Thatta, Sindh province. He said: “The mosque was built in 1647, during the reign of Mughal King Shah Jahan, as a gift to the people of Sindh for their hospitality.” The mosque has a total of 93 domes, with much focus placed on its acoustics.
