Greater Iqbal Park
Greater Iqbal Park (Urdu: گریٹراقبال پارک), formerly Minto Park, is an urban park located in the outskirts of the Walled City in Lahore, Pakistan.[2] Before current renovations and expansion, its name was Iqbal Park.[2]
| Greater Iqbal Park گریٹراقبال پارک | |
|---|---|
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Lahore, Pakistan |
| Coordinates | 31°35′33″N 74°18′34″E / 31.5925°N 74.3095°ECoordinates: 31°35′33″N 74°18′34″E / 31.5925°N 74.3095°E |
| Area | 328.901 acres (133.102 ha)[1] |
| Created | 1968 |
| Owned by | Parks and Horticulture Authority Lahore |
| Open | 06:00 AM - 08:00 PM |
| Public transit access | Azadi Chowk Metrobus Station |
| Website | https://www.pha.gop.pk/project-details-new?id=3 |
Noted as the home of Minar-e-Pakistan, the 329-acre park includes an artificial lake which spreads over four acres which includes an 800-feet-long musical fountain.[3] Other attractions includes a two-kilometre-long soft rail, a library, an open-air gym and a food court.[4][5] The tombs of Allama Iqbal and Hafeez Jalandhari are also located in the park.[6]
History
The grounds known as Greater Iqbal Park today were used for ceremonial military parades during the Mughal era. After the ascension of the Sikhs into power in 1799, the grounds came to be known as 'Parade Ground', as the area continued to be used for the same purpose as it was by the Mughals.
When the British captured Lahore in 1849, they renamed the grounds as Minto Park, after Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, and Governor-General of India between July 1807 and 1813.[7]
After the creation of Pakistan, the park was renamed as Iqbal Park, after the poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal, in commemoration of the Lahore Resolution of 1940. After extensive renovations were completed in December 2016, the park was given its current name.
Renovation and expansion
Work began on the upgradation of the park on 10 October 2015. Habib Construction Services Limited was contracted to complete the project. Along with renovation of the Minar-i-Pakistan, the project featured expansion of the Iqbal Park by including it in the stretch of Circular Road between the park and Lahore Fort. The 125-acre green oasis is surrounded almost entirely by the old city of Lahore. The project was completed on 9 November 2016 incurring a total cost of PKR 981 million as quoted by the contractor of the project. [8]
The new-look park was formally inaugurated on 17 December 2016.[4][9]
Furthermore, the National History Museum was opened in the park in 2018. It is the first digital museum in Pakistan that offers an immersive experience to visitors with the help of cutting-edge technologies. Using holograms and virtual reality equipment, this digital museum commemorates all the historic events leading to the emergence of Pakistan in 1947. Along with hosting a vast collection of national relics and antiquities, the museum also highlights the key sports and cultural events throughout the history of the country.[10]
Features
The park features the following sites:[11]
- Minar-e-Pakistan
- Tomb of Hafeez Jalandhari
- Tomb of Allama Iqbal
- Musical fountain
- National History Museum
- Library
- Boating lake
- Mughal-style baradari
- Children play area
- Food court
- Open-air gym
- Walking trails
- Buggy track
- Gazebos
Gallery
Minar-e-Pakistan and its lush surroundings
Badshahi Mosque is adjacent to Iqbal Park
Lahore Fort is adjacent to Iqbal Park
Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal is adjacent to Iqbal Park
Lush grounds of the park
View of Badshahi Mosque from the park
Traditional horse-drawn carriage
View from Lahore Fort
Entrance to Hafeez Jalandhari's tomb
Walking trails at evening
See also
References
- ^ . Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab website. Archived from the original on 13 February 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Greater Iqbal Park to open for public on August 14". The Express Tribune (newspaper). 12 July 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Greater Iqbal Park profile". Parks & Horticulture Authority Lahore (PHA) website. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ a b "Nawaz inaugurates Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore, says park not for sit-ins". Dawn (newspaper). 17 December 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ "Lahore". Lahore Division, Government of The Punjab website. Retrieved 4 November 2022.
- ^ Shah, Sabir (30 April 2018). "A history of Greater Iqbal Park". The News International. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "Minto Park: Witnessing Military To Political Journeys". UrduPoint. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
- ^ "DEVELOPMENT OF GREATER IQBAL LAHORE". Habib Construction Services. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "PM inaugurates Greater Iqbal Park in Lahore, says it's no place for sit-ins". Geo TV News website. 18 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "New museum in Lahore brings Pakistan's history to life". The Express Tribune. 23 March 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "New Greater Iqbal Park (Minar e Pakistan)-Pictures, Map, Facilities". 22 January 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2021.