Anarkali Bazaar Guide
Anarkali Bazaar: A Timeless Tapestry of Commerce and Culture Guide
Anarkali Bazaar, located in the heart of Lahore, is a vibrant and bustling marketplace that offers a sensory overload of sights, sounds, and smells. It's a must-visit destination for tourists seeking an authentic Pakistani shopping experience. From traditional clothing and jewelry to handicrafts, spices, and delicious street food, Anarkali Bazaar has something for everyone. Prepare to haggle, immerse yourself in the local culture, and discover unique treasures. The bazaar's history dates back centuries, named after the legendary Anarkali, a courtesan in the Mughal court who was allegedly buried alive for her forbidden love with Prince Salim (later Emperor Jahangir). While the exact details of Anarkali's story remain shrouded in mystery, the bazaar's name serves as a constant reminder of this tragic romance. Over the years, Anarkali Bazaar has evolved from a small trading post to a sprawling commercial hub, reflecting the changing tastes and trends of Lahore's residents. A visit to Anarkali Bazaar is an adventure in itself. Tourists can explore the narrow, winding lanes, browse through the countless shops, and sample the local delicacies. Popular activities include shopping for traditional Pakistani clothing, such as shalwar kameez and sarees, bargaining for handcrafted jewelry and accessories, and indulging in street food like gol gappay, samosas, and nihari. Don't forget to try the famous Anarkali lassi, a refreshing yogurt-based drink that's perfect for beating the heat. The bazaar is also a great place to observe local life and interact with friendly vendors.
Transportation
Anarkali Bazaar is easily accessible by various modes of transportation. * **Bus:** Several bus routes pass near Anarkali Bazaar. Look for routes that stop at Lakshmi Chowk or near the Mall Road. From there, it's a short walk to the bazaar. Some possible routes include: 1, 3, 5, 10, 13, 20, 27, 33, 40, 44, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199, 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 300. * **Taxi/Rickshaw/Ride-hailing:** Taxis, auto-rickshaws, and ride-hailing services like Uber and Careem are readily available throughout Lahore and offer a convenient way to reach Anarkali Bazaar.