Walled city of Lahore is not just about the buildings,
architecture, monuments and the traditional life styles. It is also the biggest
wholesale and retail market place in Asia. In the total area of 2.6 sq km,
imagine how much diversity you have to see. The thirteen gates hold within
themselves the world class monuments and Asia’s biggest wholesale markets. Each
gate has a market of its own kind and if you wish to roam around all the
markets you cannot make it in a day. Another interesting feature of the markets
of old Lahore is the network with which they are linked together. If you reach
Kashmiri Bazaar it will take you to Kasera Bazaar from where you can go to
Sarafa Bazar and then the Rang Mehal and finally the Shah Almi. It is an
interesting maze and surely one can be easily lost if visiting these markets
for the first time.
Let me start our markets journey by taking you to the
aromatic world of the Akbari Mandi located outside Delhi Gate which goes up to
the Akbari Gate. It is the hub of grains, spices, herbs and chemicals and
undoubtedly one of the largest spice & grain markets in Asia. This market
was named after the third Mughal Emperor Akbar, who ruled the sub continent. This market was developed during Akbar’s
period and so holds historical importance. This Mandi surprisingly has more
than one thousand shops. You will find more than twenty one varieties of rice
in this market. Akbari Mandi was the market that paved way for the East India
Company into the sub continent. This is another interesting feature of this
market if we talk about it in historic terms.
Now let’s talk about fish, as it is the season is on. In
Mori Gate and Delhi Gate are the two wholesale fish markets. The market of Mori
gate was established in 1969 and approximately there are twenty five shops. The
other one inside Delhi Gate is a comparatively new development with more than
thirty eight shops. You will find all sorts of fish from these markets which is
amazing. Despite the smell of the fish many people from the greater Lahore
prefer buying fish from there because of its quality, cheap cost, variety and
taste. Supply of fish is made to the renowned restaurants of Lahore and also to
other cities from these two markets. You can see the trading of fish early
morning if you happen to visit the walled city. You will surely have to hold on
your breath while passing through these markets because of the stench in the
air.
Markets inside the walled city are diversified and you will
feel the same while reading my lines. This is the exquisiteness of the walled
city of Lahore but unfortunately most of us are unaware of these things. Well,
in my opinion, our concerned government agencies are also at fault in the under
marketing of these places. If these markets are properly projected, they can
surely be in superior setting and the area can be economically uplifted. I
wonder if anyone has thought of holding a shopping festival inside the walled
city, trust me it will be alluring and enthralling!
Now let us come to some women’s interests, the clothes!
Attention ladies, this market is waiting for you to visit it. This is the
largest cloth hub where cloth is sold in retail and wholesale. Azam Cloth
Market exists inside Delhi Gate and is considered among the largest cloth whole
sale markets of Asia. From here cloth is supplied to Afghanistan, Iran, India
and China. Nearly 12000 shops are there. Azam Khan a Lieutenant General had
established this market in late 1950’s. Near the Azam Cloth Market is the Pakistan
cloth market, running parallel to it but it deals in mostly in retail. This market was established after the Azam
Cloth market and nearly 1300 shops are there. The cloth from these two markets
is supplied to all elite markets of Pakistan. Trust me, you will find any type
of cloth you wish for, now I am sure all ladies will push their husbands to
take them there.
One thing, going there is not an easy task. You will have to
park your cars outside the Delhi Gate, where there is a designated parking and
walk to all these markets. As you reach the Rang Mehal Chowk you will be
welcomed by the Golden Mosque standing majestically there, and a small turn to
the left will take you to the Waan Market. This market exists for more than hundred
years as before partition it was called WAAN WATTAN while now it’s named
as Waan market. This market deals in Baan, Seba, plastic baan, jute and all
kind of stuff used in making traditional sofa sets, beds, chairs, and other
kinds of furniture. You will see people knitting up furniture with the Waan
there which is an interesting sight. To see Artisan at work, Waan market is the
best example. A few yards from the Waan Market is again something for the
interest of ladies, which is crockery and house hold bazaar. Kasera bazaar is the
manor of utensils. You will find stainless steel, brass, copper and other house
hold items like crockery, pots, dishes, vases, decoration pieces etc. there. Kasera
Bazaar was established nearly 125 years ago. Almost more than 100 shops are there.
Antique items of this market are also exported to other countries. The shop of
Omar Butt is famous for its antiques which you will not find anywhere else in
Pakistan. The amazing part is that the way these shopkeepers sell their product
itself is unique. Talking to some old shopkeepers they said that the bazaar was
once full of brass and copper utensils. With the passage of time and demand of
people the stainless steel took over the cultural crockery as well. This was
something sad I heard. Now only two or three shops deal in brass and copper
rest all have the stainless steel.
This is not an end to the markets in the walled city. I will
be coming with more in my next feature and more exciting stuff for men and
women.
(The writer is a media professional and can be reached at taniaq29@gmail.com)
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