IMPACT OF CULTURAL SHIFT ON THE GREEN-SCAPE OF LAHORE, FROM MUGHALS TO PRESENT

Abstract

Lahore has a glorious history and it remained a chief cultural centre throughout the past from Ghaznavids Rule to the independence of the sub-continent. The city which was known as the City of Gardens has experienced a changing trend in garden design over a period of time, from the past to present. Initially the changes were brought about by the immigrants or invaders but now the trend in designing of parks are changing, faster than ever before. Lahore has the privilege to preserve the timeline of the changes brought about by the culture in the design of Green-Scape. This paper discusses the changing trends in park design by mapping out the expanding Lahore thus recognizing the present status of its Green-scape under the growing urban development of Lahore and the changes brought in its design and concepts, due to the cultural-Shift from Mughals to contemporary times. From past to present, the cultural change and the trends in living has influenced the design and layout of parks and gardens of the city. The Mughals brought the tradition of creating formal gardens to South Asia based on Chaharbagh; a Persian tradition. The tradition of laying out new gardens in the city remained an important part even after the decline of Mughals during Sikh period. The British also marked their name in the list of gardens at Lahore by introducing new concept in terms of botanical gardens. After independence until now, the gardens and parks continued to emerge on the map of Lahore but with varied modes and shades, influenced by globalization. Currently the urban sprawl of Lahore is increasing with a faster pace than ever before and along with it the concept behind the design and development of Green-Scape is also flourishing, bringing back the lost glory of Lahore, once called the “CITY OF GARDENS".