The architecture of the breathtakingly beautiful city of Lahore has changed over time. Centers have moved considerably, and historical focal points have vanished from the recollections of the people who live in Punjab’s heartland. Gawalmandi is one of the victims of this societal shift. Gawalmandi was the first structurally sound area outside of Lahore’s walled city after independence. Gawalmandi was considered the “Gulberg of Lahore” at that time.
Gawalmandi is a combination of the words Gawala, which means milkman, and Mandi, which means market. Gawalmandi was once one of Punjab’s leading buffalo milk-producing markets. Till 2005, Gawalmandi was the hub of Pakistan’s Basant celebration, with thousands of visitors traveling here each year to take part in the festivities. The area was at its peak from 2000 to 2012, with national and international tourists calling it a must-see site in Lahore. This is where Lahore’s renowned Old Food Street is situated.
Historical Surroundings of Gawal Mandi Lahore
Gawalmandi is bounded on four sides by roads. Three of the four roads are named after British Empire Lords.
Mcleod Road Lieutenant Governor Donald McLeod was honored on Lahore’s popular McLeod Road. Donald McLeod, the son of Lieutenant General Duncan McLeod, was nominated Commissioner of Jalandhar in 1849 and Punjab Judicial Commissioner in 1854.
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Chairing Cross
By the start of the twentieth century, the city had expanded outwards and eastwards into “Donald Town.” A 1913 “Charing Cross Scheme” for Donald Town’s eastern fringes indicates a plan to create a garden at the intersection of the Mall, Egerton, and Montgomery Roads, along with a pavilion built by Bhai Ram Singh and placing a bust of Queen Victoria. The two buildings to the south of Charing Cross were built by 1916, but restorations in the last decade have made them look rather different.
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Lakshmi Building, Lakshmi Chowk
The Lakshmi building, which is located at the junction of McLeod Road, Nisbat Road, and Abbot Road in Old Lahore, has been a part of the Lahori panorama for a long period of time. Its old-fashioned British-era façade, with lofty arches and Art Deco design, is a tribute to Indo-British architecture.
For a while after Partition, the building in Lahore held the Muslim League’s office and was home to a number of notable figures. Sadat Hassan Manto, along with his daughter Nighat Patel and nephew Hamid Jalal, used to live in the property. After the end of the local film industry, Lakshmi Chowk became known as a true foodie’s paradise. The Lakshmi Building and Lakshmi Chowk have witnessed all of the city’s transitions, but they continue to stand as a memory box of architectural and historical grandeur.
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Shah Din Manzil
Shah Din Manzil, one of the city’s most historically significant locations. It has witnessed Pakistan’s evolution for approximately a century, and it is with this stillness that it commemorates a century of existence. For over a century, the Shahdin Manzil has stood at the crossroads of history. It has seen the Mall Road evolve from a huge open area dotted with trees to the diversity of buildings that currently line both sides.
It was also possibly the first building on the Mall to be constructed by a Muslim. The Mall was renamed Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam, while Charing Cross was renamed Faisal Chowk. It has changed and evolved in synch with the changing environment.
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Summit Minar
The Summit Minar on Mall Road in Lahore, which stands majestically in front of the Punjab Assembly and WAPDA House, has a prominent political and religious history. This 155-feet-high Minar was built by National Construction Company Pakistan Ltd. under the supervision of the Pakistan Public Works Department and was designed by Vadet Dalokey, a Turkish architect who also planned the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad. The great minaret is particularly impressive in the evening. The inscription “Allah-o-Akbar” with gold leaves is carved into the marble slabs at the foundation of the Summit Minar.
The current state of this magnificent monument is appalling. Despite the fact that the garden around the minaret is blossoming with spring, the blackened, damaged, and detaching tiles from the minaret are a testament to the relevant authorities’ carelessness and immediately require renovation.
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Dyal Singh College
Sardar Dyal Singh’s will resulted in the establishment of a Muslim institution in Lahore. Sardar Dyal Singh was a member of the Shergil or Gill clan of Sardars from Majitha village, which is located between Lahore and Amritsar. To achieve this goal, he donated his whole wealth to the three trusts. Dyal Singh College was founded in Lahore by the same Trust after his death in 1910. The college is located on Nisbat Road near Lakshmi Chowk.
Gawalmandi Food Street
Even though there were other companies functioning here, Gawalmandi became synonymous with wonderful cuisine at one point.
It was, however, the food that distinguished it apart from the rest of the city. It was in the year 2000 that a group of connoisseurs and the local administration proposed turning Gawalmandi into a proper food street with a distinct identity on a global scale.
Chacha Feekay ki Lassi
Pakistani community almost loves the Lassi and they love to have it with breakfast. lassi is an important part of Punjabi culture and nowhere is the legacy of this drink more honored than at Chacha Feekay ki Lassi. Shahid Butt is the owner of it and he is so humble with the middle age. His routine for serving the customer is different from the other as he serves 12 hours and makes them drink this amazing lassi. This business is running from the four generations. The special thing about his lassi is that he serves it with a paira on top which makes him different from others.
Location:
It is situated in the Gahwal Mandi.
Sadiq halwa puri
Halwa puri is admired by almost everyone and they love to eat it from the areas which are especially famous for this. Sadiq Halwa Puri is situated in the Gawalmandi. Their specialty about this is that they serve the Ata puri and meetha puri. They ready their food in pure desi ghee and the taste is so amazing. People come from so much distance for especially for breakfast. This meal is loved in summer and as well as winter.
Location:
Gawalmandi
Butt karahi Lakshmi chowk
They provide the best taste in every category in the town. Their specialty is chicken karahi which is admired by everyone and they especially come there to eat it. Lakshmi Chowk has many other options also but no taste can compete with the Butt Karahi. They serve fresh food, a good environment, and the best serving to customers.
Location:
Gita Bhavan Building in the Lakshmi Chowk.
Sardar fish
Sardar migrates from the Amritsar and they settle into the Gawalmandi. There they have opened the shop of fish which is admired by everyone. There are family sitting also and their taste is amazing.
Yousuf Falooda
Yousaf Falooda in Gawlmandi, Lahore, has proven itself as one of the city’s most delectable dessert eateries. The falooda is created with Rabbri and Kulfi, making it unique among desserts. Yousaf Falooda is the great choice on the menu for those lovely summer nights when you want to hang out with your pals late at night.
Envision cold Kulfa, sticky sweet noodles sprinkled with crushed dry almonds and cardamom powder; don’t you think it sounds divine? If you visit Gawalmandi then Yousaf Falooda should be a must-visit place.
Location:
Gawalmandi.
Amritsari Hareesa
Hareesa is a variation of Haleem, there isn’t much of a distinction between the two. But when it comes to the real Hareesa, in Lahore. It’s the Amritsari Hareesa on Gawal Mandi’s Nisbat Road. Amritsari Hareesa in Gawalmandi Food Street is indeed a legendary figure, perfect for cold winter nights. The beef or mutton hareesa is prepared with a fresh desi ghee Tarka and steaming hot kulchas and is outstanding. In Lahore, Amritsari Hareesa is known for its high quality. In Lahore, this is the best Hareesa you’ll ever have.
Location:
Amritsari Hareesa on Gawal Mandi’s Nisbat Road.
Ending Note:
The food carts and millennia-old cafes on Gawalmandi Food Street Lahore make it one of the country’s most famous food alleys, offering a bit of digging into history as well as excellent views of the city of Lahore. Gawalmandi Food Street is a Lahori food cultural hub.
