A station and a fort

The Lahore Railway Station was the first purpose-built British imperial building in the region.

It was built in 1859 at a cost of around half a million rupees and is an outstanding example of British architecture. Archaeologist Afzal Khan explains, “Architect William Brunton designed it to function both as a station as a fort. This was done considering the fact that it was built immediately after the Indian Mutiny of 1857. The twin towers were supposed to be bombproof: the loop holes were for Maxim guns. The entire structure is of brick masonry. Its square turrets rise above the main structure and carry huge clocks.

Almost all British era buildings in Lahore have large clocks

showing how much importance the British rulers gave to time and telling the people to not waste it and work hard,” Afzal Khan explained.

William Brunton, the architect of -the edifice, said the whole station had a “defensive character” so that “a small garrison could secure it against enemy attack”.

The first train ran from Lahore to Amritsar in 1860.

Subsequently, connections were established with other cities such as Calcutta (now Kolkata), Bombay (now Mumbai), Delhi, Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi. Lahore Railway Station still continues to serve as important junction.

A platform ticket today at the Lahore railway station can be purchased for Rs10 to visit the station even if you are not travelling anywhere.

Bhowani Junction,

the film starring Ava Gardner and Stewart Granger, was shot here in 1956.