Favourite Trip: Visit to a Mughal Emperor's Tomb

Abdul Rehman Nawaz | Faislabad, Pakistan

Culture may even be described simply as that which makes life worth living. - T.S Elliot

There is no doubt that we travel from the present into the past when visiting historical destinations. Through these visits, we came to know the skill and ability of the people whom we may wrongly think to be less advanced than us. Pakistani culture is rich with all these appealing attributes. Visiting historical places demonstrated this, is always a wonderful experience.

I quote John Keats here: “A thing of beauty is a joy forever. It’s loveliness increases, it will never pass into nothingness.”

Last year, my friends and I chalked out a plan to visit a historical site at Lahore, as Lahore has many historical places worth-seeing. We decided to visit the legendary mausoleum of Jahangir, the great Mughal King. We were to leave for Lahore from Faisalabad and therefore we went to the bus stand and bought tickets for an air-conditioned luxury bus. We travelled by Motorway and reached Lahore just after two and a half hours.

Source: Dream of A City Blog

We then hopped on a taxi and reached the elegant tomb of Jahangir. The four magnificent minarets of the tomb presented an enchanting view to the on-lookers. Lofty walls and the magnificent gate guarded the grand tomb of the Great Emperor.

Source: Dream of A City Blog

The tomb is located in the heart of a park. As we entered the park, we were greeted by a host of colourful flowers of the season. There were also mango groves here and there spreading a cool shade. Then we entered the majestic edifice of Mughal Art containing the grave of Jahangir.

Source: Dream of A City Blog

In an inner room sleeps the Great Mughal Emperor. Nothing to disturb him now. He was lying alone, helpless and companionless in the sheer calm of infinity. How beautifully a poet has said:

“Oh threats of Hell and Hopes of Paradise! One thing at least is certain. This Life lies. One thing is certain and the rest is lie. The flower that once has blown forever dies.”

Soon it was evening and the light began to fade. The silence and peace of the place affected us all very strangely. On our way back, our minds were full of solemn thoughts.