Greater Iqbal Park (Punjabi/), formerly Iqbal Park and Minto Park, is an urban park located on the outskirts of the Walled City in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.
Minar-e-Pakistan is the most notable monument located within the 329-acre park. It also includes an artificial lake spread over four acres which includes an 800-feet-long musical fountain. Other attractions includes a two-kilometre-long soft rail, a library, an open-air gym and a food court. The tomb of Hafeez Jalandhari is also located in the park, while Lahore Fort, Hazuri Bagh (including tomb of Iqbal), Ranjit Singh Samadhi and Badshahi Mosque are adjacent to it.
History
The ground known as Greater Iqbal Park today was used for military parades during the Mughal-era. After the rise of the Sikhs into power in 1799, the grounds came to be known as 'Parade Ground', as the area continued to be used for the same purpose as it was before.
When the British captured Lahore in 1849, they renamed the grounds as Minto Park, after Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 1st Earl of Minto, and Governor-General of India between July 1807 and 1813.
After the independence of Pakistan, the park was renamed as Iqbal Park, after the poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal, in commemoration of the Lahore Resolution of 1940. After extensive renovations were completed in December 2016, the park was given its current name.
Renovation and expansion
Work began on the upgradation of the park on 10 October 2015. Habib Construction Services Limited was contracted to complete the project. Along with renovation of the Minar-i-Pakistan, the project featured expansion of the Iqbal Park by including it in the stretch of Circular Road between the park and Lahore Fort. The 125-acre green oasis is surrounded almost entirely by the old city of Lahore. The project was completed on 9 November 2016 incurring a total cost of PKR 981 million as quoted by the contractor of the project.
The new-look park was formally inaugurated on 17 December 2016.
Furthermore, the National History Museum was opened in the park in 2018. It is the first digital museum in Pakistan that offers an immersive experience to visitors with the help of cutting-edge technologies. Using holograms and virtual reality equipment, this digital museum commemorates all the historic events leading to the emergence of Pakistan in 1947. Along with hosting a vast collection of national relics and antiquities, the museum also highlights the key sports and cultural events throughout the history of the country.
Features
The park features the following sites:
- Minar-e-Pakistan
- Tomb of Hafeez Jalandhari
- Musical fountain
- National History Museum
- Library
- Boating lake
- Mughal-style baradari
- Children play area
- Food court
- Open-air gym
- Walking trails
- Buggy track
- Gazebos
Gallery
<gallery class="center" widths="140" heights="120" perrow="5">
File:The mighty Minar-e-Pakistan.jpg|Minar-e-Pakistan and its lush surroundings
File:Badshahi Mosque July 1 2005 pic32 by Ali Imran (1).jpg|Badshahi Mosque is adjacent to Iqbal Park
File:The Lahore Forts Alamgiri Gate Picture2 taken at night - July 20 2005.jpg|Lahore Fort is adjacent to Iqbal Park
File:Allama Iqbals Tomb East wall close-up July 1 2005.jpg|Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal is adjacent to Iqbal Park
File:Iqbal park lush grounds.jpg|Lush grounds of the park
File:Iqbal Park view of Badshahi Mosque.jpg|View of Badshahi Mosque from the park
File:Greater Iqbal park.jpg|Traditional horse-drawn carriage
File:Iqbal Park (Lahore) by Damn Cruze.jpg|View from Lahore Fort
File:Iqbal Park.jpg|Entrance to Hafeez Jalandhari's tomb
File:Iqbal Park, Lahore 5.jpg|Walking trails at evening
</gallery>
See also
- List of parks and gardens in Pakistan
- List of parks and gardens in Lahore
- List of parks and gardens in Karachi