15 PLACES FOR ONE DAY TRIP FROM LAHORE

Pakistan is full of wonderful spots and tourist destinations. Although Northern lands appeal masses for its natural beauty and are the first priority of numerous Pakistanis trekkers and amateur travelers, yet many other cities of Pakistan have their own charms. Natives of Lahore are known for being incredibly warm by heart and they are lively, the reason they cherish visiting different places around the country.

Summer Vacations are always meant for “Halla Gulla” and for planning trips with your family and friends. And if long outings are not possible for you to arrange and you have only one entire day to hang out with your buddies or with the family to spend quality time, there are a few lovely outing spots around Lahore. So do not delay it further and plan a trip with your loved ones. Lahore itself has many attractions yet times come when you want to go out of the city for a long drive alongside your loved ones. You can either enjoy driving with your family and friends and enjoy your trip without any responsibility. Here is a list of some of the most lovely places around Lahore that can pick for a day trip or picnic from Lahore.

1: Safari Park

Woodland Wildlife Park, generally known as Lahore Safari Park is 15km a long way from Lahore, situated at Raiwind street Lahore. It was built up in 1982 and it covers somewhere in the range of 240 sections of land. Indian peafowl, Bengal tiger, regular fowl, emu, lion, mute swan, nilgai, ostrich and silver pheasant among a couple of others are housed in the safari park. You need a vehicle (in the event that you don’t want to be a meal of animals) to visit the recreation center.

2: Salt Mines

World’s second biggest salt mine, Khewra Mine, is 246km far from Lahore. Situated in Jhelum, it is a standout amongst the most visited traveler’s and tourist’s destination near Lahore.Mine has wonderful carvings that incorporate a replica of Minar-e-Pakistan and Badshahi Mosque, a statue of Allama Iqbal, crystals accumulation that structure the name of Muhammad in Urdu script and so on. Most of the visitors are taken into the mine on a train yet going by walk is fun too.

Distance from Lahore: 248.3 km
Hours:
Monday- Saturday: 9:00 AM- 6:00 PM
Sunday: 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM

3: Neelwahan Valley

It is located near Kallar Kahaar, it is an astonishing spot for a one-day trip where you can enjoy a natural waterfall. YES! you can also swim in the wonderful weather and jump from the cliff.

4: Soon Sakesar Valley

250km far from Lahore, Soon Sakesar valley is in the northwest of Khushab District. It has somewhere in the range of 31 towns and various outing spots. Lake Uchhalli and Lake Khabikki are the most popular lakes of this valley. It is a visual treat for tourists and travelers who admire natural beauty and sceneries.

5: Kalar Kahar

You can easily reach your destination (Kalar Kahaar) via the Lahore-Islamabad motorway, this saltwater lake offers an amusement park, a restaurant, and a motel. Additionally, the Salt Range and Katas Raj temple are in the same vicinity.

6: Rohtas Fort

16th-century fortress, Rohtas Fort is located near the city of Jhelum in the province of Punjab. The fortress was constructed during the rule of the Pashtun ruler Sher Shah Suri somewhere in the range of 1541 and 1548 so as to help subdue the rebellious tribes of the Potohar district of northern Punjab that were faithful to the Mughal crown.

The fort is one of the largest and most impressive in the subcontinent. Rohtas Fort was never stormed by force and has endured remarkably intact. The fortress is famous for its large defensive walls, and a few magnificent gateways. Rohtas Fort was engraved by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1997 for being a “remarkable example of the Muslim military architecture of central and South Asia.

7: Khanpur Dam

It takes 7 hours from Lahore to reach the Khanpur dam. It is a long distance indeed, but the activities are worth going there. Activities like, paragliding, cliff jumping, fun boating, paintballs, rock climbing, etc. are offered by this wonderful and amazing spot.

8: Rana Resort

This is one of the most favorite excursion spots of people living nearby Lahore. It has views and spots that engage and entertain everyone from friends to family and people of all age groups. It has a different distinct attraction like Swimming pool, hunting area, fishing, horse riding, wild animals, dinosaurs and other interesting and intriguing statues, deep jungle walk.This is a standout amongst the best spots for picnic nearby Lahore and it covers 250 sections of land and it is 80 kilometers away from Thokar Niaz Baig.

9: Katas Raj Temple

It is an ancient archaeological site, 27 km away from Lahore and is located near Chakwal. Katasraj temple site is a set of seven antique templates, a couple of medieval templates, havelis, holy pond and relics of a Buddhist stupa. It is a sort of place you should visit with your archaeological site lover friends and with your family at least once in your lifetime.

10: Hiran Minar

Hiran Minar is in Sheikhupura, some 50km far away from Lahore. It was built by Emperor Jahangir as a memorial to Mansraj, one of his pet deer. It is a very beautiful and convenient picnic place near Lahore.

Distance from Lahore: 60.2 km
Hours: 8:00 AM- 8:00 PM

11: Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur

Pakistan is teeming with history, so it’s no surprise that most of these day trips are to places with some sort of historical significance.

The Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is built on the site where Guru Nanak- founder of Sikhism- assembled the Sikh community and proceeded to live for 18 years until his death in 1539. The gurdwara sits near the border between India and Pakistan and recently made history when on November 9, 201 Indian Sikhs were granted visa-free access to the holy site.

The gurdwara-which is said to be the largest on Earth- is the second holiest site in Sikhism, only the birthplace of Guru Nanak (which is also located near Lahore) is said to be more significant.

Distance from Lahore: 136.3 km
Hours: 9:00 AM- 3:00 PM

12: Baba Bulleh Shah Shrine in Kasur

Dozens of Sufi shrines can be found all throughout Pakistan, and the shrine of Baba Bulleh Shah is worth making the trip out of Lahore for! Bulleh Shah was a Mughal-Era philosopher and Sufi poet and also a descendent of Prophet Muhammad.

Bulleh Shah was known to employ the verse style Kafi in his work- at the time, Kafi was used by not only Sufis but also by Sikh Gurus. In an age of fighting between Sikhs and Muslims, Bulleh Shah was seen as a “beacon of hope” by the people of Punjab as he consistently denounced violence towards Sikhs.

His works spanned popularity across religious divides as they conveyed simplistic humanist solutions to the problems that encompassed the world in which he lived. Bulleh Shah died in Kasur in 1757, and the shrine that still stands today was erected where he was buried.

If you want to experience the shrine at its best, make a trip either on a Thursday night to enjoy some qawwali music, or if possible, during the annual Urs celebration of his death. During the Urs, the entire complex is decorated with lights and thousands come out to sing, dance and pay respects to their beloved saint.

Distance from Lahore: 48.5 km
Hours: Always open

13: Jahangir’s Tomb

Perhaps one of the closest excursions to central Lahore, Jahangir’s Tomb is situated about 1 hour from the city center. The massive complex is the final resting place of then Emperor Jahangir, who ruled from 1607-1627 C.E.

The complex took 10 years to complete after his death and remains in excellent condition today- despite it being nearly 400 years old. Much of the tomb is adorned with stunning frescoes and inlaid marble graces the walls- artistry lovers will surely be satisfied after spending a day amongst such masterpieces.

Vast gardens surround the mausoleum, and many come out to picnic or relax come weekends. Though many day-trips from Lahore require you to have your own transport, a trip to Jahangir’s Tomb can be easily made with Careem or Uber.

Distance from Lahore: 19.6 km
Hours: 9:00 AM- 7:00 PM

14: Wagah Border Closing Ceremony

The Wagah Border that separates India and Pakistan is known for a rare and whacky event… the daily border closing ceremony. Every evening, officials from both sides of the border put on a high-energy, nationalistic show that attracts hundreds of both Pakistanis and Indians each and every day.

The colorful ceremony takes place right before sunset, and coincides with the lowering of each country’s flag. Considering such ceremonies are relatively rare throughout the world, making your way to Wagah is a must-do if you’re in Lahore.

During the winters, the ceremony takes place around 3:45 PM and in summers around 4:45 PM. Try to arrive about 30-45 minutes beforehand to get a good seat! Keep in mind that bags, cigarettes, lighters and anything else that may be perceived as a weapon isn’t allowed at the ceremony, though cameras are permitted.

Distance from Lahore: 29 km

15: Harappa

This might be a one day trip from Lahore, but it’s really a blast into centuries’ past! Harappa was a city of the Harappan/Indus Valley Civilization. The ancient settlement- which was at its prime between the years of 2600 BC -1900 BC- once spread out over 150 hectares, though years of damage have made what remains much smaller.

The Harappan ruins, which are located near the city of Sahiwal, are perhaps the “oldest” day trip from Lahore. The former city used to be home to over 23,000 residents- and a visit will give you a glimpse into these ancient human lives. Remnants of homes, walkways, and buildings can be seen at the site itself, and a nearby museum also houses numerous excavated belongings of the peoples including ceramics, toys and figurines.

Distance from Lahore: 196.6 km
Hours: 8:00 AM- 4:00 PM