The gardens in Lahore worth a visit fall into two groups. The Mughal and Sikh-era heritage gardens, Shalimar, the tomb garden of Jahangir at Shahdara and Hazuri Bagh, are about history and architecture. The big public parks, Bagh-e-Jinnah on the Mall and Jilani Park on Jail Road, are where Lahoris walk, jog and picnic. If you have time for only one, choose Shalimar; for a morning walk, Bagh-e-Jinnah.
This guide compares them side by side, with the facts that help you choose: how big each is, when it was made, how far it is from the old city, and the best time of year and day to go. Each garden has its own detailed guide, linked below.
| Garden | Made | Size | Distance from Lahore Fort | Best for | Time needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shalimar Gardens | 1641 to 1642 | About 16 hectares | About 6.5 km east | Mughal terraces and fountains | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Jahangir's tomb garden, Shahdara | Tomb 1627 to 1637 | About 500 m square | About 4 km north-west, across the Ravi | A complete Mughal char bagh | 1.5 hours |
| Hazuri Bagh | Baradari 1818 | Small square | Beside the Fort | A short history stop | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Bagh-e-Jinnah | Around 1860 | 141 acres | About 4 km south | Walks, trees, library | 1 to 2 hours |
| Jilani Park | 1980s, on the old race course | 88 acres | About 5 km south | Families, flower shows | 1 hour or more |
Distances are straight-line from Lahore Fort, so roads will be longer.
Shalimar Gardens: the one to see
Shalimar is the grandest garden in Pakistan and, with Lahore Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. Shah Jahan's builders began it on 6 June 1641 and finished it in seventeen months. It is a walled rectangle of about 658 by 258 metres, laid out on three terraces at different levels. The upper terrace, the Farah Baksh, was the private garden of the royal household; the two lower terraces together form the Faiz Baksh. There are 414 fountains in all, and water channels run between marble pavilions and cascades.
It sits in Baghbanpura beside the Grand Trunk Road, about 5 km east of the Walled City's Delhi Gate, so it is a separate outing rather than part of a Fort visit. The Orange Line's Shalamar Bagh station is about 450 metres from the gate. The fountains are not always running, so ask at the entrance. Our Shalimar Gardens guide covers tickets, timings and what to look for on each terrace.
Jahangir's tomb garden at Shahdara: the most complete
Across the Ravi at Shahdara, the tomb of the emperor Jahangir stands in the middle of a walled Mughal garden about 500 metres on each side. It is the best place in Lahore to see a char bagh as it was meant to be: four quarters divided by paved walkways and water channels, each quarter divided again, sixteen squares in all, with the tomb at the centre. The tomb was built between 1627 and 1637.
The complex is entered through the Akbari Sarai, a caravanserai of 1637, and the tomb of Asif Khan, Jahangir's brother-in-law, completed in 1645, lies just beside it. The site has been on UNESCO's tentative list since 1993. Many visitors skip Shahdara because it is across the river; if you like Shalimar, it is the natural second visit. Our Jahangir's tomb guide covers access and the neighbouring monuments.
Hazuri Bagh: small, but between two giants
Hazuri Bagh is the square garden between the Alamgiri Gate of Lahore Fort on the east and Badshahi Mosque on the west, with the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh to the north and Roshnai Gate to the south. It stands on the site of an older caravanserai, the Serai Alamgiri. Maharaja Ranjit Singh built the marble baradari at its centre in 1818 to celebrate his capture of the Koh-i-Noor diamond, reusing marble taken from older monuments around Lahore.
The baradari was originally three storeys high. The top storey collapsed on 19 July 1932 and was never rebuilt, which is why it looks squat today. Most visitors pass through on the way from the Fort to the mosque; twenty to thirty minutes is enough. Allama Iqbal's tomb, completed in 1951, stands just outside the mosque steps. See our Hazuri Bagh guide.
Bagh-e-Jinnah: Lahore's botanical park
Bagh-e-Jinnah, still often called Lawrence Gardens after the viceroy John Lawrence, was laid out around 1860 as a botanical garden on the model of Kew. It once covered 176 acres and now covers 141. It holds about 150 varieties of trees, a botanical section, the Masjid Dar-ul-Islam, an open-air theatre and the Quaid-e-Azam Library, housed in the former Lawrence and Montgomery Halls. A walking track of about 2.65 km circles the grounds, and the park is known for its chrysanthemum shows.
The Lahore Gymkhana cricket ground inside the park has hosted cricket since 1885 and was a Test venue in the 1950s. The park is run by the Parks and Horticulture Authority and is at its best early in the morning, when walkers and joggers have it largely to themselves. Our Bagh-e-Jinnah guide covers gates and parking.
Jilani Park: the family park
Jilani Park, still widely known by its old name, Race Course Park, occupies 88 acres on Jail Road opposite Services Hospital. It is named after Ghulam Jilani Khan, the governor of Punjab under whom it was laid out in the 1980s, and it is also run by the Parks and Horticulture Authority. It has a lake, an artificial waterfall, open lawns and long walking paths, and it hosts Lahore's spring flower exhibitions. Our guide to Jashn-e-Baharan covers the spring festival. There is no heritage architecture to speak of; this is a place to relax.
For children who want rides and a lake, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park in Allama Iqbal Town, over 67 acres, and Jallo Park on the eastern edge of the city are the other big family options.
When to go
- February and March: spring flowers, mild days and the Jilani Park flower shows. The best time for every garden on this list.
- October and November: pleasant temperatures and the Bagh-e-Jinnah chrysanthemums, but smog can settle over the city from November. Our Lahore smog guide explains when it is worst.
- December and January: cool and often hazy or foggy, so views across Shalimar's terraces are softer.
- April to September: hot. Go at opening time or in the last hour before closing, because the Mughal gardens have little shade along their main walks. July and August bring monsoon downpours.
Weekday mornings are the quietest time in all of them; weekends and public holidays are the busiest in the public parks.
Which garden suits your day
- First visit, one garden only: Shalimar.
- A Mughal garden morning: Shalimar first, then Shahdara on the way back across the city, or Shahdara with the Fort and Badshahi Mosque on the same side of town.
- Ten spare minutes between the Fort and the mosque: Hazuri Bagh.
- An early walk or a run: Bagh-e-Jinnah's 2.65 km track.
- Children who need to run about: Jilani Park, Jallo Park or Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park.
- Photography: Shalimar's terraces in soft winter light, and the Shahdara tomb framed by its avenues.
Our Lahore itinerary shows how to fit the gardens alongside the Fort, the mosques and the bazaars.
Frequently asked questions
What is the oldest garden in Lahore still open to visitors?
Of the well-known gardens, the Mughal ones are oldest: the garden around Jahangir's tomb at Shahdara, whose tomb was built from 1627, and Shalimar Gardens, begun in 1641. Shalimar is the only one with full UNESCO World Heritage status.
Which is the biggest garden in Lahore?
Of the gardens in this guide, Bagh-e-Jinnah is the largest at 141 acres, followed by Jilani Park at 88 acres. Shalimar covers about 16 hectares, roughly 40 acres.
Is Hazuri Bagh worth visiting separately?
Not usually. It sits between Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque, so most people see it in twenty to thirty minutes while walking between the two.
Which Lahore garden is best for families?
Jilani Park, Jallo Park and Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, which have lawns, lakes and space for children. Bagh-e-Jinnah suits families who want a quieter walk under big trees.
Why is Lawrence Gardens called Bagh-e-Jinnah?
It was renamed after Partition in honour of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Many Lahoris still use the old name, which came from the viceroy John Lawrence.
Can I reach Shalimar Gardens by metro?
Yes. The Orange Line's Shalamar Bagh station on the Grand Trunk Road is about 450 metres from the garden.
