Cultural and Social Impacts of Shalamar Garden on the City of Lahore 

Problem(s) Addressed:

This study examines the diminishing cultural relevance and physical degradation of Lahore's Shalamar Garden (Pakistan), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Some of the main issues are vandalism (for example, marble was stripped during Sikh rule), environmental degradation (noise and air pollution), neglect by the government, the loss of historical practices (for example, the Mela Chiraghan fair was banned), and not enough public awareness of its historical value.  The research also investigates the garden's changing significance in Lahore's urban environment in the context of modernization challenges.

Methods:

• Interviews: Fifteen interviews were conducted with visitors at the site, along with two interviews with architectural historians were conducted.

• Focused Group Discussion: One focused group discussion was conducted with 10 participants, between the ages 23 and 38, from different socioeconomic and educational backgrounds. 

• Historical Data Analysis: Secondary sources (chronicles, architectural records) were examined to understand and contextualize the history, trends, and the importance of the garden in the city of Lahore.

Key Findings:

• Positive Impacts: Shalamar offers sociocultural space (recreation, family vacations, wedding visits), economic advantages (tourism, local commerce), and environmental relief (cleaner air in crowded Baghbanpura neighborhood). It represents Mughal-Islamic notions of paradise, which helped shape Lahore's reputation as the "City of Gardens."

• Negative Impacts: Urbanization has led to degradation of the site through pollution, littering, and encroachment. Cultural ties are eroding, conservation is underfunded, and historical terraces (four of the seven original gardens) are lost. It is frequently viewed by the public as a picnic area rather than a historical landmark.

Recommendations:

• Accelerate government-led conservation to restore original features.

• Install informational boards at structures to educate visitors.

• Make use of the garden's aesthetic and historical significance to teach the public about architecture and poetry.

• Enhance tourist appeal through maintenance.

• Organize seminars to reframe Shalamar as cultural heritage rather than merely a recreational spot.