Shalimar Gardens, Lahore Pakistan......شالیمار باغ، لاہور پاکستان

The site of the Shalimar Gardens originally belonged to one
of the noble Zaildar families in the region, well known as
Arain Mian Family Baghbanpura. The family was also given
the royal title of 'Mian' by the Mughal Emperor, for its services
to the Empire. Mian Muhammad Yusuf, then the head of the
Arain Mian family, donated the site of Ishaq Pura to the
Emperor Shah Jahan, after pressure was placed on the
family by the royal engineers who wished to build on the
site due to its good position and soil. In return, Shah
Jahan granted the Arain Mian family governance of the
Shalimar Gardens. The Shalimar Gardens remained
under the custodianship of this family for more than 350
years.
In 1962, the Shalimar Gardens were nationalised by General
Ayub khan because leading Arain Mian family members had
opposed his imposition of martial law in Pakistan.
The Mela Chiraghan festival used to take place in the
Gardens, until General Ayub khan ordered against it in
1958.