Thread by @marketingdude

Here's a small journey into #Lahore today, based on my photos from 2014 which I'd love to share with you as a break from the insanity of Twitter:

Starting with the Churches of Lahore.

This beauty here is the Church of St. Mary Magdalene.

This pink beauty right here is the pretty St. Anthony's Church. #Lahore

The Altar of #Lahore's Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. What a beautiful piece of wood and marble work. The two naves on the left and right will be seen in the next tweet.

The right nave of Our Lady of Fatima Church in #Lahore: dedicated to St. Anthony of Padua. I love the little touches, such as the flower above his head on the ceiling. <3

The nave on the left, dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, commemorating the appearing of the Virgin Mary to children in Fatima, Portugal.

The courtyard outside, showcasing our Punjabi local cultural attire on the statue of Our Lady of Fatima herself <3

The main pew area of Our Lady of Fatima Church.

A little story before I move on:

As I sat in the back pews, praying, 2 young men walked in from the front. They walked to the altar, and for 20 seconds just stood, head bowed, prayed, and quietly left.

I was blessed to have witnessed that moment.

The mother Church herself, #Lahore's greatest Catholic treasure:

The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

The majestic red brick facade still stands tall over 100 years later. <3 Every time I visit #Lahore, I go here just to marvel at this time-tested symbol of a Pakistani age we don't remember any more.

It doesn't get better than this. If you're ever in #Lahore or if you live there and haven't ventured in, please do. <3

It's not always about splendour. The Spirit of God is a Spirit of humility as well.

Here is a silent, holy Protestant Church in #Lahore. I don't remember the name, but I love visiting.

While praying inside the Protestant Church, a few birds flew into it and out, disturbing what seems to be dust that had been lying for a while.

I was able to catch this moment, dust hanging in the air like snowflakes, blessing the tabla used for sing Punjabi Christian hymns.

I forgot to share this little personal photo I took from the Sacred Heart Cathedral in #Lahore. This beautiful, simple red glass cross pressed into the brick. You had to have been there to understand.

Let's move away from the Churches and into another part of #Lahore.

The old beating heart of the city itself, over-cliched and over-touristed. But never tiring of itself. Just like a real heart.

We start with this little wooden doorway, like life finding a way thru clay:

As soon as you enter Delhi Gate in #Lahore, a hundred meters down the narrow path lined with homes as new as last week and as old as your great great grand parents, is this beautiful mix of both. What a life it must be. What stories must that balcony have to share.

And yes, no conversation about traveling in #Lahore is complete without a mention of that glorious, holy, not-so-hidden hidden treasure:

The 17th Centure Wazir Khan Mosque. <3

I remember the first time I set foot into it.

41 degree Lahore April heat. And yet the foyer and the entrance were cool to the touch and the breeze soulful. As if we had entered something special.

I looked up at the dome, and I wasn't disappointed. Just look at that symmetry.

We didn't enter the Mosque immediately. First we looked around the entry foyer and the naves.

I took this picture not just to capture the beauty of the red brick architecture lined with carved wood, but to show you the intricacy of the archway's composition.

As we stood there, I also saw this.

Truly, in Allah's home everyone is welcome <3

Entering the mosque courtyard itself of #Lahore's Wazir Khan is an experience in itself. The silence takes you to centuries gone by, letting you enjoy the calligraphy, the tiles, the ceramic, the art, starting with this. Even the bottom of the balcony is decorated.

It's like nothing you've ever seen.

Like Christian frescoes & ceilings by Michelangelo focusing on vast enveloping swathes of nature and divinity, the Islamic grandeur of #Lahore's Wazir Khan Mosque is in the submerging, smaller, more intricate declarations of Allah's being.

The only thing that I can compare this to is the beautiful Biblical manuscripts of gold and inks by the ancient monks. Where ink and words formed their offering to the Almighty.

When it isn't words, it's again the small part of God's creation, the flowers, petals, leaves, roots, stems, every fragrant element captured in these tiles.

It was prayer time soon. And these worshippers were gathered shoulder to shoulder waiting.

I love this photo.

Not a single inch of wall is left untouched by the artisans.

I like this moment because every time I see it, and also when I was there watching it, the background reminded me of the great altars of Poland's mighty Cathedrals, their deep blues and golds.

No visit to #Lahore's Wazir Khan Mosque is complete without visiting the Tomb of the Sufi saint Syed Muhammad Ishaq Gazruni, also known as Miran Badshah.

Just LOOK at that breathtaking tile work, known as kashi-kari.

I'm not a fan of the Chinese lantern weirdly hanging in the previous pic.

Leaving Wazir Khan Mosque with my absolute favourite photograph. Again, I was blessed to have captured this.

In the searing heat, one young man walked in, sat to do his wuzu, and then took a loud sigh of relief.

It's really something to behold.

We went after that to #Lahore's NCA, or National College of Arts, started in 1875. Entering, walking under this 100+ year old lantern.

The NCA is full of a constant creative energy. Whether subdued or vibrant, it's always there. And I captured a couple of moments that I enjoyed. One was this:

The Jamil Baloch installation.

The second was this, a capture of NCA student life. Man it brought back memories of college.

I also love this photo because it has Sabeen's name on the wall. <3 @afiasalam

@afiasalam For all the negativity and city wars and all the usual cliches #Lahore receives, it's in the end still a diamond of a city in all of Asia.

Longing to go there again. I hope you enjoyed this little journey. I'll leave you a little gola ganda colour. :) Khuda Hafiz.