Lahore

The site of the city has been inhabited for around two millennia, although Lahore itself rose to prominence in the late 10th century. At times Lahore has served as the capital of several empires, including the Odi Shahis, Ghaznavid Empire and Delhi Sultanate. It was one of the principal cities in the Mughal Empire, being its capital city during the reign of Akbar. During this period, it was one of the largest cities in the world. In the 18th century Lahore fell into a period of decay while being contested among the Durranis and the Sikhs; it regained some of its former grandeur when it became capital of the Kingdom of Lahore in the early 19th century. It was annexed to the British Raj in 1849 and became the capital of Punjab Province. Lahore was central to the independence movements of British India, with the city being the site of both the Declaration of Indian Independence and the resolution for the establishment of Pakistan.