Heeramandi Today: Lahore's Historic District Becomes Social Media Sensation
- IndiaGlitz, [Wednesday,June 05 2024]
Many have taken notice of a Pakistani influencer's video on social media that shows off modern-day Heeramandi in Lahore. Highlighted most recently by Sanjay Leela Bhansali's OTT first series Heeramandi, the neighborhood is now hailed as a food hub for local cuisine and history enthusiasts.
Shared on the Instagram account The Orange Wall, the movie provides a virtual tour of Androon Sheher and Heeramandi, sometimes referred to as the Old City. The caption says: This is a virtual tour of modern-day Heeramandi, Lahore, for those who are unable to come in person. Known as Androon Sheher and the Old City nowadays, it retains the opulence and generosity of bygone eras. In some areas broken and worn down, but still vibrant. It is today a center for both history buffs and local gastronomy.
Beautiful singing opens the video, which then features glimpses of puppet shows, a horse carriage journey, and delectable cuisine. Nearly 410,000 views and 47,000 likes have been recorded on the video since it was uploaded earlier this month. Many viewers commented, one of whom questioned, What is the area called now? Food Street, Old Lahore, Androon Sheher, the influencer said. The influencer answered that several had been maintained and used as public offices, universities, and heritage places when another viewer asked if there were any havelis.
Reactions were not entirely good; some people questioned the area's marketing. Why are people advertising this facility, one commenter asked?
The Mughal era (1500sâmid-1800s) was when courtesans in Heeramandi flourished historically, but British control eventually transformed the region into a red-light district. The brothels were closed in 2009 after a police operation.