Twenty years ago when I moved to Lahore, my excitement was unmatched. It was a dream-come-true for me. I had heard a lot about the City of Gardens, as the place where people would travel to for new beginnings. After all, this is where you’d find some of Pakistan’s best universities.

It’s a city where you can’t tell day from night as it is forever bustling with activity, especially related to food, I was told. Yes, Lahore is a city with a rich food culture. It’s not only famous for its tempting cuisines and their aromas but also the way these are served — you get a taste of its culture with every dish you order.

If you’re a foodie, like I am, you can’t miss the Food Street located in Androon Shehr — ie the Walled City of Lahore — which is surrounded by historical places such as the Lahore Fort and Badshahi Masjid. Here you find many options starting from naan chanay, paye and halwa puri, offered as the breakfast menu, to chicken/ mutton karahi, biryani and pilaf etc for lunch and maybe also for dinner.

Multi-cuisine restaurants serve dishes that are native to Italy, India, China, the US, and even France and Mexico. These are to be found at the posh cafés and restaurants lining Lahore’s popular MM Alam Road as well as in the DHA.

There’s something to be said for the city’s hospitality too. As I discovered, people here are so humble and hospitable that you will easily feel at home. For someone like me who was coming from a relatively conservative and conventional Faisalabad, it was quite liberating.

Lahore is a city with a rich ‘food’ culture. It’s not only famous for its tempting cuisines and their aromas but also the way these are served — you get a taste of its culture with every dish you order.

The capital of the Punjab, Lahore is also known as the heart of Pakistan, and rightly so. The city is the hub of arts, literature, culture and education. Remember, the film industry of Pakistan was headquartered here for the longest time (before most professionals moved to Karachi). Theatre and other performing arts, too, actually flourished here more than at any other place in the country.

In my view, Lahore has managed to steer clear of extremist attitudes because it holds its artists dear. Also, because the city is home to the shrines of Sufis like Data Sahib and Mian Mir. Devotees from all over the world descend on these places, especially on Thursdays. For many, it is here that their wishes are granted.

After spending all these years in this city, I can safely say that I feel a sense of belonging to it, quite like a Lahori does. And I would also vouch for it the next time someone says in Punjabi, which loosely translates as “the one who hasn’t seen Lahore isn’t born yet.”

The writer is a teacher by profession. She has a keen interest in literature