Heera Mandi
ہیرا منڈی Shahi Mohallah | |
|---|---|
  Heera Mandi ہیرا منڈی | |
| Coordinates: 31°35′10″N 74°18′35″E / 31.586167101203753°N 74.30980680775039°E | |
| Country |  Pakistan |
| Province | Punjab |
| City | Lahore |
| Administrative town | Ravi |
| Union council | 30 (Taxali Gate) |
Heera Mandi (Urdu and Punjabi: ہیرا منڈی, lit. 'Diamond Market'), sometimes referred to as Shahi Mohallah ("Royal Neighbourhood"), is a neighbourhood and bazaar located in the Walled City of Lahore. It is specifically known as the red light district of Lahore, Pakistan.[1][2] It is believed to have been originally named 'Hira Singh Di Mandi', meaning Hira Singh's food grain market. Later, this transformed to the modern name Heera Mandi as it evolved into a ‘red light district’ for the city.
Heera Mandi is located inside the Walled City of Lahore, near the Taxali Gate,[3] and south of the Badshahi Mosque.[4] Heeramandi, originally a song and dance community rooted in the tawaif culture during the Mughal period, first evolved into a hotspot for prostitution during the Durrani invasions. Following British colonization, Heeramandi gradually transformed into a red-light district.[5][6]
- ^ Jalil, Xari (30 April 2017). "FADE FROM RED: THE DIAMOND OF LAHORE HAS DULLED". Dawn. Retrieved 2022-07-15.
- ^ Qureshi, Tania (23 April 2017). "Heera Singh's Mandi". Pakistan Today. Archived from the original on 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-07-14.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Tribunewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
dawnwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "5 interesting facts about real-life Heera Mandi which still exists in Lahore, Pakistan". moneycontrol.com. 2024-05-04. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
- ^ "Heera Mandi: Red-Light Area With ARoyal Past". 3 March 2021.