Lahore enjoys a rich history and identity, and part of this is the city’s identity as the city of saints – also known in Urdu as qalandars. To understand how this came to be we have to look no further than the city’s history. Lahore has been home to countless kings and rulers who resided in the city center with their establishment. This includes a vast array of ministers, cavalry and councilors who helped their rulers. This was also a time when Sufism and Spiritualism was on a rise and hence many of these rulers also found council in Sufis and renowned saints of the time.

Many of these saints and qalandars gained widespread recognition amongst the rulers as well as the masses to an extent that their identity is etched as legends. Their legend lives on to this day as a shrine culture developed in Lahore and south Asia in general.