Lahore’s Nair o Nair
When a Lahori kid is born, the first place he/she visits is the canal. Betterly is known as nair. Famously known as nair o nair. The Urdu word for canal is Nehar, but the Lahori accent has made it nair. For me, who has been using this route to reach his destination since 2015, the nair or nair route has a special place in my heart. Many people ask me what’s the best place to visit in Lahore. Shahi Qila, Emporium, Gulberg, etc. are not the first answers in my mind. It is and will be nair o nair. I have never kept a journal in my life. Nair o nair has done the job of a journal in my life. Even though I never asked it to do but it has done this job perfectly that no journal would ever do. Waris Shah underpass reminds me of my matriculation days when I decided to go against fate, the Dharampura underpass reminds me of my undying love for The Hawk’s Monologue and so and so.
In 1619, Shah Jahan built Shalimar Gardens which marked the zenith of Mughal horticulture. To irrigate the newly-built garden a 100-mile-long canal was built. It originated from Madhopur (India) on the river Ravi and irrigated the bagh. The whole structure was built in 1644. Later Mughals faced their destined decline and the sub-continent witnessed the new, foreign rulers. In 1849, Punjab was annexed. In 1861, the British decided to build a canal. The purpose was to irrigate the areas of Punjab and to prevent the possible chances of famine in the future. So, from the Upper Chenab Canal, near Bambanwali (west of Daska) it starts and goes southeast along with the Indo-Pak border and ends in river Sutlej near Kaganpur. It was then named Babanwali-Ravi-Bedian (BRB) Canal. BRB canal also serves as a protection against an assault from the Indian side.
When BRB passes near Jallo, it is branched to form the Lahore Canal. From Jallo, the Lahore Canal moves from the eastern side to the western side. It passes from Mughalpura, Harbanspura, Dharampura, Muslim Town, and Punjab University, and reaches Thokar Niaz Beg. From Thokar, it moves along the Raiwind road and ends in Hudiara Drain. It links Lahore from Jallo to Thokar. Moving through the major and central areas of Lahore. In the 1960s a road was constructed along both sides thus allowing commotion.
The Lahore Canal Road has a total of 12 underpasses. Built from the early 2000s to the late 2010s. The Beijing underpass is 1.3 kilometres and links Dharampura to Mughalpura.
Incontrovertibly, Nair o Nair serves as the most famous and commonly used route by Lahoris. Every person from Lahore has a memory linked to it. It is one of the best things to happen to Lahore.
