Britain’s eighty-nine year rule over the Indian subcontinent left an indelible impression that is still visible on the streets of Lahore. Pakistan’s cultural capital is blessed with several beautiful examples of colonial architecture, some of which has been lovingly restored to its former glory. In this photo series, we step back in time to an era when buildings were built to impress, and said so much about the times which produced them.

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  Shaahdin Manzil, built in 1914, was renovated in 2004 and now hosts Bank Alfalah.

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  Government College University was established in 1864, and has produced such luminaries as writer Ahmed Rashid, singer Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan, and Pakistan's national poet, Muhammad "Allama" Iqbal.

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  University of the Punjab's old campus, built in 1882.

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  The Ahmad Mansion, known before partition as Lakshmi Mansion, was built in 1927.

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  Built in 1916 by one of Lahore's richest businessmen, the Ghulam Rasool Buildings take their name from their founder. They are now home to Ferozesons' Bookshop.

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  The Cathedral Church of the Resurrection is Lahore's centre of Christianity. Built in 1887, its bells were cast in England before being shipped to the subcontinent. It once featured two tall steeples, but an earthquake in 1911 forced authorities to remove them.

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  Services are still held three times a week, in Urdu and in English, for Lahore's 400,000 strong Christian community.

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  Lahore's Town Hall was established in 1890 when the city was the capital of the undivided Indian province of Punjab.

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  Faletti's Hotel opened in 1880 and quickly gained a reputation as Pakistan's most prestigious night's sleep. It was bought by investors in the 1990s, but facing competition from an influx of international luxury brands, it closed soon after. In June 2013 it reopened after an extensive refurbishment, and is once again listed as one of Lahore's most exclusive places to lay one's head.

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  The ICI Building is now home to several eateries and fashion shops.

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  Lawrence Hall and Montgomery Hall together form what is now known as the Quaid-e-Azam Library. Starting in 1862, the building was originally designed as a gala hall and a gymkhana (sport and recreation club). It fell into disrepair until 1984 when it was reopened as a library. It is set amid the lush grounds of Bagh-e-Jinnah (Jinnah Gardens), which also serves as Lahore's Botanic Gardens.

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  The interior of the Quaid-e-Azam Library.

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  In the middle of Bagh-e-Jinnah (Jinnah Gardens) lies the Gymkhana Cricket Ground. Established in 1885, this ground is the home ground of the Lahore Gymkhana, an exclusive local sports and country club.

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  Lahore's General Post Office is Pakistan's largest. It was built in 1887 to celebrate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee.

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  Built in 1872, King Edward Medical University is Pakistan's oldest educational institute.

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  Dating back to 1865, the Lahore Museum was once curated by John Lockwood Kipling, the father of writer Rudyard Kipling.