Mayo Gardens

Pakistan Railways Mayo Gardens Colony is a century old residential colony for officials of Pakistan Railways residing in Lahore. It was built during the British Rule primarily for families of the British officers serving at high-ranking positions in British-India Railways. The plan was laid to build around 70 to 80 residential houses or villas with beautiful gardens, terraces, pavements for horse chariots and servant quarters for the cooks, drivers, gardeners and security personal of the elite officials. This residential area is the most beautiful residential area of Lahore and is a very secure area with barricades on both entrances and regular police patrols. General public & public transport are not allowed to go in. Officers of Grade 19 or above are entitled for allocation of homes and this makes procuring homes very difficult. The area is one of the most beautiful residential locations of the City and officers of Grade-19 or above are entitled for allocation of homes. As per rules, an officer can live in his/her allotted house for a year after retirement and in case of death during service, his or her family can stay into house for three years.

Location

Mayo Gardens is located between Davis Road (old Sunder Das Road) and Allama Iqbal Road east of the old city of Lahore. The colony has two entrances with one facing the northern entrance of Aitchison College on Davis Road while the other opening on Allama Iqbal Road. Spreading over 10 acres (40,000 m²) the foundations of this community were laid besides the Main Canal that ran through the eastern end of the city near Zaman Park. This canal provided the water supply to the extensive vegetation that was a hallmark of the colony. A well coordinated irrigation system was built running from the canal into the colony whose remnants can still be seen today.