Karol Bagh
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Karol Bagh करोल बाघ |
|
| — Neighbourhood of New Delhi — | |
| Karol Bagh | |
| Nickname: K.B. | |
| Coordinates: | |
|---|---|
| Country | India |
| State | New Delhi |
| Constituency | Karol bagh |
| Settled | |
| Government | |
| - Type | Elected Representative |
| - MP | Krishna Tirath |
| Population | |
| - Total | 505,241 |
| Time zone | GMT + 0530 (UTC) |
| 110005 | |
| Distance From Airport = 20 KM Distance From Railway = 4 KM | |
Karol Bagh (Pincode 110005) Google Map [1] (Distance 20 - 22 KM from Indira Gandhi International Airport) is a mixed residential/commercial neighbourhood in West-Central Delhi. Commercial activity ranges from retail and wholesale activity (broadly along two lines - Showrooms and Shop Culture) and Manufacturing. Karol Bagh is also the centre of several low and medium budget hotels providing accommodations to foreign as well as Indian Tourists. Karol Bagh still has residential areas, though they are clustered in different pockets and variegated on income levels propotionating to land values.Some of the best-known shops on Ajmal Khan Road include Roopak's, (spice store) Sethi Silk Store (women's apparel showroom) but what the market is mainly known for is Jwellery, clothes and shoes. It has a plethora of shops specializing in clothes (including branches of famous trousseau shops Ram Chandra Kishan Chandra and Zohra, which were featured in Mira Nair's film Monsoon Wedding). Other landmark shops include Cheap Silk Stores, South India Cloth House, and Jainsons Westend. Well-known eating places are mostly old-fashioned sweetshops, including Punjab Sweets and Roshan di Kulfi (supposedly one of the oldest and best kulfi places in the city), and Bikanervala. These are also well-known for their traditional Punjabi vegetarian food options and snacks, such as aloo tikki and excellent chole bhature. The area between Gurudwara Road and Ajmal Khan Road, at the Pusa Road end, specialises in Car accessories. Naiwala area is biggest Wholesale Market for spare part of two wheelers in India. A little further down, where Ajmal Khan Road meets Pusa Road, is a station of the third line of the Delhi Metro, which links it to Connaught Place and West Delhi. Mondays are given over to one of the largest street markets in the city, though the pavements are full of stalls on all days. Ghaffar Market, a municipal market along a stretch of Ajmal Khan Road, specializes in smuggled electronics and sundry other 'imported' items. Desh Bandhu Gupta Road runs at the edge of Karol Bagh and leads to New Delhi Railway Station which is at about a distance of 4 km and is a branch road of Rohtak Road. Liberty Cinema is an important landmark and is a Single Screen Cineplex. Karol Bagh also has its own Delhi Metro Station (5 Rupees in Pedal Rikshaw from anywhere in KB).
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[edit] History
The area was primarily residential with a large Muslim population until the exodus of many Muslims to Pakistan and an influx of refugees from West Punjab after Partition in 1947, many of whom were traders, and one big name is Late Sh. Kasturi Lal Anand, who was elected as the President of Trader Association of Gaffar Market, made it the hub of a major shopping area, which it remains to this day. There remains a sizeable Tamil-speaking population, and several stores specialising in South Indian kitchen paraphernalia, including filter coffee makers. Karol Bagh was also home to a large Bengali community, and has one of the oldest Durga Puja in the city, though their numbers have now dwindled. The area is of some historic importance, though this has been eclipsed by its commercial success; further along Ajmal Khan Road towards Paharganj one encounters the Tibbia College, a turn-of-the-century centre for 'Unani and Ayurvedic' medicine founded by Hakim Ajmal Khan, who also founded the Unani medicine firm Hamdard. Several disused mosques lie hidden in the small bylanes. Lying in close proximity to Karol Bagh is the Jhande Walan Temple. A sacred place of worship for the Hindu's, this temple has a mass devotee following that frequent it.
[edit] Neighbourhoods within Karol Bagh
The constituent neighbourhoods are Western Extension Area, Naiwala, Krishan Nagar, Ramjas Road, Dev Nagar, Regharpura, Sat Nagar and Beadonpura.
[edit] Social composition of neighbourhoods
Other important religious structures include the Gurudwara on the epynomous road, and the Arya Samaj Temple which gives another major arterial road its name. Of anthropological interest are also a Christian settlement further along Saraswati Marg, and a low-income neighbourhood called Regharpura, where, according to some historians, members of the Reghar tribe who were employed by the British colonial administration to work as labourers in the construction of New Delhi were settled after the new capital had been built. Western Extension Area was primarily middle-class but is now mostly commercial.
[edit] Government
Karol Bagh is the only Reserved (Scheduled Caste) constituency in Delhi for the Lok Sabha[1].
Last Election Result [2] * Krishna Tirath (INC) won from Karol Bagh(SC), Delhi * Anita Arya (BJP) lost from Karol Bagh(SC), Delhi
[edit] Markets and Goods
A place, which is synonymous with the rich history of Delhi, the Karol Bagh Market, Delhi is more than just a market place to most of the residents of Delhi. Located in the heart of the capital, in one of residential areas of the city, the Karol Bagh Market, Delhi is the perfect place to go souvenir hunting while on a tour to Delhi.
The history of Karol Bagh Market, Delhi dates back to as early as the partition of India, when many of the area’s present population arrived in the city as refugees from Pakistan. Many of these refugees were traders by profession, a profession which they continued even after their exodus to Delhi.
A shopper’s paradise, the Karol Bagh Market, Delhi is famous for selling some of the famous artifacts of Delhi, which includes almost everything from spices to jewelry as well as clothes fit for a bridal trousseau.
A walk through Karol Bagh market is an unforgettable experience. It's a journey into history, traditional treasure house which mirrors the very best of Indian craftsmen. What makes the shopping unique is that the visitor has the options of walking in modern air-conditioned stores or through narrow alleys to traditional shops where often the artisan himself presents his work and also explains the intricacies of his craftsmanship.
| Market | Goods | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaffar Market | Electronic Goods (Television, Stereo System, Mixers and Grinders to all home consumables), Mobiles and Accessories, Cosmetics, Packed Food, CD/DVD, PC/PS/XBOX games, Grey market goods | The Gaffar market in Delhi is one of the famous grey markets in India (sister market - Palika bazar CP) | |
| Ajmal Khan road (Retail) | Saraswati Marg/Padam Singh Road Junction to Saraswati marg/Arya Samaj Road junction | Crockery (Wholesale and Retail) - Glass/Ceramic/China ware, Paintings, Gift Items, Vases and Flower Pots, Mobile Chargers (Wholesale only) | Tee Pee Point |
| Bank Street | Jewellery (Wholesale and Retail) - Diamond/Silver/Gold/Precious and Semi Precious metal and stones/Karahi/Traditional Indian Jewellery, Loose Precious and Semi Precious Stones, Jewellery Resale, Custom Jewellery/ Bridal Jewellery | Richest Road in Delhi/ Biggest Jewellery Market in Delhi |
[edit] Famous Present/Past Residents
- Ajay Bijli - Owner of PVR Cinemas
- Neena Gupta- Actress/Theatre Artist
- Late Sh. Kasturi Lal Anand- Ex-President of Gaffar Market
- Sh. Jayanarayan Methi - Ex-President of Vaish Samaj
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Website of R K Films & Media Academy, Karol Bagh
- Photos of Karol Bagh on Flickr
- Website of Karol Bagh Traders
