Karol Bagh, also spelled as Qarol Bagh (Hindi: क़रोल बाग़, Punjabi: ਕ਼ਰੋਲ ਬਾਗ਼</span>, Urdu: قرول باغ‎, pronounced [qÉ™roËl baËÉ£]), is a mixed residential-cum-commercial neighbourhood in Delhi, India, known for its shopping streets, like the Ghaffar Market and Ajmal Khan Road. It is one of the three administrative subdivisions, of the West Delhi district, of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with the other two being, Darya Ganj and Paharganj.
It was also home to the Karol Bagh Lok Sabha constituency till it was abolished in 2008, now it is a Legislative Assembly of Delhi segment of the New Delhi constituency.
Noted residential places in Karol Bagh are W.E.A, Beadon Pura, Reghar Pura, Dev Nagar, and Bapa Nagar. These are residential colonies with mix of Commercial activities. Some Wholesale markets are located in the area namely. Tank Road Garmet Market, Hardhyan Singh Road Leather market etc.
A wholesale garment market known as Tank Road Market came into existence with few shopkeepers in the end of the 1980s.
History
In the 1920s, residents of villages like Madhoganj, Jaisingh Pura, and Raja ka Bazaar evacuated to build Connaught Place and nearby areas, were relocated in Karol Bagh to the West, then a rocky area populated by trees and wild bushes.
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 and Sindh after partition in 1947, many of whom were traders. There remains a sizeable Marathi-speaking population. There is also a Tamil-speaking population. Karol Bagh is also home to a large Bengali community, and hosts one of the oldest Durga Puja in the city, Their numbers have increased many folds since late 1990's, most of which are employed in jewelery manufacturing.
Several incidents were reported at Karol Bagh during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, including burning of shops. Karol Bagh was the target of a terrorist attack in October 2008 when there was a bomb blast in Ghaffar Market.
Education
The historic Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College was inaugurated here by Mahatma Gandhi in 1921, and Sri Guru Nanak Dev Khalsa College, also of Delhi University is situated here.
Markets
The area is now considered where the affluent people of West and Central Delhi go to shops, with a busy shopping streets including Ajmal Khan Road, Arya Samaj Road, and the Ghaffar Market, named after freedom fighter Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Tip Top Market (Established by Sh Sohan Lal Jain in the year 2000). In the recent years, many western businesses have established themselves in this area. Pizza Hut, TGIF, Reebok, Sketchers, Puma and Lacoste have all established successful businesses in Karol Bagh.. Many eateries also exist such as Pind Balluchi etc.
Transport
Nearest Railway Stations are Delhi Sarai Rohilla and Delhi Kishanganj, both are about a Kilometer from Central Karol Bagh. Karol Bagh is situated at a distance of 20 â€" 22 km. from the Indira Gandhi International Airport, and 4.1 km. from New Delhi Railway Station. It is also serviced by the Karol Bagh station, located on the Blue Line of the Delhi Metro. One can see famous giant statue of lord Hanuman between Jhandewalan and Karol Bagh metro station.
In popular culture
12/24 Karol Bagh (2009â€"2010), a TV series shown on Zee TV, was set in Karol Bagh and shot and produced in Delhi. Its subsequent success started the trend for many TV serials being set in Delhi. Zoya Singh Solanki the central character in the rom-com novel by Anuja Chauhan, The Zoya Factor (2008) lives in Karol Bagh, who ends up becoming the lucky mascot for the Indian cricket team in the novel.
References
External links
- Karol Bagh in Delhi