Paharganj

Paharganj (Hindi: पहाड़गंज, Urdu: پہاڑگںج , Punjabi: ਪਹਾੜਗਂਜ, literally 'hilly neighbourhood') is a neighbourhood of New Delhi, located just west of the New Delhi Railway Station. It is one of the three administrative subdivisions, of the Central Delhi district, of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, with the other two being, Darya Ganj and Karol Bagh.

It is today, known for its concentration of affordable hotels, restaurants, dhabas (cheap restaurants) and a wide variety of shops catering to both domestic travellers and foreign tourists, especially those travelling on a relatively low budget; and over the year it has becoming particularly popular as a haunt for international cuisine [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2006/06/26/stories/2006062601960200.htm Manali in Paharganj!] "The Hindu", Jun 26, 2006.] [ [http://www.delhilive.com/page/paharganj-traveler%E2%80%99s-delight-200801112082 Paharganj: A Traveler’s Delight] "www.delhilive.com", January 11, 2008.] .

The area has shelters and homes, run by Salaam Baalak Trust, an NGO, for street and working children.

History

Once an important suburb of the Walled city of Delhi, Shahjahanabad, the capital of the Mughal Empire, and located just outside, the "Ajmeri Gate" of the Walled city, Paharganj was one of five main markets of the Delhi, and the only one outside the walled city, besides that it was the principal grain market of the city, in the 17th century; it also had the custom house of the emperor, for collecting taxes [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=vJ0e0kfgttUC&pg=PA58&dq=%22Paharganj%22&sig=ACfU3U1wLEEtlwGHpwtxlCFPk0fQSickQA Suburbs -Paharganj] "Shahjahanabad: The Sovereign City in Mughal India 1639-1739", by Stephen P. Blake, Published by Cambridge University Press, 2002. ISBN 0521522994, 9780521522991. "page 58". "Page 117"] .

It gets its present name 'Paharganj', literally meaning "Hilly neighbourhood", owing to its proximity to the Raisina Hill, where the Rashtrapati Bhavan stand today. When the Lutyens' Delhi, was being built in 1920s, the area also saw major development, and the old 'Imperial theatre', built in 1930, stands as a legacy to that era.

The area saw a vast influx of Hindu refugees from Pakistan, after Partition of India in 1947, when several shops and small establishments were alloted to them, since then the area has seen vast development, and seen it the burgeoning marketplace that is today.

With the arrival of the Hippie movement in the 70s, at India's shores, the area became a regular part of the Hippie trail, for hippiees, backpackers, and college students looking for budget accomodations near, Connaught Place, New Delhi and New Delhi Railway Station, a legacy which continues even today, with its streams of budget hotels, cafes and restaurants, specializing in global cuisines, and hordes of cybercafes [ [http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990430/ige30126.html Paharganj turns Delhi's cyberia, businessmen find fortune on Net] "Indian Express", April 30, 1999.] .

Historic monuments

Paharganj is also home to the historic "Qazi Wali Masjid", known for its intricate engravings, and arched doorways [ [http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/mp/2003/05/01/stories/2003050100400300.htm Qazi Wali Masjid in Paharganj] "The Hindu", May 01, 2003.] .

Further reading

* "Delhi Between Two Empires, 1803-1931: Society, Government and Urban Growth", by Narayani Gupta. Published by Oxford University Press, 1981.

References

External links

* [http://delhitravelogue.com/2008/02/paharganj.html Paharganj history]
* [http://hotelsbookingindelhi.com/ Paharganj Hotels]
* [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IN/7/Paharganj.html Paharganj at "Falling rain"]