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Paharganj: Difference between revisions
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[[File:1863 Dispatch Atlas Map of Delhi, India - Geographicus - Delhi-dispatch-1867.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Historic map of [[Delhi]] ([[Shahjahanabad]]), 1863, showing Paharganj outside the city walls (''top left corner'')]] | [[File:1863 Dispatch Atlas Map of Delhi, India - Geographicus - Delhi-dispatch-1867.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Historic map of [[Delhi]] ([[Shahjahanabad]]), 1863, showing Paharganj outside the city walls (''top left corner'')]] | ||
[[File:paharganj main bazaar.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''Main Bazaar'' of Paharganj, Delhi]] | [[File:paharganj main bazaar.jpg|right|thumb|250px|''Main Bazaar'' of Paharganj, Delhi]] | ||
===Mughal era=== | |||
In the years after its establishment in 1638, [[Shahjahanabad]], the capital of the [[Mughal Empire]] under [[Shah Jahan]], was no longer contained within the walled city, it soon spilled into surrounding areas, stretching into miles at each end, where half of its population stayed.<ref>[[#Bl|Blake, p. 57]]</ref> By 1739, the suburbs covered 1800 acres and included areas like Mughalpura, Sabzimandi, Paharganj, and Jaisingh Pura. One of the largest and most important suburban [[mohalla]] of the Walled City of Delhi, and located just outside the ''[[Gates of Delhi#Gates in the seventh city|Ajmeri Gate]]'' of the [[Old Delhi|Walled city]], Paharganj was one of five main markets of Delhi, and the only one outside the [[walled city]]. Also, it was the principal grain market of the city in the 18th century, where grain was ferried, across [[Yamuna River]], from wholesale markets and warehouses in [[Patparganj]] and [[Shahdara]].<ref name=blake58/> Just outside the Ajmeri Gate was the [[custom house]] of the emperor, for collecting taxes.<ref>[[#Bl|Blake, p. 117]]</ref> Between Paharganj and Akbarabadi gate of the walled city was ''Shahganj'', another [[wholesale market]], while on the other side towards [[Jantar Mantar (Delhi)|Jantar Mantar]] was ''Raja Bazar''.<ref name=blake58>[[#Bl|Blake, p. 58]]</ref> In fact, Paharganj was also referred as ''Shahganj'' or King's ganj or market place during [[Mughal era]],<ref name=commons>{{cite book |title=House of Commons papers, Volume 18 |author=Great Britain, Parliament. House of Commons |author-link=House of Commons of the United Kingdom|publisher=HMSO|year=1859|page= 8|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xr4SAAAAYAAJ&q=Paharganj&pg=RA2-PA8 }}</ref> it gets its present name 'Paharganj', literally meaning ''Hilly neighbourhood'', owing to its proximity to the [[Raisina Hill]], where the [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]] stand today. Till 1857, neighbourhoods like Paharganj, Kishenganj, and Pahari Dhiraj, were separate pockets which in the following years grew and merged, for example Pahari Dhiraj merged into [[Sadar Bazaar, Delhi|Sadar Bazaar]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Delhi between two empires, 1803–1930: society, government and urban growth|author=Narayani Gupta |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=1981|page= 61|isbn=9780195612592 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6SZuAAAAMAAJ&q=Paharganj }}</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 22:40, 27 May 2021
Paharganj | |
|---|---|
 Paharganj hotels and restaurants, across New Delhi Railway Station | |
  Paharganj Location in Delhi, India | |
| Coordinates: 28°38′42″N 77°12′47″E / 28.64500°N 77.21306°ECoordinates: 28°38′42″N 77°12′47″E / 28.64500°N 77.21306°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Delhi |
| District | Central Delhi |
| Government | |
| • Body | Municipal Corporation of Delhi |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Lok Sabha constituency | New Delhi |
| Vidhan Sabha constituency | Paharganj |
| Civic agency | MCD |
Paharganj (literally 'hilly neighbourhood') is a neighbourhood of Central Delhi, located just west of the New Delhi Railway Station. Known as Shahganj or King's ganj or market place during Mughal era,[1] 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.
The area is popular with low-budget travellers for the cheap lodgings,[2] however, Paharganj has a poor record regarding safety for women, both domestic and international tourists, with Indian authorities encouraging tourists to refrain from the area, since it is an epicenter of the city's drug crime, sexual assaults and sex trade. Instead, the more modern South Delhi, particularly the neighbourhood of Hauz Khas within South Delhi,[3] is now becoming the main center for backpackers.[4][5] The proliferation of illegal bars and illegal activities like drug peddling,[6] Paharganj has also become a hotspot for crime, and a criminal hideout.[7] Many hotels and lodging in Paharganj are engaged in sex trade, gambling and other illicit activity, resulting in death of tourists.[8] The area is also known for engaging in sex trade with minor girls with large number of sex parlours and brothels involved with it.[8][9][10]
History
Mughal era
In the years after its establishment in 1638, Shahjahanabad, the capital of the Mughal Empire under Shah Jahan, was no longer contained within the walled city, it soon spilled into surrounding areas, stretching into miles at each end, where half of its population stayed.[11] By 1739, the suburbs covered 1800 acres and included areas like Mughalpura, Sabzimandi, Paharganj, and Jaisingh Pura. One of the largest and most important suburban mohalla of the Walled City of Delhi, and located just outside the Ajmeri Gate of the Walled city, Paharganj was one of five main markets of Delhi, and the only one outside the walled city. Also, it was the principal grain market of the city in the 18th century, where grain was ferried, across Yamuna River, from wholesale markets and warehouses in Patparganj and Shahdara.[12] Just outside the Ajmeri Gate was the custom house of the emperor, for collecting taxes.[13] Between Paharganj and Akbarabadi gate of the walled city was Shahganj, another wholesale market, while on the other side towards Jantar Mantar was Raja Bazar.[12] In fact, Paharganj was also referred as Shahganj or King's ganj or market place during Mughal era,[1] it gets its present name 'Paharganj', literally meaning Hilly neighbourhood, owing to its proximity to the Raisina Hill, where the Rashtrapati Bhavan stand today. Till 1857, neighbourhoods like Paharganj, Kishenganj, and Pahari Dhiraj, were separate pockets which in the following years grew and merged, for example Pahari Dhiraj merged into Sadar Bazaar.[14]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Great Britain, Parliament. House of Commons (1859). House of Commons papers, Volume 18. HMSO. p. 8.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcctvht - ↑ Benroider, Lucie (2015). "Dynamics of social change in South Delhi's Hauz Khas Village" (PDF). soas.ac.uk. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ↑ "Backpacker haven Paharganj losing out to safer, hip hostels in south Delhi". The Times of India.
- ↑ "Paharganj: Trap or haven for tourists?". Deccan Herald. 23 May 2012.
- ↑ Drug danger and social behaviour: new challenges, by Bhim Sain. Sharada Prakashan, 1988. ISBN 81-85320-00-4. p. 138.
- ↑ "Scare after blast: Cartridges found near Paharganj hotel". The Times of India. 14 September 2011. Archived from the original on 21 October 2011.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Paharganj: A den of vice?". The Times of India.
- ↑ Service, Tribune News. "Four minor sex workers rescued from Paharganj hotel in raid". Tribuneindia News Service.
- ↑ "Move over GB Road, massage parlours are a new favourite". Deccan Herald. 13 July 2014.
- ↑ Blake, p. 57
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Blake, p. 58
- ↑ Blake, p. 117
- ↑ Narayani Gupta (1981). Delhi between two empires, 1803–1930: society, government and urban growth. Oxford University Press. p. 61. ISBN 9780195612592.