Daryaganj

Daryaganj
दरियागंज
Darya Ganj
subdistrict

Sunday Book Market

Historic map of Shahjahanabad (now called Old Delhi), 1863, showing Daryaganj
Daryaganj

Location in Delhi, India

Coordinates: 28°38′39″N 77°14′31″E / 28.6443°N 77.2420°E / 28.6443; 77.2420Coordinates: 28°38′39″N 77°14′31″E / 28.6443°N 77.2420°E / 28.6443; 77.2420
Country  India
State Delhi
District Central Delhi
Government
 • Body Municipal Corporation of Delhi
Languages
 • Official Hindi, English, Urdu, Punjabi
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 110 002
Civic agency Municipal Corporation of Delhi

Daryaganj (literally "River Trading Post/Warehouse") is a neighbourhood of Delhi inside the walled city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi). The "darya" (lit. "River") refers to the river Yamuna which was just outside the walled city. Daryaganj is one of the three subdivisions of Central Delhi District, it started at Delhi Gate, at the edge of Netaji Subash Road, which goes towards Red Fort.

History

Portion of city wall of the walled city of Shahjahanabad, Ansari Road, Daryaganj

Daryaganj had the original cantonment of Delhi, after 1803, where a native regiment of Delhi garrison was stationed, which was later shifted to Ridge area. Now known as New Darya Ganj, it once formed part of the British Darya Ganj Cantonment, one of the earliest establishments of the British in Old Delhi. The New Darya Ganj market was earlier known as Faiz Bazaar until the partition, when present traders moved into the area.[1] East of Daryaganj was Raj ghat Gate of the walled city, opening at Raj Ghat on Yamuna River.[2] The Phool Mandi (Flower Market) of Daryaganj was established around 1869, and even today despite serving a small geographical area, it is of great importance, due to dense population.[3][4] As the new capital New Delhi was being built after 1911, Daryaganj along with Paharganj were only two buffer areas between the new city, and the older city, which started being called the "walled city" by 1931, with Daryaganj sitting at the edge of the walled city near Dilli Gate.[5]

Overview

Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, estd. 1926, one of the many eye hospitals here

Daryaganj continues to be a major commercial hub of modern Old Delhi. Netaji Subhash Road that begin from Delhi Gate and goes towards the historic Red Fort, Jama Masjid and Chandni Chowk, passes through middle of the area, which are short walk away.

The area also has a number of eye hospitals and clinics, including the Dr. Shroff's Charity Eye Hospital, which opened in 1917. The district bustles with shoppers from Monday to Saturday, and on Sunday is home to India's largest platform market for magazines and second hand books.

Daryaganj is also famous for its all time favourite markets like the Sunday Book Market or the Kitab Bazaar (Book Market) that is held every Sunday on street pavements, (Sunday being weekly holiday for the shops). The market established around 1964,[6] today stretches almost for 2 kilometers,[7] and one may find books on virtually any topic, here at throwaway prices.[8] Books of all streams,genres are available in this Sunday Book Market. The former President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf was born and used to live at Nehar Wali Haveli in Daryaganj before migrating to Pakistan after the Partition of India in 1947.[9][10]

Darya Ganj today is quite well known all over the country, thanks to the number of book publishers who have their offices here. Ranging from S. Chand & Co., to Prentice Hall India, to Oxford University Press, mostly on Ansari Road, an inner road on the eastern side Daryaganj and is neighbouring areas.[11] Daryaganj is also home the Hans, a Hindi literary magazine, restarted by writer Rajendra Yadav in 1986, originally founded by Premchand, a pioneer in Hindi literature.[12]

Darya Ganj has one major cinema hall called Golcha, which opened in 1954, one of oldest cinemas of Delhi.[13][14]

Darya Ganj has the first co-education school of Delhi, Happy School, located on Padam Chand Marg.

Cuisine

Daryaganj also has what was once the only restaurant of Old Delhi, the Moti Mahal founded by Kundan Lal Jaggi, Thakur Das Mago and Kundan Lal Gujral,[15] most known for the invention of butter chicken and modern dal makhani.[16] Another notable modern restaurant is Chor Bizarre near Delite cinema, which serves Kashmiri cuisine.[6]

In addition to this, Darya Ganj is known to all Delhiites for the food you can get here. From the Baniyaan of Gupta ji, to Devi ke Kulche, to Pindi ka Dahi, these are a must try for anyone going to Darya Ganj. Of course, you could also hop over to the areas around Jama Masjid, for some delicious Kababs, whether from the roadside stalls, or some of the cooking of establishments like Zalim's.[17]

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/21/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.