Daryaganj
Encyclopedia
Daryaganj, also called Darya Ganj (Hindi
: दरियागंज, Urdu
: درِیاگںج, Punjabi
: ਦਰਿਯਾਗਂਜ, lit. "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.
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. East of Daryaganj was Raj ghat Gate of the walled city, opening at Raj Ghat on Yamuna River. 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.
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 older city, which started being called the "walled city" by 1931, with Daryaganj sitting at the edge of the walled city near Dilli Gate.
Daryaganj continues to be a major commercial hub of modern Old Delhi. 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.
Bazaar
(book Market) that is held every Sunday on street pavements, (Sunday being weekly holiday for the shops). The market stretches almost for 2 kilometers, and one may find books on virtually any topic, here at throwaway prices.
The former President of Pakistan
, Pervez Musharraf
was born and used to live in Daryaganj before migrating to Pakistan
after the Partition of India
in 1947.
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. Darya Ganj has one major cinema hall called Golcha.
founded by Kundan Lal Gujral, most known for the invention of butter chicken
and modern dal makhani
. 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, hether from the roadside stalls, or some of the cooking of establishments like Zalim's.
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
: दरियागंज, Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
: درِیاگںج, Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
: ਦਰਿਯਾਗਂਜ, lit. "River Trading Post/Warehouse"), is a neighbourhood of Delhi
Delhi
Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census...
inside the walled city of Shahjahanabad (Old Delhi
Old Delhi
Old Delhi , walled city of Delhi, India, was founded as Shahjahanabad by Mughal Emperor Shahjahan in 1639. It remained the capital of the Mughals until the end of the Mughal dynasty....
). The "darya" (lit. "River") refers to the river Yamuna
Yamuna
The Yamuna is the largest tributary river of the Ganges in northern India...
which was just outside the walled city. Daryaganj is one of the three subdivisions of Central Delhi
Central Delhi
Central Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India.It is bounded by the Yamuna River on the east, and by the districts of North Delhi to the north, West Delhi and South West Delhi to the west, New Delhi to the south, and East Delhi to the east across the...
District, it started at Delhi Gate, at the edge of Netaji Subash Road, which goes towards Red Fort.
History
Cantonment
A cantonment is a temporary or semi-permanent military or police quarters. The word cantonment is derived from the French word canton meaning corner or district, as is the name of the Cantons of Switzerland. In South Asia, the term cantonment also describes permanent military stations...
of Delhi, after 1803, where a native regiment of Delhi garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
was stationed, which was later shifted to Ridge area. East of Daryaganj was Raj ghat Gate of the walled city, opening at Raj Ghat on Yamuna River. 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.
As the new capital New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
was being built after 1911, Daryaganj along with Paharganj
Paharganj
Paharganj is a neighbourhood of Central Delhi, located just west of the New Delhi Railway Station...
were only two buffer areas between the new city, and older city, which started being called the "walled city" by 1931, with Daryaganj sitting at the edge of the walled city near Dilli Gate.
Daryaganj continues to be a major commercial hub of modern Old Delhi. 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.
Overview
Daryaganj is also famous for its all time favourite markets like the Sunday Book Market or the KitabKitab
Kitab-Verlag is a publishing house in Klagenfurt, Austria. It primarily focuses on books about the history of the culture of the near east and on modern literature from Austria, Slovenia, and Italy...
Bazaar
Bazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
(book Market) that is held every Sunday on street pavements, (Sunday being weekly holiday for the shops). The market stretches almost for 2 kilometers, and one may find books on virtually any topic, here at throwaway prices.
The former President of Pakistan
President of Pakistan
The President of Pakistan is the head of state, as well as figurehead, of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recently passed an XVIII Amendment , Pakistan has a parliamentary democratic system of government. According to the Constitution, the President is chosen by the Electoral College to serve a...
, Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf
Pervez Musharraf , is a retired four-star general who served as the 13th Chief of Army Staff and tenth President of Pakistan as well as tenth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee. Musharraf headed and led an administrative military government from October 1999 till August 2007. He ruled...
was born and used to live in Daryaganj before migrating to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
after the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947.
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. Darya Ganj has one major cinema hall called Golcha.
Cuisine
Daryaganj also has what was once the only restaurant of Old Delhi, the Moti MahalMoti Mahal Delux
Moti Mahal is a chain of restaurants with over 90 franchisees in India. Starting with Moti Mahal restaurant established by Kundan Lal Gujral in Daryaganj, Delhi. It was the first Indian restaurant to introduce tandoori cuisine to the world...
founded by Kundan Lal Gujral, most known for the invention of butter chicken
Butter chicken
Butter chicken is part of the Indian cuisine, popular in countries all over the world. The origins of butter chicken can be traced back to Kundan Lal Gujral, a Hindu Punjabi, who ran a restaurant called Moti Mahal in Delhi. Butter Chicken is regarded to have been first introduced by Moti Mahal in...
and modern dal makhani
Dal makhani
-History:Dal Makhani is a signature staple food that originates from Punjab - a state in the north west of India. It is also known, as Maah-ki-dal Dal Makhani is favorite dish to order when dining out in most parts of India. Like the people of Punjab the dish is robust one and not for calorie...
. 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, hether from the roadside stalls, or some of the cooking of establishments like Zalim's.