Karol Bagh is a neighbourhood in Central Delhi district, Delhi, India. It is a mixed residential-cum-commercial neighbourhood known for its shopping streets, like the Ghaffar Market and Ajmal Khan Road. 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 Garment Market, Hardhyan Singh Road Leather market etc. A wholesale garment market known as Tank Road Market came into existence with few shopkeepers at the end of the 1980s. It offers multiple stores for ethnic women wear i.e. suits, sarees, lehengas etc.
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 1990s, most of which are employed in jewellery 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.
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. In the recent years, many western businesses have established themselves in this area. Pizza Hut, TGIF, Reebok, Skechers, Puma and Lacoste have all established successful businesses in Karol Bagh.. Many eateries also exist such as Pind Balluchi etc.
Food
Karol Bagh is renowned for its eateries that offer lip smacking food at a very reasonable price. The famous Roshan Di Kulfi is situated in the heart of Karol Bagh market and is often pack with foodies who relish the famous Kulfi and Chole Bhature. Roopak stores is a one stop destination for all sorts of spices and has a Pani Puri shop right outside the store which offers possibly the best Pani Puri is Delhi. Standard Sweet shop is renowned for its Barfi and Aloo Puri which is a must have for the residents nearby on Sundays. Bikanerwala is packed with people buying sweets during festive season. There is also Raffel's which offer bakery items and has an ice cream counter facing the main walkway of the market.
12/24 Karol Bagh, 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 romantic comedy novel by Anuja Chauhan, The Zoya Factor lives in Karol Bagh, who ends up becoming the lucky mascot for the Indian cricket team in the novel.
