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Before 1947, Karol Bagh was a Muslim-majority area. After Partition, many Hindu refugees from West Punjab and Sindh settled here and helped develop it into a thriving market hub
Karol Bagh is one of Delhi’s most popular markets, known for its affordable shopping options. (News18 Hindi)
Karol Bagh is famous as a shopping destination not just among Delhiites but even among those visiting the city. It’s natural to wonder how this place got its name, especially when there’s no bagh or garden in sight. So why is it called Karol Bagh?
Karol Bagh is one of Delhi’s most popular markets, known for its affordable shopping options. People from across the city come here to buy clothes, footwear, home decor, electronics, and more at pocket-friendly prices. It’s also home to several coaching institutes, especially those preparing students for UPSC exams.
A Glimpse Into Its Past
Before 1947, Karol Bagh was a Muslim-majority area. After the India-Pakistan partition, a large number of Hindu refugees from West Punjab and Sindh settled here. Many of them were successful traders and entrepreneurs who invested in the growth of the area.
Before the 1920s, this region was largely covered in wild bushes and trees. But as Connaught Place began developing, areas like Mahmoodganj, Jaisingh Pura, and Raja Ka Bazaar were cleared, and people from there moved westwards—towards what is now Karol Bagh.
What Does ‘Karol Bagh’ Mean?
The name Karol Bagh has a few theories behind it. In Urdu, Karol means ‘curved like a green chilli’, while Bagh means ‘garden’. The area once had herbal gardens and was known for its links to Unani medicine. In fact, Hakim Ajmal Khan founded the famous Tibbia College in this locality.
Another theory is that the area was named after a prominent industrialist, Lala Karol, who lived here in the early 20th century. He reportedly donated much of his property for building schools and hospitals in the area.
Academic And Historical Significance
According to historian Professor Amar Farooqui of Delhi University, Karol Bagh emerged as a new settlement in the late 19th century, around the same time as Paharganj. By then, Ayurveda and Unani colleges had been established in the area, and Khalsa College was later added to its educational landscape.
Dr Rana Bahl, a former professor at Deshbandhu College, DU, who moved from Amritsar to Delhi in 1965, recalls that Karol Bagh began transforming into a commercial hub during the 1960s and ’70s. By the 1990s, the area had become a hotspot for coaching institutes.
Karol Bagh Today
Today, Karol Bagh is one of the most crowded and vibrant markets in Delhi. Lakhs of shoppers visit daily. From designer sherwanis for grooms to ready-made clothing, boutique stores, gold and artificial jewellery – everything is available here at competitive prices.
Despite its modern buzz, Karol Bagh still holds traces of its layered past, making it a fascinating blend of history, culture, commerce, and community.
- Location :
Delhi, India, India
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