:Sarai Kale Khan
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{{Infobox settlement
| name = Sarai Kale Khan
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Delhi
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Southeast Delhi, India
| coordinates = {{coord|28.5911|77.2578|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Delhi
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = South East Delhi
| subdivision_type3 =
| subdivision_name3 =
| established_title =
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for = Kale Khan
| government_type =
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| unit_pref = Metric
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| population_density_km2 = auto
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| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = Hindi
| timezone1 = IST
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = PIN
| postal_code = 110013
| registration plate =
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}}
Sarai Kale Khan is an urban village in the South East Delhi district of Delhi. The suburb offers convenient transportation options, with the Delhi Metro’s Pink Line and the nearby Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) providing easy access to the rest of Delhi and neighbouring states. Sarai Kale Khan is situated next to Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, one of Delhi's five major railway hubs, which serves as both the originating and terminating point for 60 trains. The ISBT functions as a terminus for most buses heading to cities and towns south of Delhi and includes a DTC bus depot, supporting the Mudrika Seva and various other bus routes.
History
The name Sarai originates from the era of Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri, who established a network of paved roads, with roadside inns known as serais placed every twelve miles to accommodate travellers. The area around Sarai Kale Khan hosted a caravanserai for travellers and caravans along the royal route connecting the Mughal imperial courts and Chandni Chowk in Shahjahanabad (now referred to as Old Delhi) to their retreat in Mehrauli, about 32 km (20 mi) away.
This sarai was named after Kale Khan, a Sufi saint from the 14th–15th century, whose resting place, along with that of another prominent Sufi saint from Delhi, is now located within the Delhi Airport complex, marking it as a historical site for travellers' respite.{{cite news |title=A unique symbol of faith |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/A-unique-symbol-of-faith/article15384950.ece|work=The Hindu |date= 12 July 2008}}
Another theory speculating the origin of the suburb's name stems from Kale Khan's Gumbad, a structure from the Lodi era located in the Kotla Mubarakpur Complex in South Delhi. According to an inscription on the mihrab (prayer niche) inside the tomb, it dates back to 1481 AD. This other Kale Khan was a courtier during the reign of Sultan Bahlol Lodi (r. 1451–1589).{{Cite book |last=Sharma |first=Y.D. |url=https://archive.org/details/delhiitsneighbou00shar/page/n5/mode/2up |title=Delhi and its Neighbourhood |publisher=Archaeological Survey of India |year=1964 |location=New Delhi |pages=28, 87 |archive-date=}}
Nawab Faizullah Beg, son of Nawab Qasim Jan—a courtier during the reign of Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II (r. 1728–1806)—was also a courtier during the reign of the last Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar. He built a complex that later became known as Ahata Kaley Sahab, christened after a saint called Kaley Khan who resided there for a time and after whom the area was subsequently named. The complex was later acquired by Bunyadi Begum, poet Mirza Ghalib's sister-in-law, and housed the poet after he was released from debtors' prison.{{Cite web |date=2012-11-03 |title=The Hindu : Metro Plus Delhi / Events : Of Ghalib's abode, masjid and muse |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/01/08/stories/2007010800080200.htm |access-date=2024-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103091606/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/01/08/stories/2007010800080200.htm |archive-date=3 November 2012 }}{{Cite web |date=2012-11-03 |title=The Hindu : New Delhi News : Retracing Ghalib's footsteps |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/14/stories/2007021404450200.htm |access-date=2024-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103091616/http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/14/stories/2007021404450200.htm |archive-date=3 November 2012 }}
Sarai Kale Khan Inter-State Bus Terminal
Sarai Kale Khan Inter-State Bus Terminal is a major bus terminus complex in Delhi, India, catering to short and long-haul bus services to the neighbouring states of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
References
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External links
- [http://wikimapia.org/109836/Sarai-Kale-Khan-Bus-Stand-Delhi-India Sarai Kale Khan] at Wikimapia
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20121107001759/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/09/29/stories/2008092950050200.htm What's in a name? (History behind the name)] at The Hindu
{{Neighborhoods of Delhi}}