Sarai Kale Khan

Sarai Kale Khan is a historic locality and a Gujjar village of Basista / Bosatta Gotra (clan), migrated from Khanpur village situated in South Delhi in 16th - 17th Century . During past, it was known as Moocho waali Sarai (Inn of Moustaches) because every male have had long moustaches, which was a symbol of manliness those days. In the north-west cornerside of the village there used to be some debris of old monuments which were called Mahal (Mansion) (nowadays DDA Flats are situated over there). The land area of Sarai Kale Khan was stretched from Purana Qila (Old Fort) in north-west to Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium in west, Mayur Vihar in east and Taimoor Nagar in south. The village is surrounded by some famous monuments such as Purana Qila, Humayun’s Tomb, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya’s Dargah, Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khana's Tomb, Baara Pullah and other monuments.

These days it is also known for Sarai Kale Khan ISBT Inter State Bus Terminal and Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, Delhi, Delhi Government's Transport Department zonal office and “Vishwa Shanti Stupa” or peace pagoda (unveiled by His Holiness the Dalai Lama) located at the Millennium Park on Ring road.

History

The area is named 'Kale khan ki sarai', a sarai, or rest house for travellers or caravans and royal route from Mughal imperial courts and Chandni Chowk to their retreat at Mehrauli some 32 km away. The sarai itself named after a Sufi saint, Kale Khan of 14th-15th century, whose resting place...
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