Pahadi Imli, A Place with An Interesting Story

In New Delhi, on the other side of the exalted Jama Masjid there is a residential locality named Pahadi Imli. This place was named so because it is located on a hill which was earlier famous for big tamarind/imli tree on it. Although the tree does'nt exist today but its name has stucked over the centuries.

Trees are of a great importance in this area. Earlier, there was at least one tree in every courtyard and haveli situated there. Some of the most commonly found trees in that area were Shahtoot (mulberry), jamun (blackberry) or neem (Azadirachta indica). Gradually the houses over there became smaller due to the increase in the population, as a result the apartmemnt culture came into existence and today, none of the houses in Pahari Imli have a courtyard and there is only one tree left, a neem tree. In the 1800s, Pahadi Imli was just a steep slope with only one haveli. The haveli belonged to Mir Panjakash, a calligrapher and arm wrestler. People from all over the country and even from Persia came to Panjakash who proudly taught them beautiful calligraphy even though he didn’t know their script. He was very strong with his arm and it is said that he lost to no one. Today his haveli has been turned into a primary school. one can only visit his tomb only when the owners permit. Near Pahari Imli there a place called Pahari Bhojla, which was named after a dacoit called Bhojla. The Jama Masjid is also located on a part of this pahari. It is said that the dacoit operated from this pahari before many years when Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan decided to shift his Capital from Agra to Delhi, but the people continued to call that area as Pahari Bhojla.

By: Divya Thakur

Content: https://olddelhiheritage.in/pahari-imli-and-pahari-bhojla/