Kharadar کھارادر | |
|---|---|
   Clockwise from top: New Memon Masjid, Darya Lal Mandir, Kharadar Jamatkhana, Custom House | |
| Country | Pakistan |
| Province | Sindh |
| City | Karachi |
| Government | |
| • Constituency | NA-247 (Karachi South-II) |
| • National Assembly Member | Aftab Siddiqui (PTI) |
Kharadar (Urdu : کھارادر) is a neighbourhood in District South of Karachi, Pakistan. [1] Kharadar and the adjacent communities of Mithadar and Jodia Bazaar together form what is regarded as the original core of Karachi.
Kharadar literally means Brackish Gate in both Sindhi and Urdu. [2]
Kharadar is located in central Karachi, near the Port of Karachi. Together with the adjacent community of Mithadar, it forms what is regarded as the original core of Karachi, when the city was known as "Kalachi Jo Goath." The combined area of the two is approximately 35 square kilometers. [3]
The neighbourhood was named after one of two gates to the old city of Karachi built in 1729 [3] – the other being Mitha Dar or "Sweet Gate," (referring to the potable, fresh water of the Lyari River) which is now the name of the neighborhood adjacent to the northern edge of Kharadar. Both gates were torn down in 1860 after the British conquered Sindh 13 years earlier. [3]
Kharadar, along with Mithadar, is a center for Karachi's textile industry, with several garment factories and wholesalers located in the adjacent Bolton Markets, as well as numerous textile markets along Laxmi Das Street. Kharadar has also been home to a Muslim South Indian community since the 1890s – a legacy reflected in the name of the nearby market, the Cochinwala Markets named after residents of the city of Cochin in South India.
Kharadar being the oldest area along with Mithadar and Lyari is known for its diversity and unity. It is home to people from various faiths. The area has Darya Lal Mandir of the Hindu community, Khoja Isna Ashri Masjid of the Shia community and one of the largest Ismaili Jamat Khana, belongs to Nizari Isma'ili community. [4] Ismaili Muslims traders originally settled in Kharadar after having moved from Kutch, Kathiawar in Gujarat in the 16th and 17th centuries – well before the British Raj. One of the earliest Ismailis in Kharadar, Syed Ghulam Ali Shah or "Ghulmali Shah" of the Kadiwala clan, was a prominent missionary in Sindh, Kutch and Kathiawar. He died in Karachi in 1792 when there were only a handful of Ismailis. Rather than being buried amongst a small community, his body was transported to Kera in Gujarat for burial. The Ismaili community in Kharadar grew rapidly following a famine in Kutch in 1820, during which 250 Ismailis families fled the area to settle in Kharadar, where they built their first house of worship in the Kagzi Bazar ("Paper Market") in 1825. [3] The area housed the headquarters of the Ismaili faith in Pakistan, until they were moved north to Garden. Kharadar also has a large Memon community.
Kharadar remains a major tourist destination in Karachi. The New Memon Masjid's Foundation-Stone was laid on 24 August 1949 By the Governor General Khuwaja Nazim UD Din. [5] It is one of the largest mosque in the city and has a capacity of 10000 people. Among the most popular sights are Wazir Mansion, birth place of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi Port Trust Building which administers the Port of Karachi, ancient Hindu temple Darya Lal Mandir and Kharadar JamatKhana which is one of the largest Jamatkhana of Nizari Ismaili community. [6]
Jamatkhana or Jamat Khana is an amalgamation derived from the Arabic word jama‘a (gathering) and the Persian word khana. It is a term used by some Muslim communities around the world, particularly sufi ones, to a place of gathering. Among some communities of Muslims, the term is often used interchangeably with the Arabic word musallah. The Nizārī Ismā'īlī community uses the term Jama'at Khana to denote their places of worship.
Wazir Mansion, officially known as Quaid-e-Azam Birthplace Museum is a former family home in the Kharadar district South at Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan which is considered the birthplace of the country's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Saddar, also known as Saddar Bazaar, is a neighbourhood in Karachi, Pakistan. The locality was developed as the primary commercial district during the period of British-era rule in Karachi. As a result, Saddar contains the large concentration of colonial-era architecture in Karachi.
Gulbahar or Gul Bahar is one of the neighborhoods of SITE Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
SherShah is a neighbourhood in Karachi, Pakistan, that is located along the northern bank of the Lyari River. Sher Shah is home to the Morroro Graveyard - a vast cemetery that is centuries old. It is also the site of some of Karachi's recycling industry. In October 2010, Baloch terrorists gunned down 13 members of the Urdu-speaking community in a spare-parts market.
Allama Iqbal Colony is a residential neighbourhood in Lyari Town, located in the Karachi South district of Karachi, Pakistan.
Kala Board is a neighborhood in Karachi, Pakistan, that is within Malir District. The areas included in this Union Council are: from Kalaboard & Malir City 15 to A-area, B-area, Liaquat Market G-area, Muhabbat Nagar, Baraf Khana, Darakhshan Society, Al-Ameen Society, till Laal Masjid C-area.
New Karachi Town or North Karachi Town lies in the northern-eastern part of Nazimabad District, Sindh province of Pakistan. It was formed when katchi abadis were resettled following the 1958 coup d'état. Town system was established by City District Government Karachi in 2001. Town system was disbanded in 2011. New Karachi Town was re-organized as part of Karachi Central District in 2015. New Karachi Town has a population 1,166,742 as of 2023 Pakistani census.
Saddar Town lies in the Karachi District South that forms much of the historic colonial core of Karachi, in the Sindh province of Pakistan. According to the 2023 Pakistani census, Saddar Subdivision has a population 159,363.
Garden is an upmarket neighbourhood, which is in the Karachi South district of Karachi, Pakistan. It is subdivided into two neighborhoods: Garden East and Garden West. It is the residential area around the Karachi Zoological Gardens, hence it is popularly known as 'Garden' area. Garden East is home to a house of worship for Baháʼís. It is also location of the Cincinnatus Town neighborhood which was established by Goan Catholics. The main Karimabad Jamaat Khana is the largest Ismai'li house of worship in the world.
City Railway Colony is a neighbourhood in Saddar Town in Karachi, Pakistan, and is part of the administrative district Karachi South.
Civil Lines is an upmarket neighbourhood in Karachi, Pakistan that was where much of Karachi's British officials and local elite resided during the colonial era. Numerous buildings of architectural significance are located in the locality, including civic administration buildings, churches, mansions, and social clubs.
Mithadar is one of the neighbourhoods of Saddar Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, and comprises the oldest part of Karachi that was once encircled by a wall. Mithadar and the adjacent community of Kharadar together form what is regarded as the original core of Karachi.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah Road, frequently abbreviated as MA Jinnah Road, is a major thoroughfare in central Karachi, Pakistan. The road was originally named Bandar Road, because it linked the city to the Port of Karachi, but was later renamed in honour of Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. MA Jinnah Road stretches 6.1 kilometres from Jinnah Bridge in the south, near the Port of Karachi, to Gurumandir Chowk, north of Mazar-e-Quaid. It is one of the city's oldest roads, and passes through much of the colonial era historic core of Karachi, with numerous landmarks along its route.
Dhoraji Colony is a neighbourhood in Gulshan-e-Iqbal Town, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan, which is located between UC-1 and UC-2. The demarcation separating the two Union Councils runs from the National Stadium Road, towards Selani Chowk, past ZVMG Rangoonwala Community Centre via Siraj-ud-Daula road.
Ghanchi Para is a neighbourhood in District South of Karachi, Pakistan. It previously used to be part of Saddar Town.
Hijrat Colony is one of the neighbourhoods of Lyari Town in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
The demographic history of Karachi of Sindh, Pakistan. The city of Karachi grew from a small fishing village to a megacity in the last 175 years.