Tread carefully here. Tread carefully here for Ram and Sita walked here somewhere. For Ram and Sita slept here somewhere. For Ram and Sita prayed here somewhere. Tread carefully here even if you don’t believe the legend, for showing respect hurts nobody. Aram Bagh or Ram Bagh as it supposedly was known prior to partition was famously visited by Ram and Site en route to Hinglaj from Mahadev Temple. For obvious reason the place turned into a pilgrimage site for Hindus and many temples were built to mark the holiness of the area.
Post independence the place turned into a refugee camp and later renamed as Aram Bagh.
The place remained hub of all above activity for one reason. There has been abundance of water in this area and many wells were dug here to supply water in the area. The wells have disappeared along with the temples. A sad story. A sad story indeed. It would have been one important piece of history which we could have spared for our future generations. Taking Karachi further than its days as Kolachi.
A sad story indeed.
A beautiful mosque is the only landmark standing close to Aram Bagh apart from an abandoned temple. The mosque was built post partition. Its closed after prayers. The place is worth a visit. Park is home to homeless. A perfect getaway for passersby. Its standing in a crowded street makes it a worthy stop. Pigeons were chewing in pallid winter sunlight. A street romeo was relaxing in the middle of the park. Some old friends were chatting idly. A child ran after pigeons. Pigeons ran away from him. In all directions. It was beautiful.
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- The Aram Bagh Mosque
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- The Street Romeo relaxing
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- The entrance from the mosque
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- The way out
where is this place?
This place, Arambagh (which was originally “Ram Bagh”) is on M.A Jinnah Road (which was originally “Bunder Road”), Karachi. It is close to Jamia Cloth Market, Dow Medical College /Civil Hospital, and Khaliq Deena Hall.
Aram Bagh is not on M.A. Jinnah (Previously Bunder Road). Its situated between old Frere Road (now Shahrahe-Liaquat) and Ram Tallou Road. Its main gate is on Frere Road where all the busses come from Tower and other gate is on Ram Talou Road where all the furniture shops are located.
I thought I offer this correction; of course with due respect as you were partially right as it is near M.A. Jinnah Road.
Regards, Tariq.
I THINK THAT YOUrE A FORIEGNER
nice blog , glad to check it out:)
I lived in front of Aram Bagh since my birth until 1972. We lived in the building in front of its Main Gate with the Stairs; that is on Ram Tallou Road. I always considered Aram Bagh as my front yard; played there in 110 degree heat & went for prayers in 35 degree mornings.
Besides being bit once by an astray dog; I remember many great politicians including honorables such as Liaquat Ali Khan, Hussain Shaheed Suharwardi, Khawaja Nazimuddin, Mr. Daultana, and many other notable politicians of early 50s & 60s holding their party’s town hall meetings there. I vividly remember once Sardar Abdul Rab Nishtar visiting around 11:00 AM on a cold January morning with virtually no reason, just to hang around the park and speak to locals. He was wearing a black Sherwani and his usual cap. I approached him & shook hand with him; I still feel the kindness in his eyes and the warmth of his strong hand, and will never forget that moment.
We played Cricket with hard ball, soccer, hockey, Gilli Dunda and Kunchay (marbles). Whenever we played Kunchay, the Muazzin Saheb of the Masjid always used to run after us with his stick and confiscate our Kunchays.
When the Basketball was introduced in Karachi, my friends in the neighborhood helped clean the ground, and installed the first wooden basketball hoop. We played on clay court after the elders done playing.
Besides funny episodes between customers and furniture salesmen, small time Hashish dealers, domestic quarrels between immigrant families, and still glimpses of pre-partition India, there are hundred of funny & sad stories about Arambagh.
I can write a whole book of my days of living in Aram Bagh neighborhood. If anyone wants to know more about Aram Bagh, I certainly can tell them all about it up until 1972.
In conclusion, I now lived in a very comfortable house and safe surroundings; but I will never ever let go my love for living in a 2 room flat in Aram Bagh neighborhood. It was a heaven for me & my friends. That is my heritage.
I encourage you to write that book! You write very well and people need to hear your stories.
Please do give it careful consideration.
Hi Tariq,
I work for a production company and we’re doing a documentary about Karachi and hope to feature Aram Bagh. Can we interview you for additional information about the site since you have interesting stories about Aram Bagh. Please get in touch via email noor@socfilms.com or phone 03319121945 or 35651821/ 35651821
I lived in front of Aram Bagh since my birth until 1972. We lived in the building in front of its Main Gate with the Stairs; that is on Ram Tallou Road. I always considered Aram Bagh as my front yard; played there in 110 degree heat & went for prayers in 35 degree mornings.
Besides being bit once by an astray dog; I remember many great politicians including honorables such as Liaquat Ali Khan, Hussain Shaheed Suharwardi, Khawaja Nazimuddin, Mr. Daultana, and many other notable politicians of early 50s & 60s holding their party’s town hall meetings there. I vividly remember once Sardar Abdul Rab Nishtar visiting around 11:00 AM on a cold January morning with virtually no reason, just to hang around the park and speak to locals. He was wearing a black Sherwani and his usual cap. I approached him & shook hand with him; I still feel the kindness in his eyes and the warmth of his strong hand, and will never forget that moment.
We played Cricket with hard ball, soccer, hockey, Gilli Dunda and Kunchay (marbles). Whenever we played Kunchay, the Muazzin Saheb of the Masjid always used to run after us with his stick and confiscate our Kunchays.
When the Basketball was introduced in Karachi, my friends in the neighborhood helped clean the ground, and installed the first wooden basketball hoop. We played on clay court after the elders done playing.
Besides funny episodes between customers and furniture salesmen, small time Hashish dealers, domestic quarrels between immigrant families, and still glimpses of pre-partition India, there are hundred of funny & sad stories about Arambagh.
I can write a whole book of my days of living in Aram Bagh neighborhood. If anyone wants to know more about Aram Bagh, I certainly can tell them all about it up until 1972.
In conclusion, I now live in a very comfortable house and safe surroundings; but I will never ever let go my love for living in a 2 room flat in Aram Bagh neighborhood. It was a heaven for me & my friends. That is my heritage.
Thank you for such vivid piece of nostalgia
Pleasure to listen your story and your love to those days. what good days are those of 70s, 80s, 90s although I only enjoy 90s as a childhood but it is very different now a days.
Dear Rizwan, thanks for your compliments on my comments about Aram Bagh, I am sure even you growing up in 90s have fond memories of your era. It is natural that we tend forget negative things rather quickly and only recall when required, however, good memories remain with us day and night. So is the case with me growing up in Aram Bagh area. To share another wonderful memory. Our ex-President of Pakistan Mr. Mamnoon Hussain also grew up in that Aram Bagh area. We saw him play cricket, and we played cricket and basketball with his younger brother Shakir Hussain. Their father was a very pious man, and I must confess that I am quite regular in offering Fajar prayers, due to the fact that I saw Elder Hussain from our balcony every morning going to Fajar prayer. He was a regular despite of weather conditions. He also used to feed the pigeons in the morning. His personality in White Kurta and Pajama is embedded in me; and that motivates me to get up early mornings to offer Fajar Prayer.
Nicely written, well described childhood, being your close friend I can not
forget the time I spend (most ) in this neighbor hood, going for namaz, playing
in the open ground and dont foget the tea we use to have it Irani’s hotel and
hot puff pastries those were the wonderful of our good old days,
good luck all the best
it’s near the furniture market in Arambagh can’t miss the mosque and the famous bball court!
wowww, toooo nice our old memories
I have spent my childhood in and around Burns Road area. I lived on Kutchery Road.
I have read all the comments with interest and enjoyed every word, but strangle enough no
one has mentioned the CYCLING EVENTS that used to take place in Aram Bagh. People would cycle in circles without stopping for four days, six days. Do you people remember? Iftikhar
Yes, Iftikikhar, I vividly remember the cycling events. Couple of them were fake as they happened right in front of our balcony; and there were times when the organizers changed the rider when there were only 1 or 2 spectators in the wee hours of morning. There was nothing exciting; the guy going around and around; so even you slept over it, nothing a missed. Even the event in itself brought several funny moments where organizers during the peak hours distributed 1 Rupee notes to some of us to give it to the rider to encourage others to do the same.
Aram bagh is not a real name actually correct name is around bagh
I left Karachi in 1963. Regret I cannot remember Aram Bagh. I can however remember Jehangir Park. It was in Saddar just next to Empress Market . It was originally a sports ground and hosted many big crickt matches. I remember watching Hanif Mohammed and his broyjers Wazir and Raees playing there.
later I think about 1958 /1959 the ground was turned into a public park and crocket was transferred to the new National Stadium.
Does anyone remember this ?
Peter Pate
From: Dr. Ravi Kumar Bhargava
Dean Architecture, Hindustan University,
O.M.R. Padur, CHENNAI- 603103 INDIA
Dear friends,
I have heard from the some of the people migrated to India from Karachi after partition
About ‘Ram Bagh’. Its nice to know that it is going to be declared as a Heritage Site.
What is important is its lost glory should be restored and preserved by removing the
Encroachment including its original name- ‘Ram Bagh’. I have been informed that there are
many such Historically and mythological important places in Pakistan in pathetic condtion.
My Pakistani brothers and sisters Should realize that all these things/ buildings are the
creation of your own ancestors hence required to be preserved.
With warm Regards……… Ravi Kumar Bhargava
Great to know this and appreciate the contribution and intrest of all participant. Is there any body who can guide me where I can find the folding aluminium chairs which were very popular for Gardens. Is there any shop at armbagh funiture market please.