Hastsal

According to legend, this area was once submerged in water and elephants used to rest here. In Hindi, elephants are known as "Hathi" and place is known as "Sthal"; hence, Hastsal - the resting place of elephants.[1]

In the 17th century Mughal Emperor Shahjahan had a hunting lodge in Hastsal. 1650, he built the Mini Qutub Minar close to his hunting lodge.[2] The Minar is a 55-foot (17 m) high minaret tower, locally popular as Hastsal ki Laat or the Hastsal Minaret. It is now situated at corner of Hastsal village and is popularly known as the Laat (Pillar). The minaret and hunting lodge, both still exist but lay abandoned and crumbling. The minaret closely resembles the Qutub Minar in design.[2][3][4][5]

There's a tunnel between the Laat and the Bara Dari palace.

As of 2001 India census,[6] Hastsal had a population of 176,877. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Hastsal has an good literacy rate of 83.71 %, male literacy is 90.51%, and female literacy is 75.84%. In Hastsal, 18% of the population is under 6 years of age. Village Hastsal is populated with Rajput . Nawada, Budhela, Nangli Jalib, Possangi Pur, Asalatpur, Bindapur, Matiala, Kakrola, Nangli Sakrarawati, Nilothi are neighbouring villages.

Hastsal Minar is situated in village Hastsal on Najafgarh Road near Uttam Nagar. It is a 17 meters high three storeyed tower built of bricks and red sandstones standing on an octagonal platform. At a distance of about a hundred meters northwest of the Minar there is a double storey structure known as Hastal (elephant home) which is believed to be a Shikargah (hunting resort) of Shahjahan.

The Blue Line connects Hastsal to Connaught Place, Pragati Maidan, Anand Vihar ISBT and Vaishali via Uttam Nagar East Metro Station. Hastsal Village is 1.6 KMs away from Uttam Nagar Bus Terminal and Uttam Nagar ( East). Hastsal village had the largest agriculture land as compared to other neighbouring villages. Mahender Yadav, MLA, AAP who won with the maximum nos. of the vote in 2015 Delhi Election also belongs to Hastsal Village.

Hastsal and adjoining regularized - unauthorized colonies such as Vikas Nagar has a large number of private schools that cater to the local population residing in these colonies.[7]

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Uttam Nagar and Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya, Hastsal are also located in Hastsal.

• Rana House near Balaji Chowk
• Prachin Siva Mandir, Hastsal
• Sree Ayyappa Temple, Hastsal

• Hastsal Vihar Sudhar Samiti
• Helping Brainz
• Jan Vika Mission Trust
• Blind Persons Association
• Sahayata Munch
• Diamond Charitable Trust
• Indian Women and Child Welfare Trust

• Hastsal Minar - 9 July 2010