[citation needed] Paharganj, also referred as Shahganj or King's ganj or market place during Mughal era,[2] gets its present name 'Paharganj', literally meaning Hilly neighbourhood, owing to its proximity to the Raisina Hill, where the Rashtrapati Bhavan stand today.

[7] Traders and shoppers have access to authentic Indian food, including delicacies deep-fried in ghee (clarified butter) and mithai (traditional sweets) of various kinds.

Considered by some to be the biggest wholesale market in Asia, accounts from local traders indicate that Sadar Bazaar suffers from over-congestion of stalls, power cuts, lack of sanitation facilities, improper maintenance of roads and frequent traffic jams.

[9][10] Swadeshi Market in Sadar Bazaar is famous for artificial jewellery, toys, gifts item, and household plastics.

[11] Sadar Bazaar is part of the Sadar-Paharganj constituency, one of the twelve administrative zones of Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

[13] Prior to Dutt, this Vidhan Sabha constituency was represented by Rajesh Jain of the Indian National Congress (INC).