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. In the 17th centuryMughal EmperorShahjahan had a hunting lodge in Hastsal. 1650, he built the Mini Qutub Minar close to his hunting lodge. The Minar is a 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. The minaret and hunting lodge, both still exist but lay abandoned and crumbling. The minaret closely resembles the Qutub Minar in design. There's a tunnel between the Laat and the Bara Dari palace.
Demographics
Indiacensus, Hastsal had a population of 85,854. Males constitute 55% of the population and females 45%. Hastsal has an average literacy rate of 64%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 71%, and female literacy is 54%. In Hastsal, 18% of the population is under 6 years of age.Village Hastsal is populated with Tyagi & Yadavs .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 which is believed to be a Shikargah of Shahjahan. Hastsal Village is connected with Uttam Nagar Bus Terminal, Uttam Nagar & Uttam Nagar Metro Station. 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.
Educational Institutes
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.
