The name Sarai originates from the era of Afghan ruler
Sher Shah Suri, who established a network of paved roads, with roadside inns known as
serais placed every twelve miles to accommodate travellers. The area around Sarai Kale Khan hosted a
caravanserai for travellers and caravans along the royal route connecting the
Mughal imperial courts and
Chandni Chowk in Shahjahanabad (now referred to as
Old Delhi) to their retreat in
Mehrauli, about 32 km (20 mi) away. This sarai was named after Kale Khan, a
Sufi saint from the 14th–15th century, whose resting place, along with that of another prominent Sufi saint from Delhi, is now located within the
Delhi Airport complex, marking it as a historical site for travellers' respite. Another theory speculating the origin of the suburb's name stems from Kale Khan's
Gumbad, a structure from the
Lodi era located in the
Kotla Mubarakpur Complex in
South Delhi. According to an inscription on the
mihrab (prayer niche) inside the tomb, it dates back to 1481 AD. This other Kale Khan was a courtier during the reign of Sultan
Bahlol Lodi (r. 1451–1589). Nawab Faizullah Beg, son of
Nawab Qasim Jan—a courtier during the reign of Mughal Emperor
Shah Alam II (r. 1728–1806)—was also a courtier during the reign of the last Mughal Emperor
Bahadur Shah Zafar. He built a complex that later became known as Ahata Kaley Sahab, christened after a saint called Kaley Khan who resided there for a time and after whom the area was subsequently named. The complex was later acquired by Bunyadi Begum, poet
Mirza Ghalib's sister-in-law, and housed the poet after he was released from debtors' prison. ==Multi-model transport hub==