The Delhi gymkhana is one of the oldest clubs in the country and a hallowed institution where there the waiting period for an admission is usually 30 years. This was started in 1913, as Delhi Imperial Gymkhana, and Spencer Harcourt Butler was its first president. After independence the word imperial was dropped and it has been called Delhi Gymkhana henceforth. Usha Nath was the first Indian president.
This club is primarily a sporting club and boasts of 26 grass courts and 7 synthetic and clay courts all of which are flood lit. The grass courts are compared to the best in the world and are the best kept. An overwhelming preference for synthetic courts recently has also increased the number of the same. May tournaments of national and international repute has been played on these courts. Apart from tennis, the club has great facilities for billiards, squash and swimming. It has 3 squash courts and a large indoor swimming pool with heating facilities.
The gymkhana is situated in the heart of the city, in Safdurjung road which is the heart of a posh residential colony. It was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens as per his vision for New Delhi. In-fact the whole Gymkhana is built over a land filled with stones and was supposedly a battle field. Its colonial architecture and facade lend the old world charm to its hallowed precincts.
Delhi Gymkhana has the great food to offer to suit you palette. The dining rooms are spacious and the decor is reminds that of an army mess anteroom. Apart from the members dining room there are family dining rooms and a Kashmir Lawn restaurant. Dining is a pleasant experience in the Gymkhana club.
The library is one of the largest in the country with over 30,000 titles. The reading rooms are pleasant and the Gymkhana has a special reading room for children. The library also conducts special workshops for children during the summer months.
For those members on the move, the Gymkhana also provides accommodation. The stay is pleasant and guests can be entertained at a minimal cost. The party scene is the best in Delhi with Thursdays being the appointed day. Various events are organized for members and if one can wrangle an invite from the attendees you can have a rocking Thursday night of your life.
The health club has the state of the art equipment and trainers who help you get the work out you would cherish. Apart from all the activities the Gymkhana organizes enlightening talks on the current political and social issues. It also drives socially relevant activities like a blood donation camps for the members.
The membership is for the who’s who of the country. The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and the Delhi chief Ministers are members of the club. The young turks like Rahul Gandhi has been admitted in to precincts recently. The membership fees range from 30000 rupees for a government official to 60000 rupees for a non government personnel. The waiting list is long and the club can be deemed the creme-DE-la-creme of the society.
The contact details are as follows
Phone :011- 23015531 – 35, 011-23012773
Address: Delhi Gymkhana Club
2, Safdarjung Road,
New Delhi – 110011
Fax : 23010584
URL: www.delhigymkhana.org
Email : delhigymkhana@hotmail.com
Location on Google Maps:
If you believe in the epithet “work hard and party harder and play golf always” then Delhi Gymkhana is the right fit for you.