The Delhi Gymkhana Club, established in July 1913 as the Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club, is one of the oldest, most distinguished and architecturally significant social and sporting institutions in India. Spread over 27.3 acres in the heavily guarded heart of Lutyens Delhi at 2 Safdarjung Road, the colonial-era club has served as a major hub for the country’s political, bureaucratic, military and corporate elite. However, the historic club has just reached a massive turning point.
Here are some interesting facts about the most sought-after social address in the heart of Lutyens Delhi:
1. Born from a royal surprise: The club owes its existence to King George V’s shocking and surprising announcement at the end of the Delhi Durbar of 1911 that the capital of British India would move from Calcutta to Delhi. The massive influx of British civil servants and military officers into the new capital created an immediate need for an informal place to socialize, exercise and eat.
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2. Change of name upon independence: The club was originally founded on 3 July 1913, at the Coronation Ground (where the Durbar Tournament was held) and was named ‘Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club’. Its first president was Sir Spencer Harcourt Butler. When India gained independence in 1947, the club dropped the word “Imperial” from its name, and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru became the new deputy patron.
3. Designed by architect Connaught Place: When the capital shifted, the club was allotted 27.3 acres of land on Safdarjung Road on perpetual lease. The main building was constructed in the early 1930s by British architect Robert T. Russell. Russell is best known for designing two other monumental landmarks in Delhi: Connaught Place and the Commander-in-Chief’s Residence (which later became Teen Murti House, the official residence of Prime Minister Nehru).
4. Funded by the Viceroy’s troubled wife: In the early 1930s, neither the Gymkhana nor the under-construction Viceroy’s House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) had a swimming pool. Lady Willingdon, the Viceroy’s wife, loved swimming but was tired of having to use the private swimming pools of wealthy locals or wait for slow government contractors. Impatient to get a place of her own, she personally gifted INR 21,000 to the club to speed up the construction process. To this day, the facility bears a dedicated inscription of ‘Lady Willingdon’s Swimming Pool’.
Don’t miss it Delhi Gymkhana Club: Inside the exclusive 113-year-old social address in Lutyens Delhi
5. A grass court tennis haven: The club is legendary in the sporting community for its stunning tennis facilities. It includes 26 grass courts along with a range of hard and cushion courts, making it one of the largest concentrations of active grass tennis courts anywhere in the world outside institutions such as Wimbledon. It has regularly hosted Davis Cup matches in India’s previous sporting decades.
6. Effects of the history of partition: In 1947, when the Partition of India divided the armed forces, the Gymkhana Club became the site of a very emotional and bittersweet send-off. Officers of Sikh, Hindu and Muslim squadrons from historic regiments such as Probyn’s Horse gathered at the club to raise a final cup together, toast their shared military history, and say goodbye before departing for their new nations.
7. A huge library of humble origins: The club’s library is as old as the institution itself. It began in the early 1930s with a small collection of only 500 books. Over the decades, it has evolved into a massive bibliophile’s haven housing nearly 35,000 volumes, adding more than a thousand new titles to its shelves each year.
8. Changing Eras: From Tuxedos to Kurta Pajamas: For decades under British rule and early independence, strict colonial dress codes enforced, and dinner jackets (tuxedos) were a standard requirement in formal settings. Over time, the club underwent Operation India. The dress code has been gradually relaxed to welcome traditional Indian clothing such as riding pants, bandhgalas and kurta pajamas.
On May 22, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs issued an order terminating the lease and re-entering with immediate effect, and directed the club to hand over the entire property to the government by June 5, 2026. Citing urgent public purpose and national interest, the Center stated that the prime plot of land is located in a highly sensitive strategic area and is urgently needed to strengthen national defense infrastructure, establish governance facilities, and support public security projects integrated with adjacent government lands.
