The Delhi Gymkhana Club or Delhi Gymkhana (Hindi: दिल्ली जिमख़ाना) is a premier Gymkhana in New Delhi.
Contents
History
Originally called the 'Imperial Delhi Gymkhana Club', it was founded on July 3, 1913, at Coronation Grounds, Delhi, and its first president was Spencer Harcourt Butler, first governor of the then United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. When new imperial capital of India, New Delhi was built, the club was allotted 27.3 acres of land in 1928 on perpetual lease. The word imperial was dropped when India gained independence in 1947.
The club is located in the heart of Lutyens' Delhi on Safdarjung Road, occupying 27.3 acres (110,000 m2) of land as per the site plan made on the drawing board by Sir Edwin Lutyens as part of his grand design for Imperial Celebrations. Lutyens Delhi - the eighth in line - was built in an area littered with stones, tombs, domes, ruined walls and gardens of imperial former capitals - the historic cross roads and battle grounds of India.
Controversy
On February 2014, a teen was raped inside the Delhi Gymkhana club.
On July 2014, Government of Delhi launched a crackdown on the club for its failure to pay luxury tax dues amounting to Rs 2.92 crore for the past three years.
On August 2014 it was reported that the club has been using unauthorized bore wells and violating environmental rules. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee on August 2014 ordered closure of the Delhi Gymkhana Club; however, National Green Tribunal has asked the club to pay a penalty of Rs. 5 lakh fine to avoid closure.