Defence Colony | |
|---|---|
| Defence Colony | |
| Nickname: Def Col | |
  Defence Colony Location in Delhi, India | |
| Coordinates:28°34′N77°14′E / 28.57°N 77.23°E /28.57; 77.23 | |
| Country | India |
| State | Delhi |
| District | South East Delhi |
| Metro | New Delhi |
| Established | 1960 |
| Population | |
• Total | 8,000−10,000 |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | |
| Urban Local Body | MCD |
Defence Colony is a neighbourhood in theSouth East Delhi district ofDelhi, India. It was built in the 1960s forveterans of theIndian Armed Forces.[1][2] It serves as the administrative headquarters of theSouth East Delhi district of Delhi.
It is popular for being centrally located to all major parts of the city, its well-maintained parks, broad streets, active community clubs, and notable residents from entertainment and politics.[3][4] Defence Colony is home to many restaurants,coffee shops, art galleries and, shops.[5][6][7]
Defence Colony was created in the aftermath of thepartition in 1947 and was built on the vast lands of the Kotla Mubarakpur village.[8][9] Newly independent India allotted land to resettle serving Indian military officers whose homes lay across the new border in Muslim-majorityPakistan.[10] Besides its central location within Delhi, the locality is also known for the wide variety of cuisines offered by its many restaurants.[11][12][13]
Defence Colony Welfare Association Club, commonly referred to as Defence Colony Club was established in 1976 as Defence Colony Ex. Services Institute, however, was renamed in 1980 and functions under the Defence Colony Welfare Association.[14][4]
Close to the main Defence Colony market inside a roundabout stands theoctagonal tomb of Shaikh Ali, known as "Gumti of Shaikh Ali". Built-in the 15th-centuryLodhi dynasty-era, near the historic area ofKotla Mubarakpur, it housed two graves inside the tomb until the early 20th-century, which are now long gone. The tomb has housed the Defence Colony Welfare Association (DCWA) office since 1960.[15][16][17]
Defence Colony is accessible by many means of public transport includingauto rickshaw, taxi,Delhi Transport Corporation buses as well as theDelhi Metro. The closest metro station to most of Defence Colony isLajpat Nagar, which is an interchange station between theViolet Line andPink Line.[18][19] For some parts of the Defence Colony, it is closer to walk to theSouth Extension metro station, which is on thePink Line.[18][20] To the Northeast of Defence Colony is theSewa Nagar railway station of theDelhi Ring Railway.[21][22]
To the South, Defence Colony is bounded by theRing Road. To its east and west are Lala Lajpat Rai Marg and Bhishma Pitamah Marg respectively. The North of Defence Colony is bounded by the tracks of theDelhi Ring Railway.[23][24][25]