Chanakyapuri (Sanskrit: चाणक्यपुरी, romanized: Cāṅakyapurī) is a neighbourhood and diplomatic enclave established in the 1950s in New Delhi, India.[1][2][3] It is also a sub-division of the New Delhi district and plays host to the majority of foreign embassies in New Delhi. Chanakyapuri, meaning "city of Chanakya", is named after Chanakya, an ancient Indian diplomat, philosopher, politician, military strategist and advisor to Maurya Emperor Chandragupta Maurya.
Chanakyapuri | |
|---|---|
Sub-Division | |
  Chanakyapuri Location in Delhi, India | |
| Coordinates: 28°35′30″N 77°10′19″E / 28.59153°N 77.171895°E | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Delhi |
| District | New Delhi |
| Government | |
| • Body | New Delhi Municipal Council |
| • Member of Parliament | Meenakshi Lekhi |
| Area | |
• Total | 6.085 km2 (2.349 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 236.67 m (776.48 ft) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Hindi, English |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 110021 |
| Lok Sabha constituency | New Delhi |
| Civic agency | NDMC |
History
editChanakyapuri was the first major extension of New Delhi beyond Lutyens' Delhi. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) developed a large area of land to create this diplomatic enclave in the 1950s. Subsequently, this land was allotted to embassies, chanceries, high commissions and ambassador residences. The enclave is built around a wide central vista, known as Shanti Path (Peace Road), with wide green areas. A large landscaped park spread over an area of 80 acres, known as Nehru Park, was developed in 1969 for the families of the diplomatic personnel. In time, two markets, two colleges and schools run by diplomatic missions (including The British School and the American Embassy School) were established in the neighbourhood.[4]
The Akbar Hotel was constructed 1965-69 for the India Tourism Development Corporation by Shiv Nath Prasad.[5][6] Around it Yashwant Place was constructed for shopping and eating. A movie theatre Chanakya Cinema was added in 1969, built in the Brutalist architecture style.[7][8] The cinema was later torn down and the plot redeveloped into a shopping mall with a new cinema in 2017.[9]
Accessibility
editMajor roads in Chanakyapuri include Shanti Path, Nyaya Marg, Niti Marg, Chandragupta Marg and Panchsheel Marg. In addition to these, the Ring Road traverses the southern expanse of the neighbourhood and intersects National Highway 8 on the border with neighbouring Dhaula Kuan. Sardar Patel Marg marks the Western periphery, while the Chanakya Cinema complex, which lies beyond Nehru Park, forms the south-western perimeter. The Delhi Ring Railway stops at Chanakyapuri, while Lok Kalyan Marg metro station and Jor Bagh metro station are the nearest stations of Delhi Metro.
Education
editPrimary and secondary schools
edit- The American Embassy School, New Delhi, for expatriates from the US and other countries.
- The British School offers the British National Curriculum, the IGCSE and IB. It primarily serves the international community
- German School New Delhi[10]
- Russian Embassy School in Delhi[11]
- Sanskriti School, a renowned education institution, which mainly serves the children of civil servants.
- Navy Children School, Delhi which mainly serves the children of Naval staff.
- Carmel Convent School - a K to 12 convent school for girls located in Malcha Marg. Follows the CBSE curriculum
Universities
edit- Jesus and Mary College, a constituent college of the University of Delhi.
- Maitreyi College, another constituent college of the University of Delhi.
- South Asian University, an international university established by the SAARC.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ PTI (14 August 2015). "Dwarka diplomatic enclave to be modelled on Shanti Path". The Economic Times. Retrieved 1 July 2018.
- ^ What Lies Inside Delhi's Diplomatic Enclaves?
- ^ Delhi’s Belly - Secret republics
- ^ Viswambhar Nath (2007). "Delhi Before 1947". Urbanization, urban development, and metropolitan cities in India. Concept Publishing Company. p. 248. ISBN 978-81-8069-412-7.
- ^ "An Ode to Shivnath Prasad: The le Corbusier of India".
- ^ "MEA to house its new offices in ITDC's prestigious Akbar Hotel".
- ^ Sahu, Ipsita (2018). "From the Ruins of Chanakya: Exhibition History and Urban Memory". BioScope: South Asian Screen Studies. 9 (1): 73. doi:10.1177/0974927618767285. S2CID 150220965.
- ^ "Chankaya's lost glory". The Hindu. 21 July 2015.
- ^ "A decade after it was razed, Chanakya cinema returns to New Delhi". 23 September 2017.
- ^ "Contact." German School New Delhi. Retrieved on 11 February 2015. "2, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri New Delhi 110 021 India" - Also listed as: "Block F, Diplomatic Enclave, Chanakyapuri"
- ^ "Сведения о школе." (Archive). Russian Embassy School in New Delhi. Retrieved on 18 April 2015. "PLOT G BLOK 50E NYAYA MARG, CHANAKYAPURI, NEW-DELHI -110021, INDIA"
