Vasant Kunj
Vasant Kunj is an upmarket residential colony located in South West Delhi district of Delhi, India, on the hills of Aravali, which today has well over 100,000 residents. Most residents reside in flats built by DDA and in farmhouses. The Vasant Kunj community is considered to be well educated and prosperous. Vasant Kunj is home to many intellectuals, prominent businessmen, celebrities, etc. The self-owned (private) residence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (he resides at his official residence in Central Delhi) is also located in Vasant Kunj.
It was developed by the Indian Government after acquiring the farm lands from nearby villages, Munirka, Masoodpur and Mahipalpur in the early 1960s under then Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru.
It is divided into 4 large sectors A, B, C and D - each of which in turn is divided into several different pockets (ie. 1, 2,3,4,5,6,and 7).
Its construction started in late 1980s by Delhi Development Authority (DDA), with Sector A, being the oldest sector of Vasant kunj has pockets named as Pocket A,B and C. Rest of the sectors in Vasant kunj have pockets named in numeric value. One extreme of Vasant Kunj (Sector A Pocket C/ Sector D Pocket 1) is around 4 km from Qutub Minar/Mehrauli. The other extreme (Sector C Pocket 8) is approximately 6.5 km from the Indira Gandhi International Airport. Munirka is about 5 km from Sector B Pocket 1, which marks (approximately) the mid-point of Vasant Kunj along the arterial road. The farm land prices in Vasant Kunj are the highest in Delhi, followed by Rajokri.
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[edit] Commercial area
The current commercial hub of Vasant Kunj is the adjoining Masoodpur village and Nelson Mandela Marg.Vasant Kunj boasts of four top of the line malls, 3 of which-Ambience Mall, DLF Promenade and the DLF Emporio (most expensive mall in India) lie along the Nelson Mandela Marg.The malls are home to many of the biggest international brands and even provide entertainment facilities with cinema halls and games plaza. The malls here, along with the malls in Saket have emerged as the biggest shopping hubs in Delhi. The Vasant Square Mall is located on Masudpur Road. Other prominent landmarks on Nelson Mandela Road include the Maruti Suzuki Corporate head office and a 5 star hotel, 'The Grand'. These malls have had a deep impact and are a major driver of the ever escalating real estate prices of Vasant Kunj.
A Bio-Diversity park has also being made in Vasant Kunj for the Presevation of Flora and Fauna of the surrounding area. This particular park is an example of modern bio-diversity management and was made under the supervision of renowned botanist, Dr. Gogate.
A large automotives market also exists in Vasant Kunj on Aruna Asif Ali Marg. This auto market has the showrooms on carmakers Chevrolet and Ford. There are also a number of second hand car dealers and innumerable service stations. The second CNG filling station of Vasant Kunj was expected to open here by March 2011. The existing one is on Nelson Mandela Marg.
Vasant Kunj is also home to Vasant Kunj Informer & Shopper - India's 1st Community Monthly Yellow pages, which is distributed free of cost to all residents. A handy reference - it makes living easier for the residents, be it ordering food from the choice of menus in it, or looking for a doctor, a tutor, a plumber etc. This publication which was started in 1991, has come to grow with the colony, and many residents consider it a bible to daily living here.
[edit] Sultan Ghari
The octagonal tomb of Nasir ud din Mahmud, son of Mamluk dynasty ruler, Iltutmish is also situated in the area near Rangpuri. The tomb built by Iltutmish in 1231, after his son's death in 1229.
The fortified structure, which surrounds the tomb and the inner chamber (crypt) of the tomb itself, are one of finest examples of Mamluk dynasty architecture, which also include the Qutub Minar in Mehrauli.
[edit] Hospitals
Vasant Kunj is home to respected healthcare establishments. The Late. Ranjan Dhall memorial Fortis hospital offers the latest treatment technologies with the help of well renowned doctors. In addition, the Indian Spinal Injuries Center, the institution of spinal treatment and research, is also located in Vasant Kunj on Masudpur Marg. A newly established Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences(ILBS) facility was built near D-1, Vasant Kunj.
[edit] Education
Vasant Kunj is home to several good educational institutions be it schools or colleges.Schools of repute such as DPS[1], Vasant Valley,Ryan International,G.D Goenka,The Heritage,Bloom Public,Bhatnagar International,etc. provide excellent opportunities to its students.Colleges in the area include JIMS and TERI University while Jawaharlal Nehru University is also in the vicinity.
[edit] Sports and Recreation
Many academies for sports are located in Vasant Kunj which include DDA sports complex in D-2 and Ryders club in D-1. DDA has also developed a small 5-a-side caged football field near B-5&6.
Vasant Vatika is a large park situated near C-6.It has a walking track and is very popular among the elderly and the children alike.It is a perfect place where one can be at peace with himself. Right next the park is a Cafe Coffee Day.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Vasant Kunj is a preferred residence area for many famous retired Cricket Players.
The latest controversy is about the upcoming malls on Nelson Mandela Road. The Supreme Court stayed the construction of the malls in May 2006 as they did not have the necessary clearance from the Ministry of Environment.
Water shortage was an acute problem in many sectors of Vasant Kunj. However, this has been largely resolved once the Sonia Vihar water supply was regularised.
It also has Fabindia's headquarters at B 11 market. The Commercial Plaza in C-2 has good eating joints and discothèque. Aruna Asaf Ali Road too boasts of a variety of eating Joints including the Famous Karim's & Sheng Villa. Masoodpur, another shopping complex on the main road has a large number of tailors and mobile stores. Ananda the well known shop of ladies & gents Ethnic & Party Wears, exclusive Silver-semi precious stone jewellery are available. It is the only outlet where Organic Cotton, Vegetable dyes and Hand Woven of bed covers , towel ,while scarfs , stoles, etc in woollen is available on Masood Pur Market. Adidas and Reebok also have their showrooms at the Masudpur market.
All leading Banks are in Vasant Kunj..A Post Office is situated at the Anchal Plaza
The only Catholic Church in Delhi, dedicated to Saint Alphonsa, the first woman saint from India, is in Vasant Kunj's Green Avenue Lane. Kali Bari the temple of Goddes Kali is behind the Vasant Square Mall. Along with the Jain Temple, Also a Gurdwara is on the Nelson Mandella Road.
Recently the residents of Vasant Kunj along with those of Mahipalpur and Masudpur moved court to protest against the massive noise pollution caused by the frequently passing by of aircrafts over the area towards the newly opened T3 terminal of the IGI Airport.
[edit] Accessibility
Vasant Kunj was largely considered to be a place cut-off from the main city,but in recent years saw rapid progress in this aspect with the Delhi Metro coming to closeby Chattarpur and more bus routes added to the area by DTC.
The distance between Vasant Kunj and some prominent areas within the NCT of Delhi/New Delhi are as follows: -
- Vasant Kunj - Qutub Minar : 4 km
- Vasant Kunj - IGI International Airport : 6 km
- Vasant Kunj - IGI Domestic Airport : 9 km
- Vasant Kunj - Dwarka Sub City : 11 km
- Vasant Kunj - Chittaranjan Park : 13 km
- Vasant Kunj - AIIMS : 14 km
- Vasant Kunj - Lajpat Nagar : 16 km
- Vasant Kunj - Connaught Place : 17 km
- Vasant Kunj - Rajouri Garden : 18 km
- Vasant Kunj - Nizamuddin Railway Station : 20 km
- Vasant Kunj - New Delhi Railway Station : 23 km
- Vasant Kunj - ISBT Kashmere Gate : 25 km
- Vasant Kunj - Delhi University North Campus : 27 km
- Vasant Kunj - Rohini Sub City : 30 km
- Vasant Kunj - Delhi Singhu Border : 48 km
- Vasant Kunj - Bawana Sub City : 50 km
The distance between Vasant Kunj and some prominent areas in the Delhi NCR region are as follows: -
The Nearest Metro Station is the Chattarpur Metro Station, which is 0.75 km away from Sector-A Pocket-C, towards the Andheria More.
[edit] Areas Near Vasant Kunj
[edit] See also
- South West Delhi district
- South Delhi district
- West Delhi district
- Areas And Zones of New Delhi
[edit] References
