By Saurav Mehra Before DLF Mall of India, before Select Citywalk, before any of the glossy air-conditioned behemoths that now define the NCR mall experience — there was Ansal Plaza. Opened on 1 November 1999 on Khel Gaon Marg in Andrews Ganj, South Delhi, it holds the distinction of being Delhi’s oldest major shopping mall and the third oldest in all of India. For a generation of South Delhi residents, it was the first place they ever walked into a mall. The Shoppers Stop launch here was a landmark moment for modern Indian retail. More than two decades later, the mall has weathered significant change — closures, a renovation phase, shifting footfall patterns — and has emerged as something different from what it once was: less a shopping destination, more a dining, entertainment, and leisurely hangout hub with a personality unlike anything else on the South Delhi circuit.
| Detail | Information |
| Name | Ansal Plaza |
| Developer | Ansal Properties & Infrastructure Ltd. (Ansal API) |
| Address | Hudco Place, Khel Gaon Marg, Andrews Ganj, New Delhi – 110049 |
| Locality | Andrews Ganj, South Delhi |
| Inaugurated | 1 November 1999 |
| Total Area | 35 acres (Gross Leasable Area: approx. 1,78,000 sq. ft.) |
| Floors | Ground + 2 Upper Floors (3 levels) |
| Design Feature | Semi-circular layout with central open-air amphitheatre |
| Nearest Metro Station | South Extension (Pink Line) – approx. 0.6 km |
| General Timings | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM (most shops); restaurants and bars may extend later |
| Parking | Basement + ground level; capacity for approx. 1,000 cars (paid) |
| Key Tenants | Decathlon, Barbeque Nation, Café Delhi Heights, Chili’s, Punjab Grill, Lacoste |
| PIN Code | 110049 |
Location and Address
Ansal Plaza is located at Hudco Place, Khel Gaon Marg, Andrews Ganj Extension, New Delhi – 110049. The full address on some listings reads August Kranti Marg, near Khel Gaon and New Hudco Place, Andrews Ganj Extension. Both refer to the same property — the landmark is well-known enough that “Ansal Plaza” itself functions as a navigation reference for the entire Andrews Ganj junction.
The location sits in one of South Delhi’s most connected corridors. It is roughly equidistant from several major neighbourhoods — South Extension, Lajpat Nagar, Greater Kailash, and Defence Colony — making it accessible from a wide residential catchment without being squarely in any single locality’s backyard. South Extension Metro Station on the Pink Line (Line 7) is approximately 600 metres away, a 10–13 minute walk. AIIMS Metro Station on the Yellow Line is also reachable within 15–18 minutes on foot. Multiple DTC bus routes including 540, 544, and D-046 stop directly at Andrews Ganj Shiv Mandir bus stop, which is a 3–4 minute walk from the mall entrance.
For those driving, the mall sits directly on Khel Gaon Marg, which connects August Kranti Marg to Ring Road, and paid basement plus ground-level parking for approximately 1,000 cars makes arriving by vehicle genuinely practical — a rarity for South Delhi.
Architecture and Layout
Ansal Plaza’s design was bold for 1999 and holds up today as genuinely distinctive. The mall is built in a semi-circular configuration around an open-air amphitheatre with a central stage. The two wings of the mall are not directly connected indoors — visitors cross the amphitheatre to move between them, which sounds like an inconvenience but actually creates something unexpectedly pleasant: a pause, an outdoor moment, a social space. This amphitheatre has over the years hosted Dandiya nights, celebrity events, cultural performances, and community gatherings. It is the one feature that no South Delhi mall built after 2010 has tried to replicate.
The structure rises across three floors — ground, first, and second — with a 45-foot-high atrium in the anchor block featuring a French glass curtain wall that filters UV radiation. A glass elevator runs through the atrium. The construction is an RCC frame, and the overall spread across 35 acres includes the plaza building, open areas, and substantial parking.
Shops and Brands
Ansal Plaza today wears a different retail identity from its early years. The flagship anchor is now Decathlon, which occupies Units AG-01 across the ground and first floors of the A-Block — a large-format sports store that draws dedicated footfall from fitness enthusiasts, cyclists, trekkers, and parents buying kids’ sports gear. It is one of the busiest Decathlon outlets in Delhi by visitor count and is the single most compelling retail reason to visit the mall if you’re not coming purely to eat.
Beyond Decathlon, Lacoste holds a confirmed retail presence. The mall also houses several offices alongside its retail units — a layout quirk that visitor reviews consistently note — giving the upper floors a mixed commercial-retail character that differs from purpose-built malls.
The dining and F&B scene is where Ansal Plaza has genuinely reinvented itself. Barbeque Nation, Café Delhi Heights, Chili’s, and Punjab Grill are confirmed restaurant anchors. The rooftop level has developed into a cluster of restaurants and bars with open views, a feature that now draws evening crowds specifically for the atmosphere — something the early mall never offered. The combination of varied dining formats (casual, rooftop, café, grill) makes the upper floors the liveliest part of the building after 7 PM.
Timings
Most retail shops at Ansal Plaza operate from 10:00 AM to 9:30–10:00 PM daily. Decathlon follows standard retail hours in that range. Restaurants typically open around noon and run until midnight or later, particularly those on the upper floors and rooftop. The mall complex itself, given its outdoor amphitheatre, remains accessible and lively on weekend evenings even beyond standard mall closing times.
How to Reach
By metro, South Extension Station on the Pink Line is the closest at roughly 0.6 km. AIIMS on the Yellow Line is also reachable at about 1 km. DTC buses 540, 544, and D-046 stop at Andrews Ganj Shiv Mandir bus stop, a short walk from the entrance. By road, the mall is directly on Khel Gaon Marg and accessible via Ring Road, August Kranti Marg, and South Extension flyover.
FAQs
Q1. What is the address of Ansal Plaza Delhi?
Hudco Place, Khel Gaon Marg, Andrews Ganj Extension, New Delhi – 110049. It is near South Extension and New Hudco Place in South Delhi.
Q2. What are the timings of Ansal Plaza Delhi?
Retail shops generally open at 10:00 AM and close by 9:30–10:00 PM. Restaurants, cafés, and rooftop bars typically operate till midnight or later, especially on weekends.
Q3. Which is the nearest metro station to Ansal Plaza?
South Extension Metro Station on the Pink Line is the nearest, approximately 600 metres away. AIIMS Metro Station on the Yellow Line is another option, about 1 km away.
Q4. What are the main shops at Ansal Plaza Delhi?
Decathlon is the primary retail anchor, occupying a large ground and first floor space. Lacoste is also present. The mall now leans heavily toward dining, with Barbeque Nation, Café Delhi Heights, Chili’s, and Punjab Grill among the prominent F&B outlets.
Q5. Is parking available at Ansal Plaza?
Yes — basement and ground-level paid parking with a capacity of approximately 1,000 cars. It is one of the larger parking facilities among South Delhi commercial destinations.