Secunderabad Club
Secunderabad Club, one of India’s oldest clubs, is located in Secunderabad. It was founded on 26 April 1878 as Secunderabad Public Rooms and originally stood near today’s Tivoli cinema. The present building began as a hunting lodge gifted by Salar Jung and, in 1888, it was renamed United Services Club. In 1903 it moved to its current site and was renamed Secunderabad Club. The club shared membership with freemasons from The St. John’s Secunderabad.
The Main Clubhouse was given heritage status in 2017. The club’s origins lie with the British Army Garrisons stationed in Secunderabad under an agreement with the 3rd Nizam, Sikandar Jah. It has been known as the Secunderabad Garrison Club, the Secunderabad Gymkhana Club, and the United Services Club, reflecting its evolving membership. In 1903 the club settled at its current location, and it stopped being just an army club to serve all services represented by the British.
Until 1947, presidents were mainly British; the first Indian president was Major General El Edross, commander-in-chief of the Hyderabad State Forces. After Hyderabad State joined the Indian Union in 1948, General Choudary, the Military Governor, served briefly as president, followed by Mirza Najaf Alikhan (ICS) in 1948.
Historically, the club also had a Golf Course at Bolarum and a Sailing Club as annexes, with the main club covering about 21 acres. The Golf Club was taken over by the Indian Army in 1983. The Sailing Annexe is at Hussain Sagar and is among India’s oldest sailing clubs; Hyderabad Sailing Week is held every July.
On 15 January 2022, a massive fire gutted the 144-year-old main building, destroying the Colonnade Bar, billiards room, and the administration office. The fire began in the bar area around midnight to 1 am, and by 3 am seven fire tenders were in attendance; the club’s liquor stores also caught fire.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 06:25 (CET).