British Raj Annadale was first used by
East India Company and then the
British Raj, which is why natives originally called it "
Company Ka Baag". It was a place of enjoyment and entertainment for the British, offering fancy dress shows, picnics, and birthday celebrations. Every year a National Championship of
Polo was organised there. Cultural and social festivals were organised there including
Gymkhana,
fete champetre and sports such as
polo and
cricket. Under the British Army, the grounds were also used for training and
parades.
After independence Gymkhana, polo, football, hockey, cricket matches, and other cultural and social festivals were organised in Annadale after
independence.
Dussehra was the main event organised, attracting people from the city, but in 1972 a clash between army and police created enmity between the military and civil administration. After this incidence, the event was shifted to
Jakhu Temple. Another major event was the 1971 plenary session of the
All India Congress Committee. In addition, a national women's field hockey championship was also organised there. A
Yajna was organised by
Gayatri Parivar in 1994. In 2006, the Army established a
war museum on the periphery of the ground. == Geography ==