Rashtrapati Bhawan




Quick Facts

Architectural style Delhi Order
Location New Delhi, India
Construction started 1912
Completed 1929
Floor area 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2)
Architect Edwin Lutyens

Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India, earlier Viceroy House during British times when the Chief of the State used to live during British raj. It was designed by Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, the famous British Architect. The architectural part of it gained great fame as ‘Delhi Order’, which is a blend of Indian traditional and contemporary style.

History

Today’s Rashtrapati Bhavan, earlier Viceroy House during British raj, was constructed over a period of 20 years commencing from 1911. As a first step of which about 300 families living in Raisina and Malcha villages were evicted by the 1984 Land Acquisition Act. The British Architects Lutyens and Baker planned the construction of the Viceroy House and the Secretariat buildings, having been given the responsibility of completing these structures respectively, when there was a difference of opinion between these two in later period with regard to positioning the Viceroy House.

What to See

Rashtrapati Bhavan’s Durbar Hall has great significance since it is the place where conferring of Padma Awards and various other ceremonies are held, while the other part Ashoka Hall also looks impressive because of its architectural grandeur with its wooden floor, leather ceiling painted in with Persian style, an expansive dance space in the centre and three vestibules.

Western side of the palace is beautifully laid out by the Mughal gardens with wonderful design by Lutyens, the architectural principles of hierarchy, order, symmetry and unity having been extended from the residential part into the landscape. A series of ornamental fountains springing high, walls, gazebos and screens that combine with a number of trees, flower plants and green shrubs to creating a pleasant  and delightful environment that Indians started referring the garden as ‘God’s own Heaven’, visit this spot when it is open for public during spring season.

Special Event or Annual Event

The special event such as Republic Day Parade and the change of guard ceremony held on every Saturday between 10.35 to 11.00 am in winter and 8.30 to 9.15 am in summers will be of interest to the tourists and visitors.

Nearby Tourist Attractions

The attractions around Rashtrapati Bhavan include Parliament House, India Gate, Jantar Mantar, Hanuman Mandir and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib.

Nearby Restaurant

There are a number of hotels and restaurants within the reach of Rashtrapati Bhavan, besides innumerable foodstalls and eating places in the nearby locations.

Nearby Shopping Malls or Markets

There are quite a few shopping areas near Rashtrapati Bhavan such as Connaught Place having a number of shopping centres, Central Cottage Industries Emporium providing Indian handicrafts and curios, Baba Kharak Singh Marg housing emporiums of all the states of India, selling each state’s unique art and craft material, Janpath offering good cloth items, gift items and souvenirs, while Palika Bazaar houses shops with a wide range of electronic items.

Visitor’s Information

Address: - Rashtrapati Bhavan, Gate 35 Prakash Vir Shastri Avenue, New Delhi- 110 004

Telephone: 91-11-23015321

How to Reach

Large numbers of local buses ply connecting Rashtrapati Bhavan area, while the provision for hiring Taxis and auto rickshaws is made round the clock at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi Railway Stations and Inter State Bus terminus for outstation visitors to avail.

OUR PLANING

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