Rashtrapati Bhavan Full Information
Rashtrapati Bhavan is the home of the President, the largest democracy in the world. It epitomizes India’s strength, democratic traditions, and secular character.
Rashtrapati Bhavan was created by Herbert Baker and Sir Edwin Lutyens, architects with exceptional imagination and mastery. Sir Lutyens was the one who designed the H-shaped building that covered 5 acres of a 330-acre estate. The mansion contains 340 rooms, 2.5 kms of corridors, and 190 acres of gardens.
This masterwork was completed in 1929 thanks to the hard work of thousands of laborers, including carpenters, artists and carvers. Viceroy’s House, as it was originally called, was built to serve as the residence of the Viceroy. Today, Rashtrapati Bhavan is its current form. It was once a symbol for imperial power and domination, but it has become an emblem of Indian democracy and its plural, inclusive, and secular traditions. Former President of India Shri R. Venkataraman rightly stated, ” Nature, man, and rock have seldom collaborated to such a fine a purpose than in the fashioning the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhavan.”
It was originally called the Viceroy’s House when it was built. When India gained independence, August 15, 1947, the name was changed to Government House. During the presidency of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, it was renamed Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Rashtrapati Bhavan Full Information
Rashtrapati Bhavan was the home of Viceroy Lord Irwin, and later to other Viceroys until Lord Mountbatten in 1947. Lord Mountbatten was the last British Viceroy and first Governor-General for independent India. Under the Central Dome of Rashtrapati Bhavan, Lord Mountbatten administered to Pandit Jawaharlal Naehru the oath of Prime Minster in 1947. C. Rajagopalachari was also the first Indian Governor General and took the oath of Prime Minister under the Central Dome in June 21, 1948. He became the first Indian to live at the Government House as it was known then.
Rajagopalachari’s modest gestures were enough to bring down the grandeur of this magnificent presidential palace. He found the Viceroy’s bedroom too grand to remain in and moved to the Family Wing of Rashtrapati Bhavan for his own use. All subsequent residents of the Bhavan followed this example. For Heads of State, Government, and their delegated guests, the former Viceroy’s Rooms were converted into the Guest Wing. After becoming the first Indian president, Dr. Rajendra Prasad made Rashtrapati Bhavan his home in 1950.
Rashtrapati Bhavan Full Information
It is not known that Mahatma Gandhi visited the Viceroy’s House before the independence movement. Winston Churchill reacted with disapproval to the invitation by the Viceroy. Mahatma Gandhi brought salt with him to make protest against the British Salt Tax. After a series of meetings, Mahatma Gandhi met Lord Irwin and signed the Gandhi Irwin Pact on March 5, 1931.
Rashtrapati Bhavan hosted since independence defence investiture ceremonies. It also honored its bravehearts.
On August 2012, the gates to Lutyens’ masterpiece Delhi, which he called ” one organism, perfect, and inseparable“, were opened to the public by Shri Pranab Mokherjee, the former President of India.
Rashtrapati Bhavan Full Information
Three circuits divide the journey through this work. Circuit 1 includes the Main Building and Central Lawn at Rashtrapati Bhavan, as well as its premier rooms, such as the Ashok Hall and Durbar Hall, Banquet Hall and Banquet Hall, and its Drawing Rooms. Circuit 2 includes a tour of Rashtrapati Bhav Museum Complex. Circuit 3 will take you to Rashtrapati Bhavan’s famous gardens, including the Mughal Gardens and Herbal Garden, Musical Garden, Spiritual Garden, and Musical Garden.