Rashtrapati Bhavan

Description:

The Palace of Rashtrapati Bhavan is located in New Delhi. Until 1950 it was known as Viceroy's House and served as the residence of the Governor-General of India. Rashtrapati Bhawan has more than 300 rooms and serves as the home of the reigning president of India. On 12th December 1911, during the Delhi Durbar year it was announced by King George that the capital of India would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. As the plan for New Delhi took shape, the Governor-General's residence was given an enormous scale and prominent position. The British architect Edwin Landseer Lutyens, a key member of the city-planning process, was handed the prime architectural responsibility to design the building.

After Indian independence in 1947, the now ceremonial governor-general continued to live there, being succeeded by the Indian President in 1950 when India became a republic and the house was renamed Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The elaborate dome-like structure on top of the Rashtrapati Bhavan is known as Chuttri. Various Indian designs were added to the building including several circular stone basins on the top of the palace. There was also a traditional Indian chujja or chhajja, which took the place of a frieze in classical architecture. There were also statues of elephants and fountain sculptures of cobras in the gardens, as well as grilles made from red sandstone called jaalis.

The front of the palace, on the east side, has twelve unevenly spaced columns with the Delhi order capitals. These capitals have a fusion of acanthus leaves with the four pendant Indian bells that are part of the Hindu and Buddhist religions. In the North Block, there are separate wings for the Viceroy, and another wing for guests. At the centre of the main part of the palace is Durbar's Hall underneath the main dome.

Every Saturday a ceremonial change of guard takes place to keep up with traditions of the yore. Constructed by two English architects Edward Lutyens and Henry Baker, the Rashtrapati Bhawan is a visual treat with its exotic pillars, massive halls and delightful porticos.

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