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Rashtrapati Bhavan Delhi History, Entry Fee, Visiting Timings, Attractions and How to Reach

The article throws light on the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Mughal Gardens, read on further to know more about this important monument.

By Pranav

Rashtrapati Bhawan formerly known as the Viceroy's House, is the residence of the President Of India.

The grandeur of the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi involves several dimensions. The vast mansion and its architecture is truly a wonder. Apart from these, the structure has the honour of being the residence of the first citizen of the country, who is none other than the President of India. There are very few official residences of various Heads of the State across the globe to compete against the Rashtrapati Bhavan by all means.

The present structure was once the erstwhile residence of the British Viceroy. The structure was designed by Edwin Landseer Lutyens. The structure came into existence after the decision was taken to shift the capital city from Calcutta to Delhi in the year 1911. The structure was built to affirm the immortality of the British rule in India.

The structure and its surroundings were meant to be an empire made of stone, which would exercise the imperial domination and would contain the abode of the elite whose rule would be imposed from above. The empire of stone of the perpetual Durbar was made the permanent institution of democracy on the 26th of January, 1950, after Dr. Rajendra Prasad was elected as the first President of India, and from that day on, the building was renamed as the Rashtrapati Bhavan or the 'President's House'.

Rashtrapati Bhawan

Visiting The Rashtrapati Bhavan:

Timings:

09 am to 4 pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, only.
It remains closed to the public on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and decided holidays.

Entry fees:

INR 50 per person, per circuit
INR 1200 for a group of 30 people
INR 1200 + INR 50 per additional visitor for more than 30 people group.

For security reasons, the President's Secretariat has all the rights to approve or disapprove the permission to enter into the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Inside the Rashtrapati Bhavan:

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is divided into three parts from the inside which are as follows:

Circuit 1:

This area covers the main building of the lavish house and its Central Lawn. In this tour, one can take a look at the main building from the inside including rooms like the Durbar hall, Banquet hall, the Ashok hall, North drawing room, Library, etc. This circuit of the Rashtrapati Bhavan is open on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Circuit 2:

This area is Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex, also known as RBMC. RBMC has three buildings, which are The Stables, The Garages, and The Clock Tower. The museum boasts about the artifacts, that are the essence of culture, art, heritage, and history. Hence, If you are interested in antique beauty, it is a must-visit for you. Except for Monday, this circuit is open on all days.

Circuit 3:

This part of the President's house covers the beautiful Mughal gardens and also features the mind-blowing Herbal Garden, mesmerizing Musical Garden, and the calm Spiritual Garden which leaves its visitor in awe! This circuit of Rashtrapati Bhavan is open from August to March when flowers bloom from Thursdays to Sundays.

The Change Of Guard Ceremony

It is a military custom, that has been restored over time to make it more visually attractive for the public.

Timings for Change of Guard ceremony:

On Saturday
15 November to 14 March: 10 am - 10:40 am
15 March to 14 November: 08 am - 08:40 am

On Sunday
15 November to 14 March: 04:30 - 05:10 pm
15 March to 14 November: 05:30 - 06:40 pm

Rashtrapati Bhawan

More About The Rashtrapati Bhavan:

The building was constructed at a sanctioned amount of 400,000 pounds and it took 17 years to complete its construction. However, the structure was completed at a cost of 877,136 pounds. The initial plan was to complete the construction in four years, but it took a longer period of 17 years and a year later, India was declared an Independent country.

The huge mansion has a floor area of 200,000 sq ft and has four floors with 340 rooms. The entire structure was built using 700 million bricks and 3 million cubic feet of stone. The most prominent aspect of the structure is its dome, which is superimposed in its structure. The dome is visible from a distance and is the most eye-catching roof in the heart of the city.

The dome, according to architect, was made on the lines of the pantheon of Rome; but analysts believe that the structure is designed on the lines of the Sanchi Stupa. Another striking feature in its architecture is the use of temple bells on the pillars. An interesting factor is that the ideas of adopting the bells on the pillars came from one of the Jain Temples at Moodabidri in Karnataka.

Two prominent halls in the complex are the Ashoka hall and the Durbar hall, these rooms are used for state functions and other purposes. The Durbar hall is the place from where Jawaharlal Nehru took the oath as the first Prime Minister of Independent India.

Attractions nearby:

  • Parliament House
  • Nehru Planetarium
  • Dandi March Statue
  • Jantar Mantar

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