Rashtrapati Bhawan

Viceroy's House

Description

The Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India located at the western end of Rajpath in New Delhi, India. The 340-room main building has the president's official residence, including reception halls, guest rooms and offices, also called the mansion; as part of a 320-acre Presidential Estate that additionally includes the presidential gardens, large open spaces, residences of bodyguards and staff, stables, other offices and utilities within its perimeter walls. In terms of area, it is the largest residence of any head of state in the world.

Commissioned, 1912

Constructed, 1929

Opened, 1931

Converted, 1952

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The design of the building fell into the time period of the Edwardian Baroque, a time at which emphasis was placed on the use of heavy classical motifs in order to emphasise power and imperial authority.

Rashtrapati Bhavan has many halls which are used for state functions and other purposes.

The dining hall at the President's Estate with a seating capacity of 104 people.

The ceremonial hall of the building, where state guests are received. Seen in this picture is former First Lady of the United States, Melania Trump.

1952 - Converted

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1952 - Converted - Images

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The dome, in the middle, reflects both Indian and British styles. In the centre is a tall copper-faced dome, surmounting a very tall drum in several sections, which stands out from the rest of the building.

The dome is exactly in the middle of the diagonals between the four corners of the building. The dome is more than twice the height of the building itself.

1931 - Opened

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1931 - Opened - Images

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The gardens were initially designed and laid out in Mughal style by William Robert Mustoe who was influenced by Lady Hardinge who in turn had sought inspiration in the book by Constance Villiers-Stuart in her Gardens of the Great Mughals (1913).

1929 - Constructed

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1929 - Constructed - Images

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In the post-Mutiny era, however, it was decided that sensitivity must be shown to the local surroundings in order to better integrate the building within its political context, and after much political debate Lutyens conceded to incorporating local Indo-Saracenic motifs, albeit in a rather superficial decorational form on the skin of the building.

Lutyens' design is grandly classical overall, with colors and details inspired by Indian architecture.

1912 - Commissioned

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1912 - Commissioned - Drawings and documents

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The layout plan of the building is designed around a massive square with multiple courtyards and open inner areas within.

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