The palatial building
built on an area of 330 acres with a private garden
designed by the illustrious Lutyens, as the official
residence of the Viceroy of India during British reign,
is now the official residence of the First Citizen of
India – its President. The imposing structure almost
overshadows all other monuments within its vicinity.
The architectural wonder is a mixture of Mughal and
Western styles. The columns at the front entrance have
bells carved into them and Lutyens designed them with
the idea that since the bells could not make sounds,
the British rule would never come to an end. Rashtrapati
Bhawan is the highlight of Lutyens New Delhi and was
completed in 1929 at a cost of 12,53,000. The palace
has 340 rooms. |
|
| At one time, 2,000 people
were required to look after the building and serve the
Viceroy's household. It has an impressive garden called
the Mughal Gardens, which is open to the public for
a short while in February when the flowers are in full
bloom.
Once the residence of the British Viceroy
in India, and now the official residence of the president
of the Indian republic, was designed by Sir Edward Lutyens
as part of the new imperial city that marked the shift
of the capital from Calcutta where the British empire
had struck root in India, to New Delhi. This, and the
rest of the new city, sported Indo-Saracenic architecture
at its grandest. |
