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India Gate Thar Desert Omkareshwar Shopping in Delhi Kanyakumari
Rashtrapati Bhavan fast facts
Location- New Delhi, India
Architectural style- Delhi 1
Construction started- 1912
Completed – 1929
Architect- Edwin Lyutens
Serves- Official Residence of the President of India
The Rashtrapati Bhavan (the residence of the Indian president) is undoubtedly one of the best known monuments of the British Empire and remains to be the best creation of architect Lyutens. Bigger than the grand Palace of Versailles made at a whopping cost of 12, 53,000 pounds at that time is the official residence of the president of India. The splendor of this monument is multi dimensional and architecture is simply breathtaking. Unquestionably the Rashtrapati Bhavan as we know it today architectural masterpiece that involves symmetry, discipline and more over a distinctive sense of royalty that shines out just as intended by its former colonizers.
The present Rashtrapati Bhavan today was once served as the residence of the Viceroy of India. The building was constructed after the capital of British India was shifted from Calcutta to New Delhi in 1911. The building was aimed to be a perpetual durbar and a monument in stone that would fittingly last for ages to come. This perpetual durbar and symbol seat of Imperialism was converted into the permanent institution of democracy. It is interesting to note that the building was scheduled to be completed in four years but on the contrary took 17 years for completion. The vast mansion has 4 floors and 340 rooms, with a floor area of 20,000 square it was built by using700 million bricks and three million cubic feet of stone. An interesting fact is that not a single piece of iron has been used for the construction of the monument.
Attractions of Rashtrapati Bhavan
Yellow drawing room- The yellow drawing is preferred location for small state functions like swearing-in- ceremonies of Comptroller and Auditor Generals of India, Chief Election Commissioner and also for ministers that are newly inducted into the cabinet. The yellow drawing room sports a deep yellow ambience. The environment transports individuals to the royalty and the splendor of the imperial times. Adjacent to the room is the grey drawing room that is used for serving refreshments and also for welcoming guests.
Banquet Hall- The State Dining Hall is also known as the main banquet. Recreated in the movie Gandhi and various other films this is hall emanates grandeur. This pristine dining hall has a sitting capacity of 104 individuals. The walls of the banquet hall are embellished with portraits of the fourteen heads of state. An assortment of medival arms are also on display in the hall
North Drawing Room- North Drawing Room is usually used for receiving Heads of state. Two painting are center of attraction of this room with the transfer of power on 14th August 1947 by Shri S N Goshal and the swearing in of the first governor general of the country by General Shri Thakur Singh.
Marble Hall- The interiors of the marble hall are embellished with the finest furnishing that includes carved arch porticos that resemble a museum. This hall is filled with distinctive art work like Statues of King George V and Queen Mary. The room is also filled with portraits of former governors and heads of state and also has perced on satin red cushioned stand a brass replica of the queen’s crown.
Durbar Hall- The durbar hall embellished with 2 ton chandelier hanging from a height of 33 meters was formerly known as the throne room in during imperial times. There are two separate thrones that at the time were meant for the viceroy and vicerine. Today the President adorns this chair. There is also a statue of Gautam Buddha belonging to 5th century Gupta period. This hall has been used for state function like defence investiture and conferring of Padma awards.
Ashoka Hall- This hall can be well described as a jewel box. It is a rectangular room and was originally known as the ballroom. The room has a wooden floor and has three vestibules. The distinctive feature of the Ashoka hall is painted ceilings. The paintings are in distinctive Persian styles. The fresco depicts a royal expedition and was commissioned by Lady Wellingdon.
Museum- The museum has autographed photographs of several heads of state. The museum also has on display various items received by presidents during various visits abroad. There is dry sunflower which adorn the mortal remains of the Mahatma Gandhi and there is also a 66 kg chair used by King at the Delhi Durbar in 1911-12.
Jaipur column- The main structure of this monument is 640 feet wide and 540 feet deep and the circumference of the base is one kilometer long. The name of the column comes from the fact entire cost of construction was borne by the emperor. An interesting detail about the column is that the inside the stone shaft there is thin tube tethers the lotus and star.
Mughal Gardens- These are a group built by the Mughal in distinctive Islamic style of architecture. This style was heavily influenced by Persian style of architecture. The typical features of this garden are the pools fountains and gardens. Herbal gardens is an important section of the Mughal gardens that houses various medicinal planets according to the animal kingdom.
