RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN (PRESIDENT'S HOUSE) Location : West end of Parliament Street Known As : President's House Designed By : Sir Edwin Lutyens Highlights : Mughal Gardens (Open in Feb-March)

The Abode of The First Citizen of India

President's House, Delhi

Monuments in Delhi Jantar Mantar Arts & Architecture

India Gate Qutab Minar Gardens in Delhi

Parliament House Jama Masjid

'In thought faith; in word wisdom; in deed courage; in life service. So may India be great'

-- Inscriptions on Jaipur Coloumn

As you turn your back on India Gate, far away in the horizon you can see a colossal dome shimmering in the brilliant hue of the sun. That's the copper casing of the dome of the Viceregal lodge, the official residence of the Viceroy during the days of Colonial Raj. It is the centrepiece of New Delhi, a huge, grandiose building - larger than the Palace of Versailles - designed and positioned to assert the dominance of the British empire. As you head towards the west, on the broad Rajpath, you will experience an elevation in the gradient, and so in your spirits. And that's when you think of Sir Herbert Baker, a South African architect, and a quarrel. Sir Lutyens knew he would be overstressed by the Raisina Hill project and had urged the appointment of Baker, who had fostered reams of praise for his Union Buildings in Pretoria. Ah! yes, the hump and the infamous squabble. That little miscalculation simultaneously led to an irreversible dent on the face of the palace together with an epithet to Baker by Letyens, describing the whole incident as 'Bakerloo'.

Experience The Exquisite Architecture Embalming The City

You will be amazed to see that this humoungous building combines Mughal and Western architectural architectural styles, the most prominant Indian feature being the huge copper dome. In the centre of the forecourt, behind the high railing fence which now separates Rashtrapati Bhawan from the Secretariats, you can see the 44 m high Jaipur Coloumn. Although designed by Lutyens, this soaring sandstone coloumn was a gift to the viceroy by the maharaja of Jaipur. Look above and you can see a beautiful glass star rising from the womb of a bronze lotus flower, both of them dwelling on a higher dimension. You can also read the murky inscriptions carved on its rippleless surface that bears the above mentioned lines.

You cannot enter the Rashtrapati Bhawan without permission, but aesthetes wait for spring when the Mughal garden inside the Bhawan is thrown open to public. Lutyens added poetry to the Bhawan by designing the garden inspired by the natural greens of Jammu and Kashmir and the manicured lawns of the Taj Mahal. Lying to the west of the President's house, the Mughal Gardens are a home to myriad flower species and exotic roses that cheer up the ambience in February.

How To Reach

The Rashtrapati Bhawan is situated at the west end of Parliament Street. You won't find buses plying in that section, but you can always hire taxis and autorickshaws from all over the city to reach the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Permits to visit the Bhawan cen be obtained from the reception office on Raisina Road, but you will need a letter of introduction from your embassy. Plan your visits during February, so that you can also behold the colourful medley of exotic flowers at the Mughal Gardens.

Top 5 Reasons to Visit President's House

Who Made It The chief engineer for Rashtrapati Bhawan was Hugh Keeling. Contractor Haroun-al-Rashid did most of the work of the main building, but the forecourt was built by Sujan Singh and his son Sobha Singh, father of eminent writer Khushwant Singh. About The Architecture The building has 340 decorated rooms, a floor area of 2,00,000 square feet; 700 million bricks and 3 million cubic feet of stone was used to built the Viceregal Lodge as it was known then. Today it is the house of the Honourable President of India. On the Roof Top Lutyen's claimed that the dome was inspired by the Pantheon, in Rome. The dome is more than twice the height of the rest of the building. Although the lodge was completed in 1929, the copper casing of the dome was not laid until 1930. In Front of It The front of the Bhawan has 12 unevenly spaced pillars with four bells carved at the top of each coloumn. Beside portraying exquisite craftsmenship, these coloumns are said to have a special significance too. The Beautiful Jaipur Coloumn Don't miss the 44 m high Jaipur Coloumn. Although designed by Lutyens, this soaring sandstone coloumn was a gift to the viceroy by the maharaja of Jaipur. Look above and you can see a beautiful glass star rising from the womb of a bronze lotus flower, both of them dwelling on a higher dimension. Your Name Your Email Your Phone no. Your Country Arrival date MM Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec  YYYY 2008 2009 2010 Duration of Visit Days 1-7 Days 7-14 Days 14-21 Days 21-28 Days 28+ Days No. of people Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+  Children 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10+ Please describe your travel requirements: » North India Tour A delightful journey to see the magnificient heritage of Rajasthan along with the pilgrimage places and the myriad hues of the hills and the plains. Duration: 17 Days / 16 Nights Ask For the Price / Customize This Tour » Adventure Tour of North India An adventurous ride to the most happening destinations in North India where one can enjoy the sports of trekking and skking. Duration: 17 Days / 16 Nights Ask For the Price / Customize This Tour » Wildlife Tour of North India Experience the wilderness in the various national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of North India. Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights Ask For the Price / Customize This Tour Get More Tours... Himachal Pradesh A land of white and ecstasy, Himachal Pradesh is a sheer delight for every snow lover. Taj Mahal Sheer poetry in stone in an amalgamation with a desire to have one more glance makes Taj, a real Monument of Love. Varanasi - Out of The World The only city in the world that is inhabited for 4000 years, Varanasi, is known for its magnificent Ghats on river Ganges. Jaipur The Pink City of India enchants everyone with its intrinsic blue pottery and royal ambience that still floats in the air. Thar Desert Gift your holidays the golden colour of Thar Desert by indulging into myriad adventure activities on the shifting sands.

India's well known tour operator approved by Ministry of Tourism, Government of India and having allied membership of many travel associations like PATA, IATA, TAAI, IATO and ASTA. We specializes in providing all type of customized tour requirements to our clients.