Rashtrapati Bhavan - New Delhi

Home of The President Of India and also a good place to visit. The building is a an architectural marvel and one can easily spend ample time just watching the different designs. The security is obviously stringent. Neatly maintained of course. A must visit when you are visiting Delhi. You will not be disappointed!

The Rashtrapati Bhavan (About this soundpronunciation (help·info), "rásh-tra-pa-ti bha-vun"; "Presidential Palace", formerly Viceroy's House) is the official residence of the President of India located at the Western end of Rajpath in New Delhi, India. Rashtrapati Bhavan may refer to only the 340-room main building that has the president's official residence, including reception halls, guest rooms and offices, also called the mansion; it may also refer to the entire 130-hectare (320 acre) Presidential Estate that additionally includes huge presidential gardens (Mughal 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.The Governor-General of Fort William resided in Belvedere House, Calcutta, until the early nineteenth century, when Government House, Calcutta (now Raj Bhavan, Kolkata) was constructed. Lord Wellesley, who is reputed to have said that ‘India should be governed from a palace, not from a country house’, ordered the construction of a grand mansion between 1799 and 1803 and in 1854, the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal took up residence there. The decision to build a residence in New Delhi for the British Viceroy was taken after it was decided during the Delhi Durbar in December 1911 that the capital of India would be relocated from Calcutta to Delhi. When the plan for a new city, New Delhi, adjacent to end south of Old Delhi, was developed after the Delhi Durbar, the new palace for the Viceroy of India was given an enormous size and prominent position. About 4,000 acres of land was acquired to begin the construction of Viceroy's House, as it was originally called, and adjacent Secretariat Building between 1911 and 1916 by relocating Raisina and Malcha villages that existed there and their 300 families under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894.

I have heard alot about Mughal Gardens' variety of flowers including Black Rose etc. But sorry to say I have not saw unseen flowers. There are many varieties which you don't usually saw but can be seen in other such gardens. Restrictions also keep you away from the flowers and plants. It is possible that we can't see many varieties due to such restrictions. Overall you can watch it once. Butvyes it has picturesque location.

Rashtrapati bhavan is a splendid, majestic and grand building constructed by british in the year 1912. It has total 340 rooms, large open space and staff quarters inside the complex. It is probably the largest residence of any head of state in the world. Mughal garden in the backside where general public are allowed during certain period of the year. I got only glimpse from the outside.

Pride of India, Viceroy's House, President's Estate, official residence of the President of India as we all know. It's a beautiful master piece. Looks more amazing at night.

Rashtrapati Bhavan, home to the President of the world’s largest democracy, epitomizes India’s strength, its democratic traditions and secular character. Rashtrapati Bhavan was the creation of architects of exceptional imagination and masterfulness, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. It was Sir Lutyens who conceptualized the H shaped building, covering an area of 5 acres on a 330 acre estate. This mansion has a total of 340 rooms spread over four floors, 2.5 kilometres of corridors and 190 acres of garden area. Painstaking efforts of thousands of labourers including masons, carpenters, artists, carvers, and cutters saw the completion of this masterwork in the year 1929. Originally built as the residence for the Viceroy of India, Viceroy's House as it was then called, has metamorphosed into today’s Rashtrapati Bhavan. From being a symbol of imperial domination and power, it is today emblematic of Indian democracy and its secular, plural and inclusive traditions. Former President of India, Shri R. Venkataraman has rightly said, “Nature and man, rock and architecture, have rarely collaborated to so fine a purpose as in the fashioning of the magnificent Rashtrapati Bhavan.” When constructed, it was called the Viceroy’s House. The name changed to Government House on August 15, 1947 when India became independent. Finally, its name was changed to Rashtrapati Bhavan during the term of President Dr. Rajendra Prasad. The Rashtrapati Bhavan has served as a home to Viceroy Lord Irwin and subsequently to other Viceroys of India till Lord Mountbatten, the last British Viceroy and the first Governor-General of independent India in 1947. Lord Mountbatten administered the oath of Prime Minister to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru under the Central Dome of Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1947. C. Rajagopalachari, the first Indian Governor-General also took oath under the Central Dome on June 21, 1948 and became the first Indian to reside at the Government House, as it was then called. The grandeur of this majestic presidential palace, however, was humbled by the very modest gestures of Rajagopalachari. Finding the Viceroy’s room too royal to stay, he shifted to smaller rooms (now called the Family Wing of the Rashtrapati Bhavan) for his personal use. This has been followed by all subsequent residents of the Bhavan. The erstwhile Viceroy’s Rooms have been converted into the Guest Wing for stay of Heads of State and Government and their delegations. As the first president of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad took Rashtrapati Bhavan as his abode in the year 1950 after assuming office. Little known is the fact that Mahatma Gandhi, much before the political heads of independent India, was an early visitor to the newly constructed Viceroy’s House. The Viceroy had invited him for a meeting which was met with dissent by Winston Churchill. Nevertheless, Mahatma Gandhi carried with him salt to add to his tea as a mark of protest against the British Salt tax. The series of meetings between Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Irwin finally culminated in the famous Gandhi Irwin pact that was signed on March 5, 1931. Rashtrapati Bhavan has since independence hosted defence investiture ceremonies, swearing in of its leaders, honoured its bravehearts and achievers, has heard the speeches of world leaders, signed pacts and treaties with various countries, celebrated India’s Independence and Republic Day functions along with other festivals. The gates of Lutyens’ masterpiece Delhi which he described as “one complete organism, perfect and inseparable” have now been opened for the public on the initiative of Former President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee since August, 2012. The journey through this work of art is divided into three circuits. Circuit 1 covers the Main Building and Central Lawn of Rashtrapati Bhavan including its premier rooms like the Ashok Hall, Durbar Hall, Banquet Hall, its Drawing Rooms and many more. Circuit 2 consists of the tour of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex, while Circuit 3 promises the tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s famous gardens- The Mughal Garden

Formerly knows as viceroy palace, rastrapati bhavan is very beautiful place. Its iconic house of an indian who is considered as the head of our nation. Its easily accessible through metro or bus. One should always remember that no vehicle is allowed inside the rastrapati premises. You will have to walk atleast 1km to reach this place by metro and atleast 500meters if you boarded bus. But this place worth a visit, as it would be very knowledgeable as well as exciting as you'll be visiting the house of indian president.

Went to Mughal Garden in afternoon slot of 2pm. It is very beautiful. Really different and refreshing place. You have to do online booking. Booking open 7 days prior. Tickets get over very quickly. Better to book at 12am. Go with minimum stuff with you. Entrance and first few gardens are boring. Initially we thought that it is below average and its waste of time. But when we reached the main garden, we were pleasantly surprised by the size and cleanliness of the place. Its really colourful and if you like photography, then you will love it. I don't like plants and flowers as such, but I'm really happy I made an effort to go there. It's peaceful walk, wear comfortable shoes. Go in good weather.