Who owned the land before Rashtrapati Bhavan was built? Here's what you didn't know

Time of India

24-04-2025

Rashtrapati Bhavan
in the western section of Rajpath in New Delhi is the residence of the president. The majestic building, which we now see as a majestic building, was originally a proposal for British Viceroy's and officials' accommodation during the British occupation of India. Its roots go back to the early years of the 20th century when the British Empire resolved to relocate the British Indian capital from Calcutta (now named Kolkata) to New Delhi in 1911.
Rashtrapati Bhavan is not just a masterpiece of architecture, but also a symbol of Indian political power. Its construction, history, and design represent the tangled conflict of Indian tradition and colonial culture. The building stood the test of time as an emblem of India's power, strength, and independence. From the time of its commission during British imperialism to its renaissance as the residence of the Indian President, Rashtrapati Bhavan ranks among the most symbolic buildings in the world.
Raisina Hill's transformation into Rashtrapati Bhavan's imperial centre
Before 1911, the area around Raisina Hill, upon which Rashtrapati Bhavan is constructed today, was not inhabited. There were small villages where some 300 farming families lived, surviving on agriculture and cattle breeding. The area was planned by the British as a new imperial centre, symbolising their power and control over the Indian subcontinent.
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According to rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in, before British occupation of Raisina Hill, the location was owned by the Maharaja of Jaipur. It was valued strategic land due to its high ground, and it offered a commanding view of the nation. To celebrate the new status of Delhi as the national capital of India, Maharaja Sawai Madho Singh of Jaipur gave India a great monument—the Jaipur Column—which is still there today, standing in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. This column is a visible reminder of Jaipur's connection to Delhi's transformation into the capital.
Strategic and historical considerations behind relocating
It was a historical and strategic consideration to decide on relocating the capital. Delhi, geopolitically, was better situated in the centre of the extensive Indian subcontinent and therefore more accessible to control as a colony. Delhi was also richly tied to India's past empires such as the Mughal Empire, historically and culturally, and the British, therefore, were being given a linkage to India's imperial past. The location was symbolic as well as representing British superiority.
Evolution of Rashtrapati Bhavan from the Viceroy's House
The British, especially during the regime of Lord Hardinge (Viceroy in India, 1910-1916), were eager to turn this transition to New Delhi into a grand announcement of British imperial dominance. They located their administrative headquarters on Raisina Hill, at the western end of the gigantic Rajpath. The site was transformed into a gigantic, well-designed governmental complex that would represent British dominance in India.
India gained freedom in 1947, and the period of British domination was over. The house, once named Viceroy's House, was renamed as Rashtrapati Bhavan, since the period of colonising nations ceased to exist, and India began life as a newly born republic. It serves as the dwelling of the President of India, head of the nation, and also symbolises the republican democratic nation of India.
Design of Rashtrapati Bhavan
According to the reports, the British hired the great British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker to construct this new capital. They designed a building that was a mix of the traditional British imperial construction along with Indian elements to make it a great building. Lutyens designed the master plan of the city of New Delhi, while Baker constructed the design of a few of the major buildings, including Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The building would serve as an emblem of imperial power and suzerainty, and the British Viceroy, representative of the British Monarchy in India, as a resident. The building is an intriguing mixture of Western classical traditions, such as Baroque and Neo-Classical and Indian architectural elements, such as the dome, arches, and ornaments. The building was conceived as a palace residence, ample to accommodate the retinue and offices of the Viceroy, with elaborate gardens surrounding the building.
Rashtrapati Bhavan: Construction challenge and innovation
Rashtrapati Bhavan construction
took 17 years as per rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in reports. When the building had to be completed in four years, the scale and complexity of the work resulted in the delay. Raisina Hill, as good a site as it was for a grand building, was extremely difficult. The terrain consisted of many hills, and the area had to be levelled in a large scale to accommodate the huge structure. Rocks were blasted, and portions of stone and soil were dug out. For this purpose, a railway line was constructed from the neighbouring area to transport construction material like sandstone and marble, which was being imported from Rajasthan and the rest of India.
The volume of construction required an immense number of workers and expert logistics, and the material was transported along the railway line directly into the site. This railway system was a work of brilliance in avoiding the complicated topography and in needing to transport gigantic quantities of construction material efficiently.
Architecture of Rashtrapati Bhavan
Rashtrapati Bhavan is a syncretic architectural model par excellence. It is a blend of Indian and European architecture, symbolising the fusion of colonial rule with aspects of Indian culture. The complex has 340 rooms, a humongous Darbar Hall, which is used to accommodate significant ceremonial events, and a series of stunning gardens, which reprise traditional Mughal style motifs.
The most striking aspect of the building is its dome, which is borrowed from the magnificent Buddhist Stupa of Sanchi. The dome is not only a distinguishing aspect of the building but is also symbolic of the institution that has been housed within it and its strength and stamina. The outer envelope of the building comprises symbols of Indian craftsmanship, while the inner envelope comprises rooms, ceremonial rooms, and breathtaking staircases in a British style.
Despite the project's vision, it was longer in completion than envisioned due to the complexity of the design, terrain challenges, and the nature of the work. The result was, nonetheless, a building that was not just an imperial palace but a piece of art as well, in which East met West in shape.
Rashtrapati Bhavan: Cost of construction
The construction of Rashtrapati Bhavan cost more than Rs 1.3 crore (an enormity in the early 20th century) to construct it. The number is a tribute to the huge scale of the building and the grandeur that went into conceiving it, the materials that went into the building, and the enormous amount of people that were needed to implement such a lavish scheme.
Symbolism of Rashtrapati Bhavan
Rashtrapati Bhavan is not merely a structure, it's the symbol of the transition of India from the colonial period to independence and aspirations of the new republic. The structure contains office complexes of the President, Vice President, and other dignitaries, and the nerve center of the executive government of India. Symbolic in nature is the blending of India's glorious past and its emerging political future.
The transition from Viceroy's House to Rashtrapati Bhavan also symbolised a humongous political and cultural identity transformation for India. It was no longer a symbol of British rule, but a symbol of the sovereignty of Indian citizens and the new identity of the nation.
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