Mughal Gardens , Rashtrapati Bhavan , New Delhi

Rashtrapati Bhavan is a splendid classical structure artifice of British imperialism with gigantic columns, verandahs, balconies integrated with distinctive Indian motifs for example Buddhist railings, chhatris (umbrella type structures that adorn roof tops), jalis (perforated stone screens with complicated designs) and chhajjas (stone slabs set below the roof ) amid. Besides the wide-ranging use of elephant motifs in the massive cast iron gate, pillars and basement, Indian temple bells are as well incorporated in its pillars. The most noticeable Indian feature is the colossal dome. On the whole the building portrays as a masterpiece of evenness, authority, profile and harmony.

To the west of Rashtrapathi Bhavan there is the graceful Mughal Gardens designed by Lutynes too. The garden which occupies an area of 13 acres, is alienated into three sections (rectangular, long and circular gardens) and is a combination of the formal Mughal style with the blueprint of a British Garden. The garden with Mughal technique canals, fountains and terraces at diverse levels with flowering shrubs and Western style lawns, hedges and flower beds is a visual delicacy especially all through the blossoming season. The garden grows an array of trees and flowers like roses, marigold, bougainvillea, sweet William, viscaria etc amid many others. To the east is the Great Court, a gigantic court with a gigantic Jaipur Column of red sandstone having a bronze lotus atop and six sharp glass star of India, in the middle. Along with the above, the Presidential estate extends in excess of an area of 354 acres with nine tennis courts, a polo ground, a golf course, a cricket field and a grove of trees of diverse species. Nearby, on each sides of the Raisina hill are the two Secretariat blocks planned by Herbert Baker. The Parliament House or the Sansad Bhavan is situated to the north east of the Rashtrapathi Bhavan. The roomy plaza at the foot of the Rashtrapati Bhawan is recognized as Vijay Chowk.

Visitors necessitate special permission from Government of India Tourist Office to go into Rastrapathi Bhavan. The Mughal garden is open to the public just in the month of February when the flowers are splendidly in bloom. The timings are from 9.30 A.M. to 2.30 P.M. on all days apart from Mondays. Every Saturday at 10.30 am, mounted and un-mounted troops parade in complete uniform, at the facade of the gates of the Secretariat and the Rashtrapathi Bhavan which is worth of attendance.

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Rashtrapati Bhavan
History of Rashtrapati Bhawan

things to see / do in Rashtrapati Bhavan , New Delhi , India

Subsequent to Indian independence the Viceroy's house was renamed Government House and when India became a republic in 1952 it was rechristened as Rashtrapati Bhavan ( President’s Quarters / home). An amalgamation of Mughal and classical European architectural style, it has an enormous copper dome which surmount a extended colonnade and 340 decorated rooms. There are 31 steps at the entry to the portico with 20 columns. Transversely the portico, the Durbar hall (Audience hall), with golden pillars and colored marble from all parts of India, is 23m in diameter and has an gracefully carved 2300 year aged sculpture of the Ashokan bull at the entry. It is the place for all official functions of the President as well as the National Award ceremonies. There is a 4th century statue of Gautam Buddha at the rear the Presidents chair. The hall dished up as a museum for a number of years until the present site of the National Museum was erected.

Then there is the rectangular Ashoka hall previously the State Ball Room, currently used for formal assembly such as accepting testimonial from foreign diplomats, swearing in ceremony of ministers and many more. The hall has a painted ceiling and a number of chandeliers with a gorgeous view of the Mughal gardens all the way through its windows. The guest room has two roomy suites for the visiting dignitaries with teak furniture and marvelously woven Indian carpets. State dining room or the Banquet hall with seats of 104 people has walls with teak panels with life-size portraits of the Presidents of India. The Council room which hosts the ceremonial conferences of the President has murals of sea routes to India done by Indian artists but visualized by the renowned art historian Percy Brown. The Art Gallery and the Marble Hall holds a range of works of art composed by the Viceroys and the Presidents of India as well as paintings by famous artists, portraits and statues of British monarchs etc.

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Rashtrapati Bhavan 

Mughal Garden

Rashtrapati Bhavan

Location / importance / temperature / weather / travel / tourism / photography / guide / tips / photo gallery / timing / entry fee of Rashtrapati Bhavan , Presidential Estate, Raisina Hill , Lutyens' , New Delhi , India

Best Season / time / when to visit :  February to March

Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India, is positioned at the west ending of the 2.5 km long Rajpath (King's path), an avenue with line of trees, edged by lawns with systematic flowerbeds and clipped hedge, with the India gate at the reverse end. Design done by Sir Edwin L. Lutyens and finished in 1929, this splendid building on the Raisina hill was previously the Viceregal Lodge (House of Viceroy), in the British rule. The city of New Delhi officially inaugurated during 1931, was visualized and erected by the British when they moved the capital from Kolkata to Delhi. Amongst the Government buildings of the city, the Viceroy’s house was the centre piece with majestic magnitude.

Constructed in two shades of sandstone, it covers an region of 18,580 sq meters (200,000 square feet), nearly 1km in the region of the foundation, larger than the Louis XIV's place at Versailles. The entire cost for the construction was Rs.1.4 million and more than 3,500 men worked on 3.5 million cubic feet of marble and 700 million bricks for almost two decades (17 years) for its creation.

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Mughal Garden
History of Rashtrapati Bhawan

How to reach Mandarmani , West Bengal , India

by train / rail / road / bus / local transport / air

The adjacent train station is at Contai and the adjacent airport is at Kolkata connected by flights in India. It may be noted that at the instant there is no suitable road for the last 6km into Mandarmani, which compels to drive all along the beach, somewhat that the locals encourage, but has a seriously unfavorable affect on the neighborhood ecology, not to reveal the atmosphere of the beaches. But whilst driving on the beaches one needs to pursue the driving track or risk getting trapped in loose mud.

It's best to cover the whole stretch from Chawalkhola to Mandarmani before dark. The total trip from Kolkata is around 3.5 hours. Distances of Mandarmani from major locations : Esplanade - 63km - Kolaghat - 3km - Mecheda - 80km - Contai - 12.3km - Chawalkhola - 4km - Kalindi - 4km - Dadanpatrabar - 6km -Mandarmani - total 166km.

From Kolkata, bues are available from Esplanade or from Howrah heading towards Chawalkhola, or towards Digha. From Chawlkhola there are cycle-rickshaws and auto-rickshaws which you take to Dadanpatrabar. From Dadanpatrabar, cycle-rickshaws are avilable, but it is most excellent to take the transport from Chawalkhola till Mandarmani because transport accessibility from Dadanpatrabar is extremely uncertain.A number of deluxe coaches also run daily, White liners services from Kolkata is the best option.

Air Conditioned luxury / Volvo buses / Royal Cruiser / services from Kolkata to Digha from which one can get down at Chawalkhola.One would most possibly be walking between the resort and the beach, nevertheless if one needs to take a trip to longer distances, stay away from the excitement to drive on the beach more than essential.