Rashtrapati Bhavan: Key information, valuation and other facts

Irrespective of the sky-high costs and superlatively high luxury quotient, not many private abodes in the world can match up to the grandeur and extraordinary charm of the residence of India’s first citizen – the President. One of the finest specimens of architectural excellence and enormity across the globe, the Rashtrapati Bhavan is a unique mix of being a power centre and a citadel that speaks volumes of the country’s cultural heritage. It is not only the residence of the nominative head of the government in the world’s biggest democracy but also the biggest presidential residence in the world. The residence is a unique fusion of the European, Mughal, Hindu and Buddhist architectural styles.

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan: Location 

Situated at the eastern edge of Rajpath facing the iconic India Gate, the Rashtrapati Bhavan, once the Viceregal Palace, has nine tennis courts, a polo ground, a 14-hole golf course and a cricket ground along with the Mughal Gardens.

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan valuation

Spread across 350 acres of land in the centre of the national capital, known as the Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ), the magnificent building was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 14 million at that time. To put a figure to its value at present, its cost would be approximately Rs 2.65 billion, factoring in a conservative 6% inflation rate over 90 years.

Since almost all the land in the LBZ is owned by the central government, it is not possible to arrive at the precise value of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. However, if we were to arrive at a rough estimate of the land value of the building, the cost for the 350-acre area (1,52,46,000 sq ft) would come around Rs 2.52 lakh crores (Rs 2.52 trillion), considering the current rates of Rs 1.65 lakhs per sq ft at which the last transaction took place in the LBZ in August 2020.

Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan: Key facts 

Architects

Edwin Landseer Lutyen

Chief contractor

Hugh Keeling

Total number of workers

29,000 people

Building cost

Rs 14 million *According to Lutyens, the money invested in the construction of the building was smaller in amount as compared to the cost of two warships.

Year of completion

1912-1929

Time taken for completion

Estimated: 4 years; total time taken: 17 years

Floor area

2,00,000 sq ft

Floors and rooms

4 floors and 340 rooms

Building material

Built by using 700 million bricks and three million cubic ft of stone. No steel has gone into the construction of the building.

Building style

European, Mughal, Hindu and Buddhist

Erstwhile residence of

British Viceroy

Now residence of

Indian president

 

The value of great buildings is a matter of great curiosity and interest to us. In our day-to-day lives, however, we may need to know the valuation of properties, for the purpose of sale, rent, etc. To find out the value of the property you are interested in, check out Housing.com’s Property valuation calculator.

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan: Visitors’ guide

Apart from the lavish Mughal Gardens (According to an official statement issued on January 28, 2023, the Mughal Gardens at Rashtrapati Bhavan will now be known as Amrit Udyan) which opens to the public from mid-February to mid-March, visitors can get a guided tour of the Durbar Hall, Lutyens Gallery, Long Drawing Room, Ashoka Hall, Children’s Gallery and Gift Museum.

 

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan: Entrance fee

Entry to specific parts of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the Mughal Gardens is free.

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan: Latest News

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan Amrit Udyan opens for public on February 2

The Amrit Udyan at the Rashtrapati Bhavan will open for public viewing from February 2 to March 31, 2024, under the Udyan Utsav-1, 2024. People can visit the garden six days a week except on Mondays. It was earlier known as the Mughal Garden.  Visitors will be allowed to visit in six hourly slots between 10 AM and 4 PM. The capacity for the two forenoon slots (10AM to 12 PM) will be 7,500 visitors during weekdays and 10,000 visitors in each slot on weekends. The capacity for the four afternoon slots (12 PM to 4 PM) will be 5,000 visitors in each slot during weekdays and 7,500 visitors on weekends.  Booking can be made on https://visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/visit/amrit-udyan/rE.

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan to be open 6 days a week for public viewing

May 17, 2023: The Rashtrapati Bhavan will be open for public viewing for six days a week, starting June 1, 2023. So far, visitors can vist the iconic builing five days a week, barring Monday and Tuesday. The tour of the Rashtrapati Bhavan will now be available from Tuesday to Sunday in seven time slots between 9.30 AM and 4.30 PM, the President’s office said in a statement on Tuesday. However, tours will not be available on gazetted holidays.Visitors can view the Change of Guard Ceremony at the forecourt every Saturday, between 8-9 AM.

 

Mughal Gardens to be named Amrit Udyan

The iconic Mughal Gardens, often described as the soul of Rashtrapati Bhavan, will now be known as the Amrit Udyan according to an announcement made by the government on January 28, 2023. The resplendent gardens are opened to the public once a year– typically, during the Udyanotsav held between February to March every year.  This year, people can visit the gardens from January 31, 2023.

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan morning panorama

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan morning panorama

 

Rashtrapati Bhavan evening panorama

 

Lit-up view of the Rashtrapati Bhavan

 

Lit-up view of the Rashtrapati Bhavan 

 

FAQs

What is the construction cost of the Rashtrapati Bhavan?

The Rashtrapati Bhavan was constructed at a cost of Rs 14 million.

Who designed the Rashtrapati Bhavan?

Edwin Landseer Lutyen was the architect of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Are visitors allowed in the Rashtrapati Bhavan?

Yes, visitors can enter some parts of the Rashtrapati Bhavanafter registration.

How can I visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan?

A request for visiting the Rashtrapati Bhavan may be made online through our website - https://rb.nic.in/rbvisit/visit_plan.aspx

Is it necessary to carry any identity proof to visit the Rashtrapati Bhavan?

Indian citizens are required to carry valid photo ID cards. In case of foreigners, they should make their request for visit along with photocopies of their passport. On the day of visit, they are required to carry their original passport for identification.

Are there any charges to visit Rashtrapati Bhavan?

You have to pay registration charges of Rs 50 per visitor online. The payment is non-refundable and non-transferable. Visitors individually or in a group of less than 30 persons will be charged Rs 50 per visitor per circuit. Visitors in a group of 30 persons will be charged Rs 1,200 per visit, per circuit. Visitors in a group of more than 30 persons will be charged Rs 1,200 plus Rs 50 per additional visitor, per circuit.

Who all are exempted from payment of registration fee?

Only children below the age of 8 years are exempted from payment of registration charges.

Can payment be made through debit cards or credit cards?

Payment has to be made by debit cards, credit cards or through net banking while making the booking online.

(All images have been taken from official website of Rashtrapati Bhawan)

 

 

Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at [email protected]