If you call Delhi your home, there's no way you've ever passed by the Rashtrapati Bhavan and not wondered what it must look like inside. Well, starting June 1, you can enjoy a tour of the grand structure and find your answers.
According to a press release posted by the President's Secretariat on May 16, the Rashtrapati Bhavan will be open six days a week&ndashfrom Tuesday to Sunday, from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm&ndashexcept on gazetted holidays. However, you must note that only a section of the central building is open for visitors, and any area falling under the President's Estate is off-limits.
What Does The Tour Include
Even though it is open for visitors from morning to dusk, they can take the tour by booking one of the seven slots online. The tours will be divided into three circuits&ndashcircuit one will cover the main building and the central lawn, including Ashok Hall, Durbar Hall, Banquet Hall and other drawing rooms circuit two and three will traverse through the museum complex and the gardens (Amrit Udyan, Herbal Garden, Musical Garden and Spiritual Garden) respectively.
The Rashtrapati Bhawan has seen many esteemed personalities walk through its gates and call it their home, from Viceroy Lord Irwin and Lord Mountbatten to Mahatma Gandhi. From when it was called Viceroy's House before India gained independence to being known as Rashtrapati Bhawan today, the structure designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker continues to symbolise India's democratic values.
While its history, spanning decades, adds to its grandeur, the Rashtrapati Bhavan's H-shaped exterior and intricate interiors featuring Persian and Indian art traditions imbue it with splendour.
See More In Lutyen's Delhi
If you are around Central Delhi and are a fan of art, history and architecture, you must explore a few more places.
Teen Murti Bhavan
Built by the British for the then Commander-in-Cheif of pre-Independent India, the expansive property later housed India's first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Now it consists of a museum and a library, both open to the public. From Nehru's letters to personal belongings and some key documents, the museum holds a treasure for anybody interested in learning about India's pre-modern and modern history.
Timings 9.30 am to 5.30 pm
National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA)
Founded in 1954, this destination is the ultimate hub for delving into Indian contemporary art. An exquisite assemblage of paintings awaits within its walls, with some dating back a remarkable 150 years.
Timings 11 am to 6 pm
National Museum, New Delhi
The National Museum also referred to as the National Museum of India, stands proudly as one of the most expansive museums in the country. Since its establishment in 1949, this cultural institution has become a custodian of diverse artefacts, from the pre-historic age to contemporary artistic creations.
Timings 10 am to 6 pm
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