Images: Walking through the living history of Rashtrapati Bhavan
The Rashtrapati Bhavan is one of the world’s largest houses, if one can call it that. It took 17 years to build. The stunning library, and the Durbar Hall where Pandit Nehru was sworn in are steeped in history with every turn.
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Built in 1929, the Rashtrapati Bhavan is the house of the president and is among the largest dwelling places in the world. Covering 18,580 square meters, the house took 17 years to build, has four floors and 340 rooms. Image courtesy: Rashtrapati Bhawan
The library at the Rashtrapati Bhavan has about 24,000 books, the oldest dating as far back as the early 1800s. The main library pictured here houses 2,000 books with the remaining in the extended libraries. The library staff consists of librarian, SNS Prakash and three others who are temporary workers and help with data entry, indexing and organising books as per year and topic. Arlene Chang/Firstpost
The oldest book in the library is a book by Alexander Beatson titled 'A View of the Origin and Conduct of the War with Tippoo Sultaun', printed in London in 1800. Arlene Chang/Firstpost
Of the 24,000 books in the President's library, 14,000 books have been digitised so far, according to SNS Prakash, its librarian since 1983. The process which began in 2004, during the time Abdul Kalam was President, is expected to be completed in another year. And once the copyrights are sought, the books will then be accessible through the President's website. Arlene Chang/Firstpost
The Durbar Hall is where India's first prime minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was sworn in. The hall -- which draws its inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome -- can sit upto 600 persons and has in the past hosted award ceremonies like the Padmashri and Khel Ratna. At the center of its podium is a statue of the Lord Buddha which was excavated from Mathura. Designed by Luytens -- who took special interest in as small a thing as each of the 600 chairs in the hall -- the planning of the hall is such, that if one were to draw a straight line from between the feet of the Buddha statute, it would come out at the center of the India Gate. The hall has a magnificent chandelier in the center which is suspended for 33 meters from the top of the roof, which comes out onto the main dome. Arlene Chang/Firstpost
The Long Drawing Room is also now called the cabinet room. It hosts meetings between the President and state governors. Arlene Chang/Firstpost
The North Drawing Room is opposite the Long Drawing Room and usually hosts meetings between the President and international heads of states. Arlene Chang/Firstpost
The Ashoka Hall gives one the feeling of a large jewel box and was originally the State Ballroom. The room which has Mughal influences was used by the British for entertainment. It has a wooden floor, central dance space and three vestibules, six chandeliers on the ceiling, six around the hall and 11 candlebra stands on its walls. The hall is now used for holding ceremonial functions like the presentation of credentials by heads of missions of foreign countries, the swearing in of ministers and acceptance of presidential credentials. Arlene Chang/Firstpost
The ceiling of the Ashoka Hall has a central nine piece Qazar painting -- made on canvas -- which was gifted to George IV of England by Fateh Ali Shah of Persia. Matching the ceiling is a huge Persian carpet on the floor of the hall, woven entirely in India. Arlene Chang/Firstpost
Spread over 6 hectares, the Mughal Gardens combines many Mughal elements with British garden art. At the head of the garden is a square carpet of grass which falls under the shadow of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. From this lush patch a canal takes of falling gently down levels. At the far end of the gardens, is a round pool surrounded by concentric circles of flowerbeds. Image courtesy: Rashtrapati Bhavan