Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India, a vast sandstone palace on Raisina Hill at the western end of Kartavya Path. It was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and completed in 1929 as the Viceroy's House, the seat of British rule in India.

Rashtrapati Bhavan took almost two decades to build and has about 340 rooms. Lutyens blended classical European planning with Indian elements: the great copper-covered dome recalls the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi, and the facades carry chhatris and jali stone screens. After independence the building became the home of India's head of state, and it took its present name in 1950 when India became a republic. It hosts state banquets and the swearing-in of ministers.

What to see

• The great dome and the columned front seen from the forecourt
• The Durbar Hall and Ashoka Hall on the guided tour
• The Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum and its state gifts
• Amrit Udyan, the terraced gardens, open in spring
• The Jaipur Column in the forecourt

What to wear

Rashtrapati Bhavan is a formal government residence, so dress neatly with shoulders and knees covered. Tours include walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Carry little: bags are screened and some items must be left at the entrance. Delhi summers are hot and winters cold, so dress for the season. In Delhi you will see women in salwar kameez and sarees and men in kurta pyjama, especially at festivals and weddings.

Local food to try

There is no public restaurant inside, so eat before or after. Connaught Place, about 3 km away, has long-running restaurants for butter chicken, dal makhani, chole bhature and South Indian dosa, plus cafes. Gole Market, closer by, has simple eateries. Vegetarian food is easy to find, and halal meat is served widely.

Good to know

• Best from October to March; Amrit Udyan usually opens in February and March
• Tours run Tuesday to Sunday in timed slots; closed Mondays and gazetted holidays
• Tours cost ₹50 per person and must be booked online with photo ID
• Allow one to two hours for the tour
• About 3 km south-west of Connaught Place; Central Secretariat metro is nearby
• Photography is not allowed inside; the Change of Guard runs on Saturdays

Nearby places

Walk down Kartavya Path to India Gate, about 3 km east. The Birla Mandir and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib are both within 3 km.