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Rashtrapati BhawanThe Viceroy
Palace remains Lutyens most significant achievement. It is
befittingly the crowning glory of the British Empire and
architecture in India. Today, it is perhaps India’s best known
monument after the Taj Mahal and the Qutub Minar. Bigger than the
Palace of Versailles, it cost a whopping £12,53,000 and now houses
the President of India. It is unquestionably a masterpiece of
symmetry, discipline, silhouette, colour and harmony. of course, it
has come in for much criticism too but that has mostly been limited
to the imperial intent behind it rather than its architecture.
The Attractions of The Palace
The main entrance is approached by a broad flight of steps which
lead to a 12-column portico. Do notice the enormous projecting
cornice or chajja, a Mughal device, which blends so effortlessly
with the classical style of the monument. Lutyens’ ability to
smoothly incorporate light oriental touches is all the more
remarkable given his active and profound dislike for Indian
architecture.
The most outstanding feature of the House – you can spot it while
you are still a kilometre away – is the huge neo-Buddhist copper
dome that rises over a vast colonnaded frontage. Beneath the dome is
the circular Durbar Hall 22.8m in diameter. The coloured marbles
used in the hall come from all parts of India. The Viceroy’s throne,
ceremonially placed in this chamber, faced the main entrance and
commanded a view along the great axial vista of Kingsway (now
Rajpath). At present the hall is the venue of all official
ceremonies such as the swearing in of the Prime Minister, the
Cabinet and the Members of Parliament. It is in this very chamber
that the President annually confers the Arjuna Awards for
Excellence.
The columns at the front entrance have bells carved into their
capitals. Lutyens reasoned that ‘the ringing of bells sound the end
of an empire and stone bells never sound’. Despite this, the empire
came to an end a brief 16 years later.
The Great Interiors
The principal floor comprises a magnificent series of state
apartments. The State Drawing Room is barrel-vaulted and plainly
treated with domestic fireplaces. The State Ballroom is enriched
with Old English mirror glass. The State Library is based on the
form of Wren’s St Stephen’s, Walbrook. The State Dining Room is
lined with teak panelling enriched with the star of India. The
concept of Imperial order and hierarchy permeates the entire house.
Marble staircases flanking the Durbar Hall provide access to the
private apartments above. There are 54 bedrooms together with
additional accommodation for guests. Lord Irwin, its first occupant,
‘kept losing his way’ but insisted that "in spite of its size, it
was essentially a liveable-in-house."
Mughal Garden
To the west the palace overlooks an enormous Mughal garden designed
by Lutyens. Here the principles of hierarchy, order, symmetry and
unity are extended from the house into the landscape. A series of
ornamental fountains, walls, gazebos and screens combine with scores
of trees, flowers and shrubs to create a paradise so delightful that
Indians called the garden ‘God’s own Heaven’. The Irwins supervised
the planting of the garden which grew in tropical profusion
softening the formal pattern of lawns and waterways. Popularly known
as the Mughal Garden, it is open to public every spring but be
prepared for the tight security check. |
