Rashtrapati Bhavan: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Rashtrapati Bhavan is the official residence of the President of India, located in New Delhi. Until 1950 it was known as "Viceroy's House" and served as the residence of the Governor-General of India.

During the Delhi Durbar year of 1911 it was decided that the capital of India would be shifted from Calcutta to Delhi. As the plan for New Delhi took shape, the governor-general's residence was given an enormous scale and prominent position. The British architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, a key member of the city-planning process, was also given the prime architectural opportunity of designing the building. His design is grandly classical overall, with colors and details inspired by Indian architecture. Lutyens was especially proud to hear that the palace would not be called "Government House" (as most British colonial governors' residences were and are) but instead "Viceroy's House."

Viceroy's House was largely completed by 1929, and (along with the rest of New Delhi) officially inaugurated in 1931. After Indian indepence in 1947, the now ceremonial governor-general continued to live there, being succeeded by the president in 1950 when India became a republic and the house was renamed "Rashtrapati Bhavan."