Raj Bhawan

About Raj Bhawan                    

On 5th of February 1799, the foundation of the Raj Bhavan was laid, which after involving an amount of Rs. 2 million, was completed on 18th January 1803. Raj Bhavan or earlier known as the Government House has been the seat of power from the era of British Raj till today. This historic building has been the residence of Viceroy and Governor General of India until 1912 and now acts as the residence of West Bengal’s Governor.

An officer of Bengal Engineers, Captain Charles Wyatt made the original blueprint of this three-storied majestic building that has a big central area of halls, surrounded by curved corridors leading to detached wings. The entire structure of Raj Bhawan bears resemblance with the Derbyshire’s Kedleston Hall, but is grander than its British counterpart.

Raj Bhawan has four suites in this area named after Lord Wellesley, Dufferin, Anderson and Prince of Wales, of which the last suite is used for official dignitaries. Other places that might interest the visitors are ground floor’s Marble Hall that is used for meetings, Blue Drawing Room, Council Chamber, Brown Drawing Room, banquet Hall, the Throne Room, where the Princes were welcomed and durbars were organized and the Ball Room.

Stretched across an area of 27 acres, Raj Bhawan has a floor space of 84000 sq. ft and 6 entrances that have wrought iron gates with intricate designs. On the top of the entrances there are huge lions standing in a royal position and below there are two half human – half lion creature in a squatting position. On the north gate there is a dragon on which a gun is placed. As a tribute to the Treaty of Nanking, this was received from the Chinese. This building completed its 200 years in the year 2003.