Udyan Utsav

Rashtrapati Bhavan

Rashtrapati Bhavan, home to the President of the world’s largest democracy, epitomizes India’s strength, its democratic traditions and secular character.

Rashtrapati Bhavan was the creation of architects of exceptional imagination and masterfulness, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker. It was Sir Lutyens who conceptualized the H-shaped building, covering an area of 5 acres on a 330-acre estate. This mansion has a total of 340 rooms spread over four floors, 2.5 kilometres of corridors and 190 acres of garden area.

Painstaking efforts of thousands of labourers including masons, carpenters, artists, carvers, and cutters saw the completion of this masterwork in the year 1929. Originally built as the residence for the Viceroy of India, Viceroy's House as it was then called, has metamorphosed into today’s Rashtrapati Bhavan. From being a symbol of imperial domination and power, it is today emblematic of Indian democracy and its secular, plural and inclusive traditions.

Circuits

The journey through this work of art is divided into three circuits.

• Circuit 1: Covers the Main Building and Central Lawn of Rashtrapati Bhavan including its premier rooms like the Ashok Hall, Durbar Hall, Banquet Hall, its Drawing Rooms and many more.
• Circuit 2: Consists of the tour of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex.
• Circuit 3: Covers the Rashtrapati Bhavan’s famous gardens including Amrit Udyan, Herbal Garden, Musical Garden and Spiritual Garden.

Flora and Fauna

The 330 acres of land at the President’s Estate harbours a rich biodiversity. Open spaces, forest cover, parks, gardens, patches of wilderness, numerous fruit-bearing trees and water bodies, have all contributed to supporting rich flora and fauna at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

A nature trail spread over 75 acres has been developed in the Estate for its residents to raise awareness about nature conservation. The nature trail covers both managed and natural ecosystems of the Estate and is connected to the gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan by well-laid paths. The main features of the nature trail are the pond ecosystem, butterfly corner, ber groove, mango orchard, peacock point, orangery, forest ecosystem and mica point amongst others.

Udyan Utsav

General Instructions

Opening Days & Timings

During 2023, Amrit Udyan, the Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan was opened to the public for about two months, from 31st January to 26th March 2023.

Specific days are made available for entry to the Gardens for visitors of special categories as mentioned below:

• Farmers
• Differently abled and visually challenged persons (Visually challenged visitors can also access the tactile garden on the same day)
• Defence forces, paramilitary and police
• Women and tribal women's SHGs

The Gardens were open to visitors from 10 am to 5 pm (the last entry will be at 4 pm).

The Gardens will be closed on:

• All Mondays for maintenance
• Gazetted Holidays

Entry Fee & Charges

Booking of slots and entry to the Gardens of Rashtrapati Bhavan during Udyan Utsav is free of cost.

Booking Mechanism

Entry can be through online booking as well as through on-the-spot bookings.

Online Bookings

Online booking can be done by visiting the President of India website https://presidentofindia.gov.in/ and following the Udyan Utsav link.

On-the-spot Bookings

• On-the-spot bookings can be done at the Registration and Information Centre or through Visitor Registration Kiosks before entering.
• Online booking slots shall open 10 days in advance of the date of the visit. For example, bookings for 21^st February will open on 11^th February 2023 and so on.
• Online bookings can be done on an hourly slot basis.
• A mobile number is mandatory to make online bookings. Only one booking is permitted from one mobile number.
• Reservations for a maximum of 30 visitors can be made in a single booking.

Entry

• Entry to the Gardens will be through Gate No. 35 of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on North Avenue Road.
• Visitors with online bookings are requested to carry their digital visitor pass on their mobile phones and minimize the use of paper.
• Visitors are required to arrive at the entry gate as per the time slot booked by them.
• Visitors must carry their visitor pass along with a Government ID proof.

Allowed/Restricted Items

• Mobile phones are allowed during the visit to the Gardens.
• Visitors are allowed to carry wallets, purses, handbags, water and milk bottles for babies.
• Eatables/Paan/Gutka/Cigarettes/Backpacks/Cameras/Video Cameras are not allowed inside the Gardens.
• Carrying arms and ammunition is strictly prohibited.
• All guidelines, including those related to security, displayed/announced at the Entry Gate No. 35 are applicable to all visitors regardless of the mode of booking.

Points of Attraction

• Sheesham (Dalbergia sissoo): A tree over 200 years old
• Herbal Garden: Herbal, aromatic and medicinal plants
• Bonsai Garden: Decades old Bonsais
• Musical Fountain
• East Lawn: Tulips, Dahlia, Freesia, Hyacinths, Marigolds and Pansies
• Central Lawn: Floral Carpet and 120 Celebrated Varieties of Rose
• Long Garden: Vertical Gardens, Chhoti Narangi and Hanging Baskets
• Circular Garden: Stocks and Fragrant Climbers
• Food Court

Sources
Rashtrapati Bhavan
Udyan Utsav 2023