Visitors can now enter Rashtrapati Bhavan 6 days a week. Here’s all you need to know

Officials in the President’s Secretariat say that people can witness the Change of Guard Ceremony at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan every Saturday, between 8 am and 9 am. However, the ceremony is not held on Saturdays if it is a gazetted holiday or if notified by Rashtrapati Bhavan during special circumstances.

However, no new area of the President’s Estate has been opened up for the general public, as per officials, who added that visitors have to book their slots online at the official website.

The journey through the complex is divided into three circuits. While Circuit 1 covers the main building and central lawn of Rashtrapati Bhavan, including its premier rooms like the Ashok Hall, Durbar Hall, Banquet Hall and drawing rooms; the second circuit comprises the tour of the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex, whereas the third one promises the tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan’s famous gardens — Amrit Udyan, Herbal Garden, Musical Garden and Spiritual Garden.

Earlier this year, the historic Mughal Gardens at the Rashtrapati Bhavan was given “a common name” of ‘Amrit Udyan’. The garden, open to the public between January and March, are spread over 15 acre, and drew their name from being laid out in the style of gardens built by the Mughals in Jammu & Kashmir, as well as around the Taj Mahal.

As per the Rashtrapati Bhavan website, which describes the garden as “the soul of the Presidential Palace”, miniature paintings of India and Persia were also an inspiration for them. Conceptualised by Edwin Lutyens, the H-shaped building, covering an area of five acre on a 330-acre estate, the Rashtrapati Bhavan building has two different styles of architecture – Indian and western.

Last year, the pathway from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate, which was earlier known as Rajpath, was renamed Kartavya Path.