The Architectural Heritage of New Delhi:

Sir Edwin Lutyens, Herbert Baker & Imperial New Delhi

Sponsored by
The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art

Tour arrangements by
Classical Excursions

Government House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan or President’s House),

On February 8, 1931, The Statesman, the Indian English-language newspaper, reminded its readers of
the background of 20 years earlier that would lead to the formal inauguration of India’s new capital,
opening on February 10 and lasting two weeks: “New Delhi can be said to have been born at two
o’clock on Tuesday, December 12, 1911. The great Durbar [in Calcutta] was drawing to its
interminable close. Homage had been paid…. An immense strain must have been imposed upon
Their Majesties [King George V and Queen Mary, Emperor and Empress of India, a title that was
presented first to Queen Victoria, the king’s grandmother, at Delhi in 1877]…. At the end, His
Majesty rose and made a short announcement: ‘We have decided upon the transfer of the seat of
the Government of India from Calcutta to the ancient Capital of Delhi’…. The secret had been
extraordinarily well kept.”

The subject of moving the capital of the “Crown Jewel” of the British Empire had been under
discussion since 1868, though there had been resistance all along. A more central location for the
vast country where government could be carried on year-round without the more severe equatorial
climate of Calcutta that caused yearly interruptions. In addition, by 1911, the move would ease the
installation of certain political reforms that had been resisted by Calcutta’s elite – thus the reason for
secrecy. On December 15, Their Majesties laid two simple stones near the new site outside Delhi,
thus giving “material effect to the important announcement.”

(l.) One of Two Secretariat Buildings; (r.) Aerial View of Both Secretariat Buildings, Named
North and South Blocks Shown Here Soon After Their Completion in 1931. Herbert Baker, Architect.

An empire needed grandeur. New Delhi was the selected place and Edwin Landseer Lutyens and
Herbert Baker would be the chief architects to carry through the creation of one the world’s great
urban establishments – as one London newspaper headline would eventually read, “The New Delhi:
A City to Rival Paris and Washington.”

Lutyens was sought after mainly for his great English country houses while Baker was recognized
for the government buildings in South Africa, as well as for projects in Australia, France, Belgium
and Britain. Lutyens was the first to be chosen (the monumental project met a long-sought desire),
and Baker, who had been a friend and colleague, was to follow. Walter George, Robert Tor Russell
and others became part of the larger architectural team that also included members of the Delhi
Town Planning Committee.

When Lutyens signed on, he had one proviso, and that was to design some of the main buildings.
Because of his excellent professional and social connections (for one, his wife, Emily, happened to
be the daughter of Lord Lytton, the first viceroy of India), Lutyens was able to obtain the
commission to design Government House, the viceroy’s palace and the premiere building, which
would turn out to have 340 rooms, 35 loggias and 37 fountains among quantities of other features,
brilliantly incorporating both Mughal decorative features (the elephant, temple bell, lotus, shell and
cobra fountains) and Western elements (the column, the arched opening and classical symmetry) and
concluding with a unique hybrid style.

Baker designed the two secretariat buildings, named North Block and South Block (now offices for
the prime minister and the cabinet) and framing Government House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan or
President’s House), as well as a hexagonal plan for Council House, which was rejected for Lutyens’s
circular plan (now Parliament House, 570 feet in diameter). Baker also designed houses beyond the
confines of the Viceregal Estate.

Council House (now Parliament House). (Lower r.) Great Central Hall. Sir Edwin Lutyens, Architect.

Government House would be given prominence on Raisina Hill at one end of the ceremonial
avenue called Kingsway (now Rajpath) and at the other of this dramatic vista would be the All-India
War Memorial (now India Gate). Just beyond was the statue of King George V located in the center
of Princes Park. Bordering its hexagonal sides were the mansions of some of the maharajas of
India. Lutyens was the architect for these, including Hyderabad House (now used by the prime
minister for entertaining officials), Patiala House, Jaipur House (now the Museum of Modern Art)
and Bikaner House.

Because of his years of collaborating with Gertrude Jekyll, the great English garden designer,
Lutyens was able to take on such tasks as overseeing the lining of the broad avenues with indigenous
trees, creating mini-gardens at rotaries and above all, planning the Mughal water gardens at
Government House with its canals and layered lotus fountains. These and other landscape features
within the geometric grid of the urban scheme were thoughtfully created and laid out, making them
all part of the greater plan. To this day New Delhi is considered a garden city despite the vast
increase of buildings.

(Top l.) Entrance Gates to President’s House; (Top r.) All-India War Memorial (now India Gate).
(Bottom l.) Hyderabad House; (Bottom r.) Jaipur House (now Museum of Modern Art).
Sir Edwin Lutyens, Architect.

Within Government House, Lutyens designed Durbar Hall, the circular throne room located
beneath a central dome inspired by the Buddists stupas, a State Dining Room (now Ashoka
Hall), a ballroom decorated with rich frescoes in the Indo-Persian style, subsidiary public rooms,
private apartments for the viceroy and his family and a multitude of guest suites and service
rooms. Carpets, copies of magnificent Mughal floor coverings, were custom woven in Kashmir.
The furniture was designed by Lutyens using teak from Burma and central India, ebony and
Kashmiri walnut and other regional woods. Indian artists were hired to paint the murals and
frescoes. Lutyens oversaw all of this, as well as fireplaces, lights and chandeliers, paintings,
upholstery and so much more.

Author Elizabeth Wilhide’s description of the architect’s work overall rings true with his
achievements in New Delhi, “…Lutyens’s work displays a remarkable synthesis of function and
artistry…[His] brilliance was to breathe new life into traditional forms and themes…The notion
of taste – an intrinsic sense of rightness in design – informed every creative decision…marrying
the vernacular with the classical, the formal and the natural, the result is an important and
enduring legacy of design…”

Imperial Hotel (1931), D.J. Blomfield, Architect, an associate of Sir Edwin Lutyens.

Rashtrapati Bhavan

Jaipur House, New Delhi, Designed by Blomfield

• Hyderabad House, designed by Lutyens in 1926 and was known as the Palace of the Nizam of Hyderabad, and was
one of the princely residences in New Delhi.

• India Gate, designed by Lutyens and unveiled in 1931 was originally called the All India War memorial. It is located on
the eastern edge of the ceremonial axis of New Delhi, formerly called Kingsway. It is a memorial to the 82,000 soldiers
of the undivided Indian army who died between 1914-21, in the First World War.

• National Archives building designed by Lutyens in 1926. This was originally known as the Imperial Record Office.

• Sansad Bhawan (Parliament House) designed by Lutyens and Herbert Baker in 1912 and opened in 1927.

• North Block and South Block Secretariat Buildings, designed by Herbert Baker in 1912. These consist of two blocks
of symmetrical buildings on opposite sides of great axis of the Rajpath and flanking the President’s house Rashtrapati
Bhavan designed by Lutyens.

• Central Vista, Rajpath and India Gate

• Huma Yun’s Tomb, built in 1565 by a Persian architect by the name of Mirak Ghiyas and commissioned by
Humayun’s senior widow. This is a forerunner and inspiration for the Taj Mahal and is one of the first great Mughal
gardens.

• Visit to Qutub Minar. The wealth of India attracted Arab invasions beginning in the 11th century. One of these Arab
generals by the name of Qubuddin Aibak founded the Mamluk (slave) Dynasty and was followed by subsequent rulers
called Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids and Lodis. These Muslim rulers were known as the sultans of Delhi. Their empire
survived well into the 16th century and had a profound impact on the region both culturally and technologically. The
Qutb Minar tower was built in 1193 to commemorate the arrival of the Muslim sultans. Later sultans added to the
complex, where visitors can see the architectural style known as Sultanate architecture, which is a fusion of Islamic and
Hindu styles.

• A tour of Coronation Memorial Park. This is the site of the Royal Durbar held in 1911 to proclaim the accession of
George V as King Emperor of India. The announcement of the transfer of the capital from Calcutta to Delhi was made
and two days later the first foundation stones were laid for the new city.

• A visit to the Delhi Cantonment area, where you also visit St Martin’s Church by Shoosmith and see some colonial
buildings from outside. The Cantonment area was built in the 1930s by the Military Works Department. Typical of the
area are the straight roads, white washed walls and neatly clipped hedges. Within the area is one of India’s most unique
churches designed by one of Lutyens associates named Aurthur Gorden Shoosmith. The church was consecrated in 1931
and is known for its austere classical interior.
• Western Court designed by RT Russell and built in the 1930s. Originally built to be used as hostels for legislators.
 • Connaught Place designed by RT Russell, was originally modeled after the Royal Crescent in Bath and intended to be a
commercial and residential hub. It was planned as a two-story structure with commercial spaces on the lower floor and
residential spaces on the upper floor. Rt Russel was the Chief Architect of the Public Works Department.

• Cathedral Church of the Redemption by Henry Medd, was also known as the Viceroy Church and is among the most
beautiful churches in India.

• Teen Murti Bhawan 1930 (Commander in Chief Residence for the British Army), designed by RT Russell and
completed in 1930. It was the former residence of the Commander in Chief of the British Army when built, but later
became the residence of the first Prime Min person.ister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru. It currently houses the Nehru
Museum.
• Rashtrapati Bhavan, The Viceroy’s Palace, a private tour of the palace, gardens, stables and staff bungalows

Please join us on this week-long excursion exploring the architecture and wonder of
Imperial New Delhi, together with experts from the Lutyens Trust and The Indian
National Trust For Art & Cultural Heritage. Special entrée to government buildings
has been arranged as well as on -site lectures and five-star accommodations at the
Imperial Hotel. Registrations must be received before October 25, 2018. The tour is
sponsored by The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. A tax-deductible donation
of $500 per person is required in order to participate. Tour price $6200.00 per person
based on double occupancy. Please contact Lani Summerville of Classical Excursions
to reserve your space. [email protected] or 413-446-8728. An optional
add-on tour of “The Golden Triangle” including Agra, Jaipur and the Shekhawati
region is also available from February 17-24, 2018.