Raj Bhavan (Uttar Pradesh)
Encyclopedia
Raj Bhavan is the official residence
Official residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...

 of the Governor of Uttar Pradesh
Governors of Uttar Pradesh
This is a list of Governors of Uttar Pradesh from the independence of India in 1947. Before independence, the analogous office was the Governor of the United Provinces.-Governors of the United Provinces of Independent India :...

. It is located in the capital city of Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....

, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...

. The present governor of Uttar Pradesh is B.L Joshi

The Raj Bhavan of Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow is over 200 years old.

History

Raj Bhavan used to be Kothi Hayat Baksh (Hindi: कोठी हयात बकश, Urdu: کوٹھی حیات بکش).Major General Claude Martin
Claude Martin
Major General Claude Martin was an officer in the French, and later the British, army in India. He rose to the position of Major General in the British East India Company...

 drew the layout of this building.

In the year 1798 after Nawab Asaf-ud-daula
Asaf-Ud-Dowlah
Asaf-Ud-Daula was the nawab wazir of Oudh from 26 January 1775 to 21 September 1797, and the son of Shuja-ud-Dowlah, his mother and grandmother being the begums of Oudh, whose spoliation formed one of the chief counts in the charges against Warren Hastings.-Life:A contemporary chronicler describes...

 died, the East India Company made Sadaat Ali Khan the new ruler. The new ruler liked buildings built up in European style by Major General Claude Martin . As per his wishes the contract for construction of the Kothi was undertaken by Major General Claude Martin.

Major General Claude Martin made the Kothi his residence and he used this building for his safety guards and also for the safety of his armory.

Before India's independence Kothi Hayat Baksh was declared as a Government House
Government House
Government House is the name of many of the residences of Governors-General, Governors and Lieutenant-Governors in the Commonwealth and the remaining colonies of the British Empire. It serves as the venue for the Governor's official business, as well as the many receptions and functions hosted by...

, the official residence of the Governor of United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
United Provinces of Agra and Oudh
The United Provinces of Agra and Oudh was a province of India under the British Raj, which existed from 1902 to 1947; the official name was shortened by the Government of India Act 1935 to United Provinces, by which the province had been commonly known, and by which name it was also a province of...

.

After independence its name was changed to Raj Bhavan

Building

The two storied palatial building of Lucknow city was constructed in the eastern side of the city surrounded by greenery. Hayat Baksh means, life giving. The buildings constructed under influence of East India Company used to be different than the traditional Indian style of architecture and these buildings were called Kothis. In Indian style of architecture, it was essential to have courtyard in the house, for which no provision has been made in these Kothis. Kothis normally were two storied, with long straight plain wall without any design. The only place for artistic work were the doors and windows, the Gothic style was used for beautification of doors and windows.

Kothi Hayat Baksh is an airy palatial building with all four sides surrounded with high roofed varandas. Only Raj darbar inside the Kothi is made as per Indian art and sculpture, whereas remaining portion of the Bhavan is completely influenced by western style. The mehrab of Dewan khanas are decorated with flower strips and are painted beautifully with golden colour.

In 1873 under the direction of Sir George Cooper beautiful lawns, fountains and also beautiful sitting rooms were attached

In 1907, one portion of this Kothi was demolished and a ballroom was also added. The ballroom is now a dining hall.

See also

  • Government Houses of India
  • Government Houses of the British Empire

Highly Decorated- High roof- multipurpose GANDHI SABHAGAR, uniquely air-conditioned,(renovated in 2006), is a prime attractive part. NEEL KUSUM ( VIP Waiting Hall), ANNAPURNA & TRIPTI( Banquet Hall), JAN KAKSH ( General Waiting Hall) and KALA KAKSH (Small-museam of gifts)are the BIG ROOMs of sculpture and art.
Raj Bhavan is having a wide collection of variety of trees.
It enjoys and witnesses every year in mid Feb. -A GREAT SHOW OF FLOWERS & PLANTS.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK