Quick answer: Rashtrapati Bhavan, the official residence of the President of India on Raisina Hill in New Delhi, is open to the public through pre-booked guided visits. As of October 2026 the President’s Secretariat lists the Main Building and the Museum as open Tuesday to Sunday (closed Mondays and gazetted holidays), at ₹50 per visitor per circuit, with children under 8 free. Amrit Udyan, the former Mughal Gardens, opens free during its seasonal Udyan Utsav, and the Change of Guard ceremony is held on Saturdays. All visits must be booked online at visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in.
Rashtrapati Bhavan visit at a glance
| Circuit | Days and timings | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Main Building | Tuesday to Sunday; seven one-hour slots from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm; no entry after 4:00 pm | ₹50 per person |
| Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum | Tuesday to Sunday; slots from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm; entry closes at 4:00 pm | ₹50 per person |
| Amrit Udyan | Tuesday to Sunday during Udyan Utsav (February to March, and August to September); 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, last entry 5:00 pm | Free (online booking required) |
| Change of Guard | Saturdays (except gazetted holidays); 7:30 am to 8:30 am from 10 October 2026 | ₹50 per person |
Source: the President’s Secretariat (rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in and visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in), checked in October 2026. Booking for each date opens seven days ahead. Phase II of the Museum (The Garages) has been closed to the public since 6 October 2025 until further notice; only Phase I is open.
How to book and what to bring
- Book online at visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in. Choose the circuit, the date and a slot. Each Main Building slot takes up to 60 visitors.
- Pay the registration charge online: ₹50 per visitor per circuit. Children under 8 are exempt. A group of exactly 30 pays ₹1,200 (a 20% discount), and each extra person in a larger group adds ₹50. Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. The Delhi circuits cost the same ₹50 for foreign nationals.
- Wait for confirmation by email or SMS. The President’s Secretariat can decline or cancel visits for security reasons.
- Carry photo ID. Indian citizens need a valid photo ID. Foreign nationals apply with a copy of their passport and must bring the original.
- Leave electronics behind. Mobile phones, cameras, smart watches and other gadgets are not allowed inside; there is a cloakroom at the main reception for them. Backpacks, handbags and heavy luggage are refused.
Visitors enter through Gate No. 2 (Kartavya Path), Gate No. 37 (via Dara Shikoh Road) or Gate No. 38 (via Church Road). If you come by car, use Gate No. 37 and park near Arogya Vanam. The Main Building tour has no lift or wheelchair assistance, and the Secretariat advises against the visit for senior citizens with health conditions, pregnant women, infants and toddlers.
History of Rashtrapati Bhavan
At the Delhi Durbar on 12 December 1911, it was announced that the capital of British India would move from Calcutta (now Kolkata) to Delhi. The British architect Edwin Lutyens was chosen to plan the new capital, and Raisina Hill, south of the old city, was chosen for the Viceroy’s residence because the northern site at Kingsway Camp was prone to flooding.
Herbert Baker worked with Lutyens on the project and designed the two Secretariat buildings in front of the Viceroy’s House. The two architects famously fell out over the slope of the approach road, which hides much of the building’s front from part of the avenue. Lord Hardinge had hoped construction would take four years; it took more than 17. About 23,000 workers were employed at the peak, including 3,000 stone-cutters, and the building used about 700 million bricks and three million cubic feet of stone. It cost about ₹14 million. Lord Irwin laid the final stone and became the first occupant in April 1929.
The building was called Viceroy’s House until India became a republic in 1950, when it became the residence of the President and was renamed Rashtrapati Bhavan.
An earlier version of this article said about 29,000 people built it. The President’s Secretariat gives about 23,000 workers at the peak, and that figure is used here.
Architecture and size
- About 340 rooms on four floors, with a floor area of about 200,000 sq ft.
- The President’s estate covers about 330 acres, including gardens, open spaces and staff housing.
- The forecourt portico has 20 columns and is approached by 31 steps. The 145-ft Jaipur Column stands in the forecourt.
- The design blends European classical architecture with Indian elements, such as the great central dome, which recalls Buddhist stupas, and chhatris (small domed pavilions) along the roofline.
What you see on the Main Building tour
The Main Building circuit covers the forecourt and some of the state rooms. Several halls have been renamed in recent years:
- Ganatantra Mandap (formerly Durbar Hall, and before that the Throne Room), under the central dome. It is used for civil and defence investiture ceremonies and the swearing-in of governments and Chief Justices of India. A Buddha sculpture from about the 5th century AD stands behind the President’s chair.
- Ashok Mandap (formerly Ashok Hall), a state hall used for ceremonies.
- Banquet Hall, which seats up to 104 guests. The head butler uses coloured lights to signal service: blue to bring in the meal, green to start serving and red to clear the plates. The musicians play from a gallery that hides them from view.
- Drawing rooms, the Grand Stairs, the Library (Granth Kutir) and the Central Lawn.
Amrit Udyan (formerly Mughal Gardens)
The gardens at the back of the building were long known as the Mughal Gardens and were renamed Amrit Udyan in 2023. They open to the public during the Udyan Utsav, which according to the President’s Secretariat runs in February to March and again in August to September. The circuit includes the Long Garden, the Circular Garden, the Musical Garden, the Spiritual Garden, a sensory and tactile garden, Arogya Vanam and the Central Lawn. Entry is free, but you still need an online booking.
Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum
The museum complex is in the former stables and garages and the Clock Tower. It presents the history of the building and its occupants. It runs in five slots a day, with up to 250 visitors per slot. As noted above, Phase II (The Garages) has been closed since 6 October 2025.
Change of Guard ceremony
The Change of Guard is a ceremonial handover of the guard at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a military tradition that has been adapted into a public spectacle. It is held on Saturdays, except gazetted holidays. From 10 October 2026, according to the President’s Secretariat, it runs from 7:30 am to 8:30 am. Timings have changed several times, so check the booking site before you go. An earlier version of this article listed Saturday and Sunday ceremonies with seasonal timings that are no longer current.
How to reach Rashtrapati Bhavan
- Metro: Central Secretariat (Yellow and Violet Lines) is the closest major station. From there, walk or take an auto-rickshaw to the gate on your booking.
- Car: Come through Gate No. 37 (Dara Shikoh Road) and park near Arogya Vanam, as the Secretariat advises.
Nearby places to visit
Kartavya Path leads from Rashtrapati Bhavan to India Gate. The 18th-century observatory Jantar Mantar is near Connaught Place, while Gandhi Smriti and the Nehru Planetarium are a short drive south.
Frequently asked questions
Can the public visit Rashtrapati Bhavan?
Yes, on guided circuits booked online at visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in. The Main Building and Museum are open Tuesday to Sunday.
What is the Rashtrapati Bhavan entry fee?
₹50 per visitor per circuit, payable online. Children under 8 are free, and Amrit Udyan is free.
When is Amrit Udyan open?
During the Udyan Utsav, which the President’s Secretariat lists for February to March and August to September, Tuesday to Sunday.
Can I take my phone inside Rashtrapati Bhavan?
No. Phones, cameras and smart watches must be left in the cloakroom at the main reception.
Who designed Rashtrapati Bhavan?
Edwin Lutyens, working with Herbert Baker on the wider Raisina complex. It was completed in 1929.
Visiting rules, fees and timings were checked in October 2026 against the President’s Secretariat’s website, its FAQ and its visitor instructions; history against its “Making of Rashtrapati Bhavan” page. Book and confirm online before visiting.
