Raj Bhavan (
translation
Translation is the communication of the semantics, meaning of a #Source and target languages, source-language text by means of an Dynamic and formal equivalence, equivalent #Source and target languages, target-language text. The English la ...
: ''Governor House'') is the
official residence
An official is someone who holds an office (function or mandate, regardless of whether it carries an actual working space with it) in an organization or government and participates in the exercise of authority (either their own or that of th ...
of the
governor of Uttar Pradesh
The governor of Uttar Pradesh (ISO 15919, ISO: ''Uttara Pradēśa kē Rājyapāla'') is the constitutional head of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The governor is appointed by the president of India. The post is preceded by the governor of U ...
. It is located in the capital city of
Lucknow
Lucknow () is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the largest city of the List of state and union territory capitals in India, Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and it is the administrative headquarters of the epon ...
,
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh ( ; UP) is a States and union territories of India, state in North India, northern India. With over 241 million inhabitants, it is the List of states and union territories of India by population, most populated state in In ...
.
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 drew the layout of this building.
In the year 1798, after Nawab
Asaf-ud-daula
Mirza Asaf-ud-Daula (23 September 1748 – 21 September 1797) was the Nawab wazir of Oudh ratified by Shah Alam II, from 26 January 1775 to 21 September 1797, and the son of Shuja-ud-Dowlah. His mother and grandmother were the Begums of ...
died, the
East India Company
The East India Company (EIC) was an English, and later British, joint-stock company that was founded in 1600 and dissolved in 1874. It was formed to Indian Ocean trade, trade in the Indian Ocean region, initially with the East Indies (South A ...
made
Sadaat Ali Khan the new ruler. The new ruler liked buildings built up in European style by Major General
Claude Martin
Major-General Claude Martin (5 January 1735 – 13 September 1800) was a French army officer who served in the French Indies Company, French and later East India Company, British East India companies in colonial India. Martin rose to the rank of ...
. 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 the Government House, the official residence of the Governor of
United Provinces from 1921 to 1947.
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 were different from 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 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, decorated in the Gothic style.
''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 the British Indian Empire
References
External links
Governor of Uttar Pradesh
Governors' houses in India
British colonial architecture in India
Government buildings in Uttar Pradesh
Buildings and structures in Lucknow
{{India-gov-stub
hi:आगरा और अवध का संयुक्त प्रान्त