Parliament House / Sansad Bhavan Delhi (Entry Fee, Timings, History, Built by, Images & Location)

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‘Where decisions come alive…’

Switch on the TV and you will see a cabinet meeting being chaired or the two Houses viz. Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, gather their wits to battle out iconic decisions. Where do these meetings come alive?

Yes, the Parliament House in New Delhi.

One of the most beautifully built architectural masterpieces of all time, the Parliament House or Sansad Bhavan, is one of the top places to visit in Delhi. With a history as glorious as its present, the Parliament house can regale one and all with its worldly charm and heritage.

#Trivia: The Indian Parliament includes the President and the Two Houses- Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and Lok Sabha (House of People). The President, also the Supreme Commander of the Country, has the power over both the houses.

History and Architecture of Parliament House

The foundation stone of the Parliament House of India or Sansad Bhavan was laid on 12th February, 1921 by the Duke of Connaught. With stunning architecture and intricate stone designs, the Parliament House took nearly 6 years to complete i.e. 1921 – 1927.

The Parliament House was designed and constructed by the famous architect Lord Edwin Lutyens in collaboration with Sir Herbert Baker. It was finally inaugurated by the then Viceroy of India, Lord Edwin Lutyens on 18th January 1927.

The total cost of constructing this iconic masterpiece was a whopping Rs. 83 lakhs!

Wow, can you imagine the cost today?

#Trivia: Lutyens architecture is a specific style of construction that was adapted in building many monuments in India, especially New Delhi. Some of his iconic works include- India Gate, Baroda House, Rajpath, Patiala House, Jaipur Column, Rashtrapati Bhavan, etc.

The construction of the building was completed under the expert guidance and inspection of Sir Herbert Baker. Parliament house is an astounding work of art that is made of pillars and spherical supports. The shape of the building is said to have been inspired by or based on 11th century Chausath Yogini Temple situated in Madhya Pradesh.

The building is said to be a classic example of Portuguese architecture with great influence of the Indian style of architecture as well. Most of the balconies have walls and windows, like observed in many Indian Monuments.

#DidYouKnow- Because of its circular architecture, Parliament House was initially called Circular House.

Sansad Bhavan or Parliament building is around 170 meters in diameter with a circumference of more than half a kilometre (approx.. 536 meters). It is located in about 6 acres of land situated at the end of Sansad Marg, very close to India Gate.

#Trivia: Parliament house will complete a 100 years in 2021.

This iconic edifice’s first floor hinges on nearly 144 strong pillars with each pillar being almost 27 feet in length. If you look at the building from the outside, it may seem like a simple piece of work, however, the intricacy with which it is built proclaims its test of time.

The outer wall is geometrically shaped sandstone railings or Jalis and is surrounded by large gardens on all sides. The building has 12 gates in all with Gate 1 being the main gate.

As it stands today…

The Parliament House is said to undergo repairs and renovations to modernize its facilities and chambers. The New parliament building is said to become effective in the year 2022.

Image Gallery of Parliament House / Sansad Bhavan Delhi

How can I visit the Parliament House?

Parliament House is not open to normal visitors who wish to stroll in. You need to acquire a special visitors pass that can be acquired from parliament security establishment. If the house is not in session, it is fairly easy to obtain the entry pass.

An officer of the house escorts a group of visitors through the halls of the parliament house. The visitors are allowed to see the Rajya Sabha inner lobby, Lok Sabha inner lobby and the Central Hall. Any gazetted officer of the parliament or an MP can recommend your name for the entry pass. This is the only way of visiting this iconic law-making institution.

Visitors are also allowed to observe Parliament proceedings live for an hour by obtaining special passes. The validity of the pass is for an hour, following which visitors have to leave the area. You have to adhere to the rules while visiting the Sansad Bhavan. There are different colour passes to visit the two houses- Green is for Lok Sabha and Maroon is for Rajya Sabha.

The tour of the place is open on general days between 11 am to 5 pm only.

#Trivia: At the center of the building lies the Central Hall where the transfer of Power took place when India got its independence from the British.

An absolutely delightful experience, the hour long tour of the Parliament House is definitely a must add during your visit to New Delhi.

Things to do while in the Parliament House

A visit to the Parliament House will forever be etched in our memory. But what can you do while inside?

1. Parliament Museum - The museum opened for the general public on 5th September, 2006 and is basically a story-telling museum. The interactive museum presents a rich heritage that spans over 2500 years of Indian democracy and walks you through the Democratic heritage, Freedom movement, Transfer of power, Constitution of India and the Parliamentary functions.

You can visit the museum between Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm. It remains closed to visitors on Sundays and Mondays (during session period). The entry fee is Rs. 10 per adult and none for students.

2. Public Gallery - As the name suggests the general public is allowed in the public gallery after acquiring proper passes.

Places to visit around the Parliament House

1. Jantar Mantar – 5 minutes from the Parliament house, this is one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world. The entry fee is Rs.15 per person for Indian visitors, SAARC and BIMSTEC visitors while for foreign tourists, the ticket price is Rs.200 per person.

2. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib - Located around 15 minutes from here lies Gurudwara Bangla Sahib. It is one of the most revered religious places of the Sikh community. There is no entry fee.

3. Connaught Place - Located around 10 mins from here lies CP also called Connaught Place. It is famous for its eateries, pubs and lounges, Palika Bazaar and beautifully laid out gardens. Visitors can spend a few hours strolling through all the blocks of CP.

4. Delhi Metro Museum - Located around 15 mins from Parliament House, the Metro Museum takes visitors through the time capsule of the evolution of the Metro rail in Delhi. There is no entry fee.

5. Rashtrapati Bhavan - Around 10 mins from Parliament House lies yet another iconic architectural marvel called Rashtrapati bhavan or the President's House. One can book a tour by logging onto their official website. Certain sections are open to the general public for a certain time frame. The entry fee is Rs. 50 per person.

6. India Gate - Located around 5 mins from the Parliament House is the most preferred picnic spot of Delhi residents- India Gate. You can enjoy strolling in the garden, clicking pics, eating ice-cream and other knick-knacks / street food and enjoy a paddle boat ride in the small pond. There is no entry fee.

Places to eat near Parliament House

There are a number of places to chill with your family and friends after finishing your tour of the Parliament House. The most preferred place to get a number of dining options is Connaught Place or CP. You can feast on sandwiches and milkshakes at Keventers or South Indian food at Sarvanana Bhavan or some Indian Cuisine at Vedas or lip-smacking Kachori Aloo near Old Hanuman Temple.

Besides this you can also enjoy burgers, continental food, Italian food or any other cuisine at the many restaurants on CP.

How to Reach the Parliament House?

The Parliament house is accessible by road from all parts of New Delhi. It is best to travel by taxi or cab or rickshaw from your place of stay to avoid spending time at the crowded Metro station. You can also hire a cab from top car rental companies in Delhi for easier commutation.

If you wish to travel by the metro in Delhi, the nearest metro station to the Parliament House is Central Secretariat which is about 10 mins from the destination.

For visitors coming from outside Delhi, it is advisable to have your passes arranged before you come here to ensure that your visit is planned in advance.

You can reach New Delhi via air, train and road from all parts of the country.

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Get your tourist hat on and take a tour of pride and joy through the hallways of the Parliament House. Book your Delhi tour package with the help of Delhi Tourism, a division of Holidays DNA and get an experience of a lifetime! Please fill the Contact Us form to know more.

Location Map for Parliament House / Sansad Bhavan Delhi