Teen Murti Bhavan Delhi

Aman Gupta
5 min readFeb 7, 2023

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The Teen Murti Bhavan is a splendid and historical architecture located in the Indian capital city of New Delhi. This magnificent structure was built in the year 1930 by British architect Robert Torr Russel as a part of the new capital city and served as the residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the British Indian Army. After Independence, it was converted into the residence of the Indian Prime Minister, who was Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru at that time.

The Teen Murti Bhavan was his residence for 16 years until his death in 1964, after which the house was converted into a memorial dedicated to him. It is called so owing to the statue of three soldiers that exists in the premises of the Bhavan.

In addition to being an important national memorial, Teen Murti Bhavan today houses various institutions like the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. Some parts of Nehru’s old office have been recreated in the museum by using the same furniture and other artifacts that he used at that time, while the library has exhaustive resources on the modern history of India. The office of Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund is also situated within the bounds of the Bhavan.

One of the four Nehru Planetariums is also located within the grounds of the house and is a place of keen interest for children and science enthusiasts alike. The planetarium hosts some really interesting shows and presentations in its sky theatre and is a must if you happen to visit this place.

History

An architectural marvel with incredible history attached, the splendid Teen Murti Bhavan was built in 1930 by a British Architect named Robert Torr Russell. He was also a British soldier and can be credited with the design of Connaught place and Pataudi Palace.

Initially, when the structure was built, it was used as a residential place of the then Commander-in-chief of the British Indian Army. Back then it was named the “Flagstaff House” and was also the winter headquarters of the Commander-In-Chief.
The Flagstaff house was later renamed as Teen Murti Bhavan after the three statues which were built by British designer Leonard Jennings. The statues were built to commemorate Jodhpur, Hyderabad, and Mysore Lancers who gave their all in the fight against Syria and Palestine in the Second World War.

After independence Teen Murti Bhavan became the residence of the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Jawaharlal Nehru continued living there for 16 years until his death in 1964. After his death, the Mukti Bhavan was converted into a memorial dedicated to the Great leader.
Today the Bhavan houses a well-stocked library and a museum that has refurbished furniture when it was used back then by Nehru himself. In August 1968, the Union Cabinet decided to make this place the abode for all Prime Ministers’. But amidst heated debates and controversies, Mukti Bhavan stands as a memorial place of Nehru.

Architecture

The architecture of the Bhavan is a convergence of French and Victorian architecture built of stone and stucco. The 3 statues made of stone and bronze were created by Leonard Jennings and represent the brave soldiers who fought a tough battle against Syria and Palestine during World War. The palatial property exudes colonial charm and an aristocratic distinction and appeal.

The windows are slatted, some chairs resemble the ones sat by erstwhile kings and queens remind you of the majestic and regal colonial era. There are giant marble staircases made with superior quality marble which are intact even today.

The entire feel of the Bhavan is dreamlike and resembles the palaces that we see in fairy tales with huge portraits, a fireplace, and frames that are intricately carved with images of the olden times.

Mukti Bhavan with its structure and design has put in awe thousands of people who land here to envision this charming beauty.

Heritage site in Delhi

What are the Timings Teen Murti Bhavan?

The Buddha Jayanti Park is opened from 5.00 AM to 7.00 PM

How much is the Entry Fee?

There is no entry fee to come to the Park

What is the Best Time to Visit Teen Murti Bhavan?

The best time to visit Teen Murti Bhavan is during the winter. If you plan to visit in a non-winter month, then the best time will be February and March. So, to visit Teen Murti Bhavan and to enjoy the weather and the location, months between October and March are highly recommended. Owing to scorching heat conditions in summers, we advise you to refrain from visiting the Bhavan in the summer.

How to Reach Teen Murti Bhavan?

The distance between the Indira Gandhi International Airport and Murti Bhavan is 11 km which takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour to reach depending on the traffic. There are primarily 3 ways by which you can reach Teen Murti Bhavan:

By cab: Outside the airport, you will find many cab arrangers and taxi points that will help you book your cab directly to the spot. We recommend you to avoid the route mainly because of the cost and the alarming traffic of Delhi!

By Bus: The bus ride takes close to 2 hours from the IGI terminal. The hourly buses will drop you to Racecourse after which it is a 15-minute walk. Compared to cab this is a cheaper option but the time taken is more.

By metro: There is nothing better than opting for a metro compared to other ways. You can reach the New Delhi station first by the Orange Line and then exchange tracks to the Yellow line and travel till Lok Kalyan Marg. From there the distance is close to 3 km which can be traveled in an auto.

​What is the Location Teen Murti Bhavan?

Teen Murti Bhavan, Teen Murti Marg, Teen Murti Marg Area, New Delhi, Delhi 110011

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