FXRChelsea at 19:35, 28 April 2026

2026-04-28T19:35:31Z

New page

{{short description|Official residence of the Governor of Bihar in Patna, Bihar State, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox Historic building
| name = Lok Bhavan
| image = Raj Bhavan Patna.JPG
| caption =
| pushpin_map = India Patna
| map_caption = Location of Raj Bhavan in Patna
| coordinates = {{coord|25|36|3|N|85|6|11|E|region:IN-BR|display=inline,title}}
| location_town =
| location = [[Patna]], Bihar
| location_country = {{flagicon|India}} India
| architect = Joseph Fearis Munnings
| floor_area = 
| current_tenants =
| construction_start_date = 1912
| completion_date = 1917<ref name="Thesis">{{Cite web|url=https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10092/8969/thesis_fulltext.pdf;sequence=2|title=ARCHITECT OF EMPIRE: JOSEPH FEARIS MUNNINGS 1879-1937|last=Roberts|first=Heulwen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220080316/https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10092/8969/thesis_fulltext.pdf;sequence=2|archive-date=20 December 2016|url-status=live|access-date=2018-03-04|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
| demolished_date =
| cost =
| structural_system =
| architectural_style = [[Stripped Classicism|Stripped Neo-Classical]]<ref name="Thesis" />
| size =
}}

''' Lok Bhavan''' '''formerly Raj Bhavan''' (from [[Hindi]]: ''Government House'')<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bihar-opposition-march-to-raj-bhavan-to-demand-arrest-of-bjp-leader/article22857006.ece|title=Bihar Opposition march to Raj Bhavan to demand arrest of BJP leader|last=Tewary|first=Amarnath|date=2018-02-26|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-03-04|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511082525/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/bihar-opposition-march-to-raj-bhavan-to-demand-arrest-of-bjp-leader/article22857006.ece|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/bihar-governor-expresses-grief-over-muzaffarpur-accident201802241943290002/|title=Bihar Governor expresses grief over Muzaffarpur accident|website=www.aninews.in|language=en|access-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224163808/https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/bihar-governor-expresses-grief-over-muzaffarpur-accident201802241943290002/|archivedate=24 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> is the [[official residence]] of the [[List of governors of Bihar|governor]] of the [[Indian state]] of [[Bihar]] .<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-hit-and-run-case-nitish-kumar-govt-shielding-drunk-bjp-leader-alleges-tejashwi-yadav-5079272/|title=Bihar hit-and-run case: Nitish govt shielding 'drunk' BJP leader, alleges Tejashwi|date=2018-02-26|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-03-04|language=en-US|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226183607/http://indianexpress.com/article/india/bihar-hit-and-run-case-nitish-kumar-govt-shielding-drunk-bjp-leader-alleges-tejashwi-yadav-5079272/|archivedate=26 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/east/story/bihar-cm-nitish-kumar-hosts-dinner-for-new-governor-dy-patil-india-today-157073-2013-03-26|title=Bihar CM Nitish Kumar mends fences with Raj Bhawan, hosts dinner for new Governor DY Patil|date=2013-03-26|website=India Today|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511082525/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/east/story/bihar-cm-nitish-kumar-hosts-dinner-for-new-governor-dy-patil-india-today-157073-2013-03-26|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> It is located in the state capital of [[Patna]]. Construction started in 1912 and was completed in 1917.<ref name="Thesis" /> It was designed by New Zealand-born architect Joseph Fearis Munnings.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f34UAQAAMAAJ&q=government+house+designed+by+J.+F.+Munnings|title=Census of India, 1971: Special all India census tables. A. (i,iii) General population tables (2 v.) (ii) Union primary census abstract. B. (i-v) General economic tables (6 v.) C. (i-iii) Social and cultural tables (4 v.) D. Migration tables|last=General|first=India Office of the Registrar|date=1973|publisher=Manager of Publications|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511082525/https://books.google.com/books?id=f34UAQAAMAAJ&q=government+house+designed+by+J.+F.+Munnings&dq=government+house+designed+by+J.+F.+Munnings&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiyh5CIqNPZAhVnuVkKHW0-BTMQ6AEINDAC|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Prior to the [[Independence of India]], the building was known as Government House and was the official residence of the [[List of Governors of Bihar and Orissa|lieutenant governor of Bihar and Orissa]] from 1917 to 1920 and then the governor of Bihar and Orissa from 1920 to 1936. Later on with the division of Bihar and Orissa in 1936, it became the official residence of the governor of Bihar. It is currently known as Raj Bhavan or Governor's House.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/260218/bihar-police-file-fir-against-bjp-leader-for-mowing-down-9-school-children.html|title=Bihar police file FIR against BJP leader for mowing down 9 school children|date=2018-02-27|access-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180226233802/http://www.asianage.com/india/all-india/260218/bihar-police-file-fir-against-bjp-leader-for-mowing-down-9-school-children.html|archivedate=26 February 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/union-minister-giriraj-singh-booked-in-land-grabbing-case/article22687397.ece|title=Union Minister Giriraj Singh booked in land grabbing case in Patna|date=2018-02-08|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-03-04|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315163123/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/union-minister-giriraj-singh-booked-in-land-grabbing-case/article22687397.ece|archivedate=15 March 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Raj Bhavan Patna1.JPG|right|thumb|View of Government House from N.E. corner (1917)]]
[[File:Raj Bhavan Patna2.jpg|right|thumb|[[Boudoir]], First Floor - Government House (1917)]]
Bihar and Orissa were part of the [[Bengal Presidency]] till 1912. At the Delhi Durbar of 1911 King [[George V]] announced the creation of a new province of [[Bihar and Orissa Province|Bihar and Orissa]] under a lieutenant-governor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/hardinge-park-turns-102-viceroy-statues-pedestal-demolished/1242888|title=Hardinge Park turns 102; viceroy statue's pedestal demolished|access-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511080513/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/hardinge-park-turns-102-viceroy-statues-pedestal-demolished/1242888|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The capital for the new province was chosen as the city of Patna. An old city already existed, but the British government decided to build a new city west of old Patna. The new city was to be known as New Patna and covered an area of approximately three square miles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/533494/|title=Manoj Kumar Singh vs State Of Bihar And Ors. on 16 May, 2002|website=indiankanoon.org|access-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511082525/https://indiankanoon.org/doc/533494/|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The site chosen was above an abandoned meander of the [[Son River]].<ref name="Thesis" />

Mr. Munnings was appointed as Consulting Architect to the Government of Bihar and Orissa in the year 1912 and was tasked with the planning and development of New Patna.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AdAZDgAAQBAJ&q=Consulting+Architect+to+the+Government+of+Bihar+and+Orissa+J+F+Munnings&pg=PA78|title=India: Modern Architectures in History|last1=Scriver|first1=Peter|last2=Srivastava|first2=Amit|date=2015-02-15|publisher=Reaktion Books|isbn=9781780234687|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511080512/https://books.google.com/books?id=AdAZDgAAQBAJ&pg=PA78&lpg=PA78&dq=Consulting+Architect+to+the+Government+of+Bihar+and+Orissa+J+F+Munnings&source=bl&ots=mX4GOetPb1&sig=-hWmgadKusWfxM3X5THa4FFMDyo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8zpWesNPZAhUQq1kKHfefBigQ6AEINzAC#v=onepage&q=Consulting%20Architect%20to%20the%20Government%20of%20Bihar%20and%20Orissa%20J%20F%20Munnings&f=false|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He planned and oversaw the construction of several buildings in the area - notable buildings being - Government House, [[Patna Secretariat]], [[General Post Office, Patna]], Commissioner's Court and [[Patna University]] campus.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.india.com/news/india/patna-high-court-building-glows-with-pride-at-100-914545/|title=Patna High Court building glows with pride at 100|agency=Press Trust of India|date=2016-02-03|work=India.com|access-date=2018-03-04|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204092034/http://www.india.com/news/india/patna-high-court-building-glows-with-pride-at-100-914545/|archivedate=4 February 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst|Lord Hardinge]] laid the stone of new buildings in Patna on 1 December 1912.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Kerosene-lamps-illuminated-Patna-in-1912/articleshow/19138112.cms|title=Kerosene lamps illuminated Patna in 1912 - Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511080512/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Kerosene-lamps-illuminated-Patna-in-1912/articleshow/19138112.cms|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The construction of Government House started in 1912 and was completed in 1917. The building was placed opposite the secretariat and the two buildings were connected by a 200 ft wide road known as King George's Avenue. The avenue was 1 km long and is currently known as Desh Ratna Marg.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/bihar/patna/news/BIH-PAT-british-king-george-avenue-patna-news-4648046-NOR.html|title=जानिए अंग्रेजों के किंग जार्ज एवेन्यू और आज के पुराना सचिवालय की विशेषता|date=2014-06-15|work=dainikbhaskar|access-date=2018-03-04|language=hi|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511082525/https://www.bhaskar.com/bihar/patna/news/BIH-PAT-british-king-george-avenue-patna-news-4648046-NOR.html|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Building and architecture==
The building is a three storied building set out in [[Palladian architecture|Palladian]] form and is constructed in a stripped neo-classical style of architecture with its longitudinal axis running north and south directions. It is constructed in brick and then plastered and also features a hipped Allahabad tiled roof.<ref name="Thesis" /> The ground floor accommodates the offices and the Durbar Hall also known as council chamber, while the first floor has reception rooms. The drawing and dining rooms are also located on the first floor with each measuring 43 by 33 feet.<ref name="Gazette">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a-QaOP5nK-MC&q=Government+House|title=Bihar And Orissa District Gazetteers Patna|last=O`malley|first=L. S. S.|date=1924|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=9788172681210|language=en|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511082525/https://books.google.com/books?id=a-QaOP5nK-MC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Bihar+and+Orissa+District+Gazetteers-Ranchi&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiKttrw9dLZAhWkpFkKHWacAhkQ6AEINzAD#v=onepage&q=Government%20House&f=false|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The [[Durbar Hall]] and [[Ballroom]] lies on the west of the main block with an area of 65.5 by 43 feet and rise through two floors of the building. The hall is overlooked by colonnaded balconies of the first floor and has a large widening staircase.<ref name="Gazette" /> Both the north and south ends of the main block accommodates the guesthouse block and kitchen. The main block of the house is connected to the kitchen by a connecting bridge. Munnings designed the house with each floor having distinctive functions - ground floor for offices, first floor for reception rooms and second floor for main bedrooms.<ref name="Thesis" />

The top floor consists of bedrooms - 15 in total - each having its own bathroom and furnished with electric ceiling fans, a luxury item at that time. Munnings also installed lifts at both ends of the main building. The notable design features of the building are decorative plaster work in the drawing, dining rooms and the Durbar Hall. The expanded metal plastered ceilings and [[jack arch]] flooring are also distinctive features inside the building.<ref name="Thesis" /> The floor of Durbar Hall is made up of teak planking supported on springs which also doubled up as a ballroom.<ref name="Gazette" /> The house also features highly decorative marble fireplaces and mouldings.<ref name="Thesis" />

==Compound==
The Government House at Patna was planned on a compound of 100 acres in area. The campus contained a number of lawn tennis courts between the two main approach drives.<ref name="Gazette" /> A compound wall surrounds the house and Munnings also designed the main gate piers and police barracks to guard the entrance. The gardens in the campus was designed by Munnings and Mr. Head - then Superintendent of the Government Parks and Gardens, [[Allahabad]] - in 1916.<ref name="Thesis" />

==Donation of land to Patna Zoo==
In 1970, then Governor of Bihar - [[Nityanand Kanungo]] - donated 34 acres of land from the Governor House campus for the establishment of a Botanical Garden.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zoopatna.com/history.aspx|title=SANJAY GANDHI BIOLOGICAL PARK|website=www.zoopatna.com|access-date=2018-03-04|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511082525/https://www.zoopatna.com/history.aspx|archivedate=11 May 2018|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Location==
Raj Bhavan is located in Rajbansi locality of Patna. The roundabout in front of the main gate of Governor's House has a statue of [[Rajendra Prasad]] - the first President of India. Desh Ratna Marg - Desh Ratna is an [[Honorary titles of Indian leaders|honorary title]] given to Rajendra Prasad - connects the Raj Bhavan to Patna Secretariat, while Anne Marg at approximately an angle of 45 degrees in south east direction connects to the residence of [[Chief Minister of Bihar]] - [[1 Anne Marg]]. Raj Bhavan is around 3 km from [[Patna airport]] and around 5 km from [[Patna Junction]].

==See also==
* [[Patna Secretariat]]
* [[1 Anne Marg]]
* [[Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth#British Indian Empire|Government Houses of the British Indian Empire]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://governor.bih.nic.in/ Governor of Bihar]

{{Raj Bhavan}}
{{Patna}}

[[Category:Government buildings in Bihar]]
[[Category:Governors' houses in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Patna]]
[[Category:Government of Bihar]]
[[Category:Houses completed in 1917]]
[[Category:1917 establishments in British India]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]
[[Category:Government Houses of the British Empire and Commonwealth]]

Lok Bhavan Patna - Revision history

FXRChelsea at 19:35, 28 April 2026