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After the battle of
Plassey, when India gradually came under foreign subjugation, Lord Wellesley demanded that a palatial building be built for the Governor Generals. Lord Wellesley was the Governor General of India from 1798 to 1805. He did not feel like ruling India with a
mercantile approach. He conveyed to the directors of East India Company that India should be governed
by a ruler from a palace. The attitude of the ruler should be like a
monarch and not of a Muslim merchant.
Tipu Sultan passed away in 1799 which culminated to the fall of Sri Ranga
Pattanam. The British realized that India did not have any more formidable opponent to combat or challenge the British supremacy. Now, they concentrated on
building an ideal palace – an edifice befitting the rulers of the land.
A design was prepared imitating the Kedteston Hall in England. Captain Charles Wyatt, a Bengal Engineer,
made the blueprint. The Kedteston Hall was the abode of the ancestors of Lord
Curzon.
On 5th February, 1799, the foundation stone of the Raj Bhavan was laid which cost no less than RS. 2 million. Lord Wellesley
inaugurated this 'Bhavan' on 26th January, 1803. On the day of
inauguration, 800 invitees came to witness the grand ceremony. The entire building was adorned with lights. On one
hand of the spacious hall, a carpet was laid. The throne of Tipu
Sultan was also exhibited here.
The Bhavan has 6 doors. On the east and west are two doors each. There is
a statue of a lion on top of the door. A little beneath this, are
the bodies of hominoid lions. This was the symbol of the British Empire. A beautiful garden surrounds the Raj
Bhavan. In the interim, we find the public hall, veranda, portico and
'Masnad
Kaksha'. En masse, there are 60 rooms.
A garden in front of the Raj Bhavan bears a cannon which is set on a dragon frame. It was hailed from Nan King. There are a few more cannons. The Indian Governor Generals used to dwell in this building till 1912. At present, the Governor of West Bengal stays in this palatial
'Bhavan'.
The hoi-polloi are prohibited to enter this building. In order to get in, one has to show some reasonable excuse and seek permission from the concerned authorities.
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