Raj Niwas, Delhi


Raj Niwas is the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, the head of state of Delhi and government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. It is located on Raj Niwas Marg, Civil Lines, Delhi. The present lieutenant governor of Delhi is Anil Baijal, since December 31, 2016.

History

The area in which Raj Niwas is located has been playing an important part in the administrative history of Delhi for over 175 years. It lay just north of the 17th century city of Shahjahanabad, adjoining the Mughal garden known as Qudsia Bagh.
After the British East India Company established their administrative control over Delhi in 1803, slowly a few large British houses came up here. These included Ludlow Castle – a big bungalow built by Simon Ludlow, the Civil Surgeon of Delhi. In 1844 Ludlow Castle became the residence of the then-highest official in Delhi - the Commissioner and Agent to the Governor General.
In the decades after the Revolt of 1857, more bungalows were built in this area, leading to the creation of Civil Lines. The road came to be known as Ludlow Castle Road. Ludlow Castle was occupied in the late 19th century by the Delhi Club, and later by a school. The Chief Commissioner of Delhi moved to a smaller bungalow on the same road – 6 Ludlow Castle Road. This is the site and address of the present Raj Niwas, and the road is now known called Raj Niwas Marg.