Raisina Hill

Raisina Hill is the raised ground in New Delhi where the Government of India sits, and its name is often used as shorthand for the state itself. Rashtrapati Bhavan, the President's official residence, occupies the top, with the Secretariat buildings that hold the Prime Minister's Office and key ministries alongside. Commentators have likened the ensemble to an acropolis, with the presidential palace playing the Parthenon.

Edwin Lutyens took charge of the architecture, sending early sketches from Shimla in June 1912, while Herbert Baker designed the two Secretariat blocks. The plan first placed the Viceroy's House alone on the summit, but it was moved 400 yards back so that both sets of buildings share the plateau. The style is broadly classical, coloured and detailed with Indian motifs. Central Secretariat, Udyog Bhawan and Patel Chowk are among the nearby metro stations.