Teen Murti Bhavan

Teen Murti Bhavan (Nehru House) and Nehru Planetarium, Delhi 

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 artefacts 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 and Architecture of Teen Murti Bhawan

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 was created by Leonard Jennings and represents the brave soldiers who fought a tough battle against Syria and Palestine during the World War. he 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, 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.

Nehru Memorial Museum

The Museum at Teen Murti Bhavan houses a wide collection of Nehru's personal items. His drawing room, bedroom and study have been preserved as they were during the time of his death, and you can catch a glimpse into the life of this national leader as it was. Various audio-video mediums are used here to relate the story of Nehru's life and make for an interesting history lesson. A number of photographs, manuscripts, letter and periodicals from the time of the independence movement are here on display as well. The Nehru Memorial Museum also has a gifts gallery which houses the illustrious gifts received by him during his lifetime. In addition to these, the complex also has a souvenir shop and the monument 'Kushak Mahal' which was a hunting lodge in its time.

Nehru Memorial Library

The Nehru Memorial Library is a research centric library and has extensive data on colonial and post - colonial India in the form of books, journals, photographs and other resource materials. The material is also available in the form of microfilms and microfiche, which includes more than 18,231 microfilm rolls of private papers, missionary records, newspapers and old and rare journals and 51,322 microfiche plates of research materials. The library has clubbed all content relating to Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru under the heading 'Nehruana'. Similar collections exist for Mahatma Gandhi under the title 'Gandhiana' and for Indira Gandhi under the title 'Indirana'. The library has a photo division as well and having around 2,02,415 pictures pertaining to the Indian freedom movement. These resources can be accessed by researchers at a nominal entry fee, and has immense historic relevance.

Nehru Planetarium

The Nehru Planetarium in Teen Murti Bhawan is dedicated to creating a consciousness and interest towards science and technology among children from a young age. Screening of various innovative and fascinating programs takes place here on a regular basis which are followed up with interactive sessions for the visitors. Many events are held here keeping young students, college goers and astronomers in mind. The months of February and August are reserved for organizing Astronomy Quiz and Art competitions. Shows are held here from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM and is as shown below:-

11:30 AM - From Guest Star to a Cosmic Light House - A story of Supernovae and Pulsars (In English)

1:30 PM - Ultimate Universe/Solar System (In Hindi)

3:00 PM - Ultimate Universe/Solar System (In English)

4:00 PM - Ultimate Universe/Solar System (In Hindi)

12:30 PM - Ultimate Universe/Solar System (In Hindi) (Only Sunday )

Tickets can be purchased from the site and are sold half an hour prior to the show. The planetarium is closed on Mondays.

Best Time To Visit Teen Murti Bhavan (Nehru House) and Nehru Planetarium

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.

Tips for Visiting Teen Murti Bhavan

• If you plan to visit in the winter, then ensure you have multiple layers of clothing because Delhi’s winters can be brutal.
• Delhi Traffic is pretty infamous so we recommend you to leave earlier than usual if you want to make the best out of here.
• The planetarium is unmissable and provides as one of the best experiences here.
• Photography inside the library is strictly prohibited and silence is appreciated there.
• Be sure to click many pictures of the premise for its sheer beauty and elegance.

How To Reach Teen Murti Bhavan (Nehru House) and Nehru Planetarium

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 till 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 Yellow line and travel till Lok Kalyan Marg. From there the distance is close to 3 km which can be traveled in an auto.