About Raj Bhavan
On AUGUST 2, 2000 the Parliament of India passed the
Bihar Reorganization Bill to create the state of Jharkhand,
carving 18 Districts out of Bihar to form Jharkhand
state on 15 November, 2000. Jharkhand became the 28th
state of the country when it separated from Bihar on
November 15, 2000 - the birth anniversary of Birsa Munda.
The state shares its borders with Bihar to the North,
Odisha to the South, West Bengal to the East and Uttar
Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the West.
The construction
The construction of the present Raj Bhavan was started
in 1930 and completed in March 1931 at an estimated
cost of Rs. 7 lakhs. It was designed by Mr. Sadlow Ballerd,
architect. Though the building has primarily a British
design, it seems to have been adapted to suit the local
climate. The building has a roof with double Raniganj
tiles to keep off heat and the floor, lounge and Durbar
Hall are lined with teak wood.
In Brief
Another attraction of the Raj Bhawan is the Audrey
house, which has now been converted into a Heritage
house. The Audrey House was built much earlier by Captain
Hannyington, who was the Deputy Commissioner of Chotanagpur
from 1850-1856. A museum is also being planned in the
Audrey house to project the rich cultural heritage of
Jharkhand. A large hall named “Birsa Mandap” is constructed
to hold cultural activities and official ceremonies
in the premises of the Raj Bhavan has the seating capacity
of about 1,500 people.