Maharaja Manujendra Shah of Tehri Garhwal has said to sell this property for one thousand crores.
An address in Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ), the most exclusive area of Delhi, is in the news these days. Tehri Garhwal House, 5, Bhagwan Das Road. The reason is its alleged potential sale. But this bungalow is not just a piece of expensive land and a building built on it. This is also the story of a historical princely state of Uttarakhand, the power complex of Delhi and the relationships of the changing times. Presently it is the residence of Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah, a member of the Tehri royal family and Member of Parliament.
Let us know about the history, grandeur etc. of this important building amid the discussion about its sale. Why was it built? You will also learn the brief but rich history of Tehri Garhwal princely state.
Who designed Tehri Garhwal House?
5, Bhagwan Das Road, Tehri popularly known as Garhwal House. Its area is said to be 3.2 acres, which is approximately 12,950 square meters i.e. it is rare for anyone to get such a big piece of land in the center of Delhi. The area is part of the Lutyens Bungalow Zone (LBZ) which was designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens between 1912–1930. It is counted among the most prestigious residential areas of Delhi.
British architect Edwin Lutyens
How grand is this?
The grandeur of a building is not determined only by its decoration. In this area, land, location, open space etc. are considered to be the major parameters of grandeur. Which is plentiful here. There are many reasons for this also.
- Spacious plot of 3.2 acres: Such a large private plot in central Delhi is an almost museum-level rarity today. The open spaces and large lawns in the bungalow make it special.
- Location-Power: Addresses like Bhagwan Das Road are considered very close to the administrative, constitutional and cultural centers of Delhi. Therefore it is considered an address-asset and not just a house.
- Regulated supply of LBZ: New supply in this zone is considered very limited, controlled, so the prices of older large bungalows behave like trophies.
Tehri Garhwal House built in Lutyens Delhi.
Why was there a need for this building?
This question is very important. Why did a Himalayan princely state need such a huge base in the center of Delhi? According to media reports, in the era of Gorkha invasions, political situation after wars and increasing British influence, the royal family of Tehri Garhwal built and developed such a property in Delhi to fulfill administrative, formal and networking needs.
This building was built in the year 1940 and the British government had allotted land to many princely states to build houses in Lutyens’ Delhi. That means this bungalow was also a part of the royal Delhi-presence policy. Tehri Garhwal House, in a way, became the Delhi office of the state, a guest house, and a medium of access to the centers of power. There is a long tradition of relationships, formal meetings and representation.
Discussion of selling for one thousand crores
According to media reports, Maharaja Manujendra Shah of Tehri Garhwal has said that this property will be sold for one thousand crores. Clear information about the buyer has not appeared in any report published so far. Yes, he is said to be a local entrepreneur and a strong influencer in the food and beverage sector. According to the report, the deal is in the final stages. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see that if this building is sold, what kind of new structure will be built here or will the existing building be renovated with new decorations.
It has been bought by a renowned businessman from Delhi’s food and beverage sector. Earlier, the businessman had signed an agreement to buy the historic residence of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at Motilal Nehru Road for more than Rs 1,100 crore, the ET report claimed.
Also know the history of Tehri Garhwal state
The history of Tehri Garhwal is largely the story of the unification of the Garhwal region, then Gorkha rule, war, followed by reorganization as the princely state of Tehri, and finally merger with India (1949). According to the district portal of Uttarakhand government, the word Tehri is a changed form of Trihari. It means a place which washes away three types of sins caused by mind (mansa), speech (vacha) and action (karmana).
There is a confluence of three rivers here. These rivers are Bhagirathi, Bhilangana and Ghritganga. The confluence of these three rivers is considered to remove all types of sins. That is why it was called Trihri which later came to be called Tehri. The mythological name of Tehri was Ganesh Prayag. Garh in Garhwal means fort. In ancient times, the number of forts was considered a measure of prosperity and power.
Presently Tehri Garhwal House is the residence of member of the Tehri royal family and Member of Parliament Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah and Maharaja Manujendra Shah. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for Cartier)
Small forts and tradition of Panwar dynasty
According to government documents, earlier the Garhwal region was divided into many small strongholds. In this tradition comes the story of Kanakpal, who came from Malwa on the Badrinath Yatra. Relations were established with the local powerful king and gradually his descendants expanded the empire by conquering the forts.
Gorkha invasion and the turning point of 1803
According to the government website, the region was weakened by famine in the year 1794–95 and subsequent other disasters. The Gorkhas increased their influence and in 1803 they attacked Garhwal. King Pradyumna Shah was killed in the battle of Dehradun, while his minor son Sudarshan Shah was saved. The Gorkhas dominated here for about 12 years.
East India Company, Reorganization and Tehri State
According to this official description, Sudarshan Shah got freedom from the Gorkhas with the help of the East India Company. The company annexed Kumaon, Dehradun and Eastern Garhwal to the British Empire and gave Western Garhwal to Sudarshan Shah, which was called Tehri State. Sudarshan Shah established the capital at Tehri Nagar. Later rulers established the capital at different places, such as Pratapnagar, Kirtinagar, Narendranagar.
Independence, movement and merger with India in 1949
According to the government website, after 1947, the public movement intensified in the state of Tehri also. Ultimately, Manvendra Shah, the 60th king of the Panwar dynasty, accepted the sovereignty of the Indian government. In the year 1949, Tehri state merged with Uttar Pradesh and became a new district. Today there is an artificial lake in Tehri, where not only electricity is being generated but it has also emerged as an important center of tourism. The entire Tehri town is covered in Tehri Lake. Today’s Tehri is a completely newly settled city.
Not a bungalow, the story of changing India
The story of Tehri Garhwal House starts from a royal residence and rests in the power-geography of Delhi, and now seems to be a topic of discussion in the language of corporate capital, trophy real-estate. If the Rs 1,000 crore deal actually happens, it will not just be a record-breaking property transaction, but will be a sign of an era where heritage and the market stand face to face and write new agreements.
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