Bikaner House was conceived in the early 20th century as the princely residence of the rulers of Bikaner. Following the Delhi Durbar of 1911 - during which the capital was moved from Calcutta to Delhi - the British planned an impressive ceremonial precinct known as Princes’ Park, today’s India Gate hexagon. Among several royal residences built there, Bikaner House held special prominence.
Initially entrusted to architects Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker, the final architectural design was executed by Charles Geoffrey Blomfield. Constructed under the reign of Maharaja Ganga Singh (1887–1943), the building harmonises a predominantly Western architectural style with distinct Rajput elements, particularly the chhatris. The ground floor once housed the reception suites and private rooms, while the zenana occupied the first floor.
Bikaner House formally opened on 18 February 1929 with a grand reception for dignitaries and visiting royalty. In the years leading up to independence, it served as an important venue for discussions among princely states regarding accession to the Indian Union.
After independence, the property was acquired by the Government of Rajasthan and used for administrative purposes. It was later restored under the guidance of conservation architect Abha Narain Lambah and reopened to the public on 18 November 2015 as a Grade II heritage building. Today, under BHMS, it stands as a revitalised cultural sanctuary - preserving its regal past while fostering contemporary artistic engagement.
