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If it were not for the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms of 1919, the Parliament House may not have been built. It’s corny how the building most indispensable to modern Indian democracy came up as an afterthought. Earlier called the Circular House, it was added to the layout at a later stage following the reforms which created a large Legislative Assembly.
Victorian Architecture
Then Indian Parliament has been designed as a circular structure. The House is 85 meters in radius and about 900 meters in circumference. You will certainly notice two semicircular house chambers flank the Central Hall. The Parliament building has been provided with continuous open corridor in circular format on the first floor. This is typical of Victorian Architecture but is unparallel in grandeur. These are supported by the colonnade of 144 cream-color sandstone pillars. The exterior work is influenced by Indo-British fusion. The exterior walls of red sandstone are carved in geometric patterns that echo Mogul Jaalis.
The structure was built entirely of indigenous material, typical of all the Victorian buildings of that time. The building encloses an area of more than six acres. It has 12 gates in total. 5 of these 12 gates are distinguished. You are bound to locate them because of their magnificent porches. Interior courtyards contain a number of larger-than-life-size statues of historic Indian political leaders.
Temple for Largest Democracy
The parliament House at New Delhi is a marvelous piece of architecture which can be admired only from outside on account of security restrictions. This domed circular structure is the seat of the Indian Parliament. The building was inaugurated by the then-Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, on January 18, 1927. Since Independence in August 1947, the Parliament has served as a center of India's flourishing democracy. It is considered as a temple in the world's largest Democracy.
Parliament House Estate
 Parliament House, commonly known as the Sansad Bhawan, is one of the most magnificent buildings in New Delhi which has one of the brightest clusters of architectural gems possessed by any country in the world. Visitors to the capital invariably pay a visit to this building as the two Houses of Parliament—the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) are located within its walls.
The entire Parliament House Estate is enclosed by an ornamental red sand stone wall or iron grills with iron gates that can be closed when occasions demand. The approach roads which cut across the Parliament House Estate and form part of the Estate are not allowed to be used as public thoroughfares.
Construction of the Building
The building was designed by two famous architects— Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker—who were responsible for the planning and construction of New Delhi.
The Foundation Stone of Parliament House was laid on the 12th February, 1921 by H.R.H. The Duke of Connaught. The construction of the building took six years and the opening ceremony was performed on the 18th January, 1927 by the then Governor-General of India, Lord Irwin. The cost of construction was Rs. 83 lakhs.
Size of the Building
Parliament House is a massive circular edifice 560 feet (170.69 metres) in diameter. Its circumference is one-third of a mile 536.33 metres and it covers an area of nearly six acres (24281.16 square metres). The open verandah on the first floor is fringed with a colonnade of 144 creamy sandstone columns—each 27 feet (8.23 metres) high. The building has twelve gates among which Gate No. 1 on the Sansad Marg is the main gate.
Location
Parliament House of Delhi, is situated at the end point of the Sansad Marg in New Delhi.
Source: parliamentofindia.nic.in
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