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Medieval And Colonial Capital Cities Of <strong>Delhi</strong>DESCRIPTIONGole Dak‐khana Gole Dak Khana which means round post office was designed by R.T. Russell, the postoffice was built in the 1930s. It was originally called Alexandra Place and was the office of the Central PublicWorks Department (CPWD) till the 1960s, after which it was converted into a post office – a function it still fulfils.The exterior of the Gole Dak‐khana is relatively plain, adorned with semi‐circular arches and columns at theentrance. It’s painted in a combination of white and buff, with a good deal of red – the official colour of India Post– at the entrance.Gole Market Literally, ‘the round market’, isn’t a technically correct description for this market, since it’s notreally circular. Built as part of the new city, Gole Market, its architect, G. Bloomfield, designed it as a twelve‐sidedring surrounding an open central courtyard. Six entrances, in the form of semi‐circular arched gateways, piercethe ring, leading into Gole Market. On the southern edge of the market are three circular colonnaded markets,built at the same time as the Gole Market.Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, 1930, formerly the Residence of the Commander‐in‐Chief (FlagstaffHouse) Originally known as Flagstaff House, it was built on the axis of one of the avenues radiating outwardsfrom Viceroy’s House and therefore, has a direct view of the dome of the Durbar Hall. The central section of theresidence of the Commander‐in‐Chief has an architectural motif that runs like a leitmotif through <strong>Delhi</strong>’s imperialarchitecture – an enormous verandah with pillars, enclosed with walls and set on a massive base. Its longsymmetrical mass, completed in 1930, has motives that have been used in the Viceregal palace, the HyderabadHouse and in the cluster of cultural edifices Lutyens designed for Rajpath. Recessed windows and deep arcadesimplie massive solidity. The restrained classicism of the palatial interior, exemplifies the serene and even severecornice and fireplace details of the barrel‐vaulted reception room.These two cities combined together, though originally a symbol of imperialism for the Indians, the ‘new city of<strong>Delhi</strong>‘, along with the historic Mughal city gives the city its primary identity, as the political capital of the nation.31‐07‐2012 INTACH, <strong>Delhi</strong> Chapter 21

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