Uttarakhand Raj Bhavans Renamed ‘Lok Bhavan’; Notification Issued for Dehradun and Nainital Residences

Dehradun, Uttarakhand: In a historic decision, the Uttarakhand government has officially renamed the state’s Raj Bhavans in Dehradun and Nainital as ‘Lok Bhavan’. The change comes following approval from Lieutenant Governor (Retd.) Gurmeet Singh and in accordance with a letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, dated 25 November 2025. The official notification, released by Raj Bhavan Secretary Ravinath Raman, clarified that the two Raj Bhavans will henceforth be known as Dehradun Lok Bhavan and Nainital Lok Bhavan.

Dehradun Raj Bhavan: A Post-Statehood Establishment
Following the formation of Uttarakhand on 9 November 2000 as India’s 27th state, the Dehradun Raj Bhavan was initially set up temporarily at Bijapur House on New Cantt Road. Later, the Circuit House in Dehradun was converted into the official Raj Bhavan, with Surjit Singh Barnala becoming the first governor to take residence on 25 December 2000. The property is now officially designated as Dehradun Lok Bhavan.

Nainital Raj Bhavan: A Historical and Architectural Heritage
The Nainital Raj Bhavan, established during the British era, is one of Uttarakhand’s most historic and architecturally significant landmarks. Its foundation was laid on 27 April 1897, and construction completed in March 1900, in a Western Gothic ‘E’ shaped design. British Governor Sir Anthony Patrick MacDonald played a key role in its construction.

Nainital Raj Bhavan once served as the summer capital of Oudh, hosting governors and senior administrative officers during British rule. Spread across nearly 160 acres of dense forest, it also housed one of Asia’s tallest and India’s finest golf courses, developed in 1925 on approximately 75 acres. Until 1994, it remained closed to the public but was later opened to tourists. In 2023, during its 125th anniversary, President Droupadi Murmu participated in special celebrations. It will now officially be called Nainital Lok Bhavan.

Reason Behind the Name Change
While the Uttarakhand government has not provided detailed reasons, the addition of ‘Lok’ (People) to the name is seen as an effort to promote a citizen-centric approach, moving away from royal imagery, and making administrative institutions more accessible and democratic.

A Milestone in State History
Uttarakhand recently celebrated 25 years of statehood, and this decision marks a significant reform in the state’s administrative structure. In the coming days, all official correspondence, websites, signage, and government documents will adopt the new designation, replacing ‘Raj Bhavan’ with ‘Lok Bhavan’.