The Belvedere House: Colonial Architecture And Historical Facts

Navrang India February 25, 2026

 The Belvedere Estate in Alipore, Kolkata, stands as one of the most significant monuments of the British Raj. Spanning 30 acres of verdant land, this historic estate—anchored by the majestic Belvedere House—has evolved from a Nawab’s gift to the official residence of viceroys, and finally into the National Library of India. Its walls represent a "frozen repository" of India's chequered colonial history.

Belvedere house,, Kolkata.

  The banquet hall  Belvedere house,, Kolkata. outlookindia.com

National library, the Belvedere Estate.  
theparanormalguide.com

Historical Trajectory: From Nawabs to Viceroys

The origins of Belvedere House are tied to the political maneuvers of the late 1760s. After the fall of Siraj-ud-Daulah, the new Nawab of Bengal, Mir Jafar, sought the protection of the East India Company. He is believed to have gifted the estate to Warren Hastings, who later became the first Governor-General of India.


Belvedere Estate. Calcutta.  en.wikipedia.org

Mir Jafar (left) &Mir Miran
(right).en.wikipedia.org

Above image: Mir Jafar Ali Khan (1691–February 5, 1765 with support from British East India Company) was the first Nawab of Bengal to give up  his throne at Murshidabad to Qasim Khan (died May 8, 1777;  the Nawab of Bengal from 1760 to 1763)  installed by the EIC. The wily British wanted the new Nawab to oblige them and be at  their beck and call.   Mir Qasim, a close relative  of the deposed Nawab Siraj-ud Daula.  Mir Jafar owned a large court house and other places in Alipore   near  Ft. Williams and needed the protection from the British for his survival and safety against his enemies.  It is believed  he gifted Belvedere House to Warren Hastings ( December 1732 –  August 1818) who  went back to  England after the battle of Buxar in 1764 and returned to India in 1772 as Governor........

Following Hastings’ departure to England, the estate was sold to Major Tolly in the 1780s. By 1854, it became the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Bengal. It served as a secondary power center until 1912, when the capital of British India was shifted to Delhi. During this peak period, the house hosted the highest echelons of British administration, witnessed by its association with figures like Lord Curzon. In 1948, following Independence, the estate was repurposed to house the National Library, preserving its scholarly legacy.

Architecture and Layout

The architecture of Belvedere House is a prime example of Italianate-Renaissance style, characterized by grand symmetry and neoclassical elements. The building features expansive verandas, high ceilings, and an iconic grand staircase. The Banquet Hall is particularly noteworthy for its immense proportions and ornate detailing, designed to reflect the imperial grandeur of the Presidency of Fort William.

The estate's layout is meticulously planned, with wide driveways and sprawling lawns that provided a serene buffer from the growing city of Calcutta. The architectural grandeur is complemented by the neighboring Alipore Zoo, which was originally part of the broader administrative landscape of the area

Conservation and Modern Stewardship
Today, the main building is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Conservation work is a delicate balance between maintaining a functional library and preserving 18th-century masonry. Recent efforts have involved the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to restore the original color schemes of the grand staircase and ensure structural stability. The estate now houses two residential colonies for government employees, integrating a living community with a historical relic. As the National Library (since 1948), in the Belvedere Estate remains a vital cultural hub, ensuring that the history "frozen in time" remains accessible to future generations of scholars and history enthusiasts




K. N. Jayaraman