Victorian Teak bench

Much of New Delhi was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in the early 20th century, who provided an impressive central administrative area for British imperial pretensions. In his own way, for extravagance and magnificence, it is no different from Washington, or from the Paris of Haussmann and his patron Napoleon III: both cities designed to arouse wonder in the newcomer, expressing the power of the central state. Other clues are hidden from the eyes of the world by their designers: the seat of Parliament (Parliament House), by Herbert Baker, is perfectly visible from the Rajpath, since a democracy capable of deciding was not an essential part of the projects of the Great Britain over India. In fact, the main entrance to the Central Secretariat (North Block) bears this inscription: "Freedom does not fall towards the people; it is this that must rise towards them". An area of the city was dedicated to Edwin Lutyens, the Lutyens' Delhi.