Rashtrapati Bhavan Change of Guard Ceremony 2026 [₹50 Fee; Every Saturday at 7 AM]: Book Online

The Change of Guard ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, is generally held every Saturday at 7:00 AM. The approximately 30-minute programme features a formal changeover of ceremonial guards, an Army Brass Band performance and an equestrian display by the President’s Bodyguard.

Indian and foreign visitors, families, individual groups, schools and colleges can register through the official Rashtrapati Bhavan visitor portal. The online registration charge is ₹50 per visitor and is non-refundable and non-transferable.

The ceremony is not conducted on gazetted holidays and may also be cancelled on specifically notified dates.

Schedule: Every Saturday at 7:00 AM

Book the Rashtrapati Bhavan Change of Guard ceremony online.

Rashtrapati Bhavan Change of Guard Ceremony 2026: Highlights

Organiser: President’s Secretariat
Ceremony: Change of Guard
Venue: Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi
Day: Every Saturday
Starting time: 7:00 AM
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes
Registration charge: ₹50 per visitor
Payment mode: Online
Refund policy: Non-refundable
Transfer policy: Booking is non-transferable
Eligible visitors: Indian and foreign visitors
Individual/small-group limit: Up to 50 visitors
School/college group limit: Up to 50 visitors
Entry and vehicle parking: Gate No. 38
Nearest metro station: Central Secretariat
Exceptions: Not conducted on gazetted holidays or officially cancelled dates
Registration mode: Online through the Rashtrapati Bhavan visitor portal

About the Change of Guard Ceremony

The Change of Guard is a military tradition under which a fresh body of troops formally takes over guard and sentry responsibilities from the troops already on duty.

At Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Ceremonial Army Guard battalion is responsible for providing ceremonial guards and sentries for the President of India. The ceremony has been relocated to the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan to make it more accessible and visually engaging for visitors.

The programme also features the President’s Bodyguard, raised in 1773 and described by Rashtrapati Bhavan as the senior-most regiment of the Indian Army. Its personnel perform ceremonial duties for the President of India and are trained as horsemen, tank personnel and paratroopers.

What Will Visitors See?

The approximately 30-minute ceremony begins with mounted troops of the President’s Bodyguard advancing from behind the Jaipur Column to music played by the Army Brass Band.

Visitors can see:

Mounted President’s Bodyguard personnel in ceremonial uniform
Army Brass Band performance
Entry of the Parade Commander
March by the ceremonial guard
Inspection of the guards
Exchange of the national salute
Formal transfer of guard and sentry responsibilities
Equestrian display by the President’s Bodyguard
Playing of the National Anthem

The ceremony allows visitors to observe a significant Indian military tradition within the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex.

Registration Fee

The registration charge is:

₹50 per visitor

The fee must be paid online while completing the booking.

Important Payment Conditions

Registration charges are non-refundable.
Confirmed bookings are non-transferable.
Visitors should check the date and participant details carefully before paying.
The official visitor page describes the charge as ₹50 per visitor.
Any age-based amount or exemption shown during booking should be confirmed on the live portal before payment.

Eligibility: Who Can Visit?

The booking portal provides visitor categories for:

Indian visitors below eight years of age
Indian visitors aged eight years and above
Foreign visitors
Individuals and small groups
Schools and colleges

No general nationality restriction has been stated. The presence of Indian and foreign visitor categories indicates that both can register through the portal.

Can I Visit?

You can book the ceremony as an individual, with a family or small group, or as part of a school or college group. Select the correct visitor category and include all participants while completing the online registration.

The live booking portal currently displays:

Individual/small group: Maximum 50 visitors
School/college: Maximum 50 visitors

Registration remains subject to availability for the selected Saturday.

Ceremony Schedule

The ceremony is generally conducted:

Every Saturday at 7:00 AM

It is not held on gazetted holidays. Rashtrapati Bhavan may also cancel the ceremony on particular dates because of official or administrative requirements.

The official website had announced that the ceremony would not be conducted on Saturday, August 22, 2026. This date has passed, but it demonstrates why visitors should check for a fresh cancellation notice before travelling.

There is no single annual booking deadline because this is a recurring weekly ceremony. Available dates and places can be checked on the official booking portal.

Facilities Available

The following visitor facilities are listed at the venue:

Booking counter
Purified drinking water
Vehicle parking

Visitors requiring accessibility assistance or any additional facility should contact the Rashtrapati Bhavan visitor office before their visit.

How to Book the Change of Guard Ceremony?

Open the official Change of Guard booking portal.
Log in or complete the required registration.
Select either the individual/small-group or school/college category.
Choose an available Saturday.
Select the available visiting time.
Enter the number and category of visitors.
Provide the required visitor details.
Pay the applicable registration charges online.
Complete the booking and save the visitor ticket or confirmation.
Check all entry, identification and security instructions issued with the ticket.

The official information available does not specify a fixed advance-booking cutoff. Visitors should book early because availability may be limited for a particular Saturday.

Important Visitor Rules

Registration is subject to availability.
The ceremony is not held on gazetted holidays.
A ceremony may be cancelled through a separate official notice.
Registration charges are non-refundable.
Confirmed bookings are non-transferable.
Visitors should select the correct age and nationality category.
Individual/small-group and school/college bookings are currently limited to 50 visitors each.
All entry and security instructions issued with the ticket must be followed.
Visitors should check the official website for schedule changes before travelling.
Visitors arriving by vehicle should enter through Gate No. 38 and park near Reception.

How to Reach Rashtrapati Bhavan

By Metro

Central Secretariat Metro Station: Approximately 1 km from Gate No. 38
Patel Chowk Metro Station: Approximately 2 km from Gate No. 38

By Bus

The nearest listed bus stop is:

Kendriya Terminal Bus Stop, near Gate No. 38

By Train

Rashtrapati Bhavan can be reached from:

Delhi Junction Railway Station
New Delhi Railway Station
Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station

By Road

Visitors should use:

Gate No. 38, near North Avenue on Church Road–Brassy Avenue

Visitors arriving in their own vehicles should enter through Gate No. 38 and use the designated parking area near Reception.

View the location of Gate No. 38 on Google Maps.

Frequently Asked Questions

On which day is the Rashtrapati Bhavan Change of Guard ceremony held?

The ceremony is generally held every Saturday at 7:00 AM, except on gazetted holidays and officially cancelled dates.

What is the registration fee?

The online registration charge is ₹50 per visitor. The payment is non-refundable and the booking is non-transferable.

How long is the ceremony?

The ceremony lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Can foreign visitors attend?

Yes. The official booking form provides a separate category for foreign visitors.

Can schools and colleges book a group visit?

Yes. The live portal displays a school/college booking category for groups of up to 50 visitors.

Which gate should visitors use?

Visitors arriving by vehicle should use Gate No. 38 and park in the designated parking area near Reception.

Is the ceremony conducted on every Saturday?

It is ordinarily held every Saturday but not on gazetted holidays. It may also be cancelled on a specific date through an official announcement.

Is there an advance-booking deadline?

A fixed booking cutoff has not been specified in the information available. Visitors should check availability and register sufficiently early.

Booking Link

Book the Rashtrapati Bhavan Change of Guard ceremony through the official portal.

Official Visitor Information

Read the official Change of Guard ceremony and visitor information.

Contact

Contact the Rashtrapati Bhavan visitor office.

The ceremony can be particularly useful for students, families and groups interested in India’s military traditions, public institutions and presidential heritage. Before paying the non-refundable fee, verify the chosen date and visitor details; before travelling, check the official website once more for any cancellation notice.