Shimla's Raj Bhawan is now 'Lok Bhavan'

India Dec 11, 2025

Himachal Pradesh has officially changed the name of its Raj Bhawan (Governor's house) in Shimla to Lok Bhavan.
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla approved the move, which aims to swap out colonial-era names for ones that reflect today's democratic spirit.
From now on, all official documents, websites, and signs will use the new name.

Why should you care?

Switching from "Raj Bhawan" (which echoes India's colonial past) to "Lok Bhavan" symbolizes the spirit of democratic governance and public representation.
This isn't just a local change—it follows a national push agreed at a conference of Governors to update old titles across India and better represent modern democratic values.