One of the largest private residences in the capital’s most exclusive neighbourhood is nearing a landmark transaction, with the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal reportedly in advanced discussions to sell his family’s estate in Delhi’s prestigious Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (LBZ) for an estimated Rs 1,000 crore.
The property located at 5, Bhagwan Das Road lies within the historic enclave designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens, whose early 20th-century masterplan shaped what is today known as Lutyens’ Delhi. The area remains India’s most tightly regulated and supply-constrained residential micro-market. Spread across roughly 3.2 acres (approximately 12,950 sq m), the estate is considered a “trophy asset” a category reserved for ultra-rare, high-prestige properties whose symbolic value often exceeds purely financial metrics. Transactions in the LBZ are infrequent due to stringent development controls, heritage overlays, and low plot subdivision ratios. When deals do materialise, they typically involve industrialists, diplomatic missions, or institutional buyers rather than individual retail purchasers. Market observers note that a Rs 1,000 crore valuation implies land pricing that reflects not just location, but also historic lineage, plot size, frontage, and redevelopment potential within LBZ regulations. The estate belongs to the Tehri Garhwal royal family and is associated with Mala Rajya Laxmi Shah, Member of Parliament from Tehri Garhwal. The Delhi residence historically served as the family’s urban base during the late colonial and post-independence periods.
The Tehri dynasty traces its origins to the Panwar Rajput lineage established by Kanak Pal in the 9th century, with restored rule under Sudarshan Shah after the Anglo-Nepalese War in 1815. Over time, maintaining a presence in Delhi became strategically important amid shifting political centres of power. Even as regional capitals shifted within Tehri, the Bhagwan Das Road estate remained a symbolic anchor. Reports suggest that a Delhi-based entrepreneur with significant interests in the food and beverage sector is in advanced negotiations. The prospective buyer is also believed to be linked to discussions surrounding another historically significant property once associated with Jawaharlal Nehru. If finalised, the deal would rank among the largest residential transactions in Delhi’s history and underscore continued appetite for legacy assets in ultra-prime districts. LBZ plots are governed by strict norms covering ground coverage, height limits, tree preservation, and heritage sensitivity. Plot sizes often range between 2-4 acres, creating a low-density urban fabric unmatched elsewhere in the capital. Unlike high-rise luxury markets in Gurugram or Mumbai, LBZ’s value is derived from scarcity, political adjacency, and legacy positioning rather than vertical scale or amenity packages. In recent years, despite broader volatility in India’s residential sector, trophy land parcels in Lutyens’ Delhi have retained pricing resilience due to limited supply and generational wealth transfers. A Rs 1,000 crore transaction would reinforce LBZ’s standing as India’s ultimate wealth preservation asset class comparable to heritage districts in London or Paris where institutional memory and land scarcity intersect.
For Delhi’s ultra-luxury market, the deal signals that even amid regulatory scrutiny and high capital costs, capital continues to chase historically embedded real estate. Negotiations are reportedly nearing closure. If consummated, the sale would not only mark a significant monetisation of royal real estate but also reshape ownership within one of India’s most politically and historically layered neighbourhoods.
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Tehri Royal Estate in Lutyens’ Delhi Nears Rs 1,000 Crore Deal
