Hyderabad Rashtrapati Nilayam now open to public

Hyderabad: The Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad has been opened to the public. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, on 22 March said the Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rashtrapati Retreats belonged to all Indians and that a Knowledge Gallery in the Rashtrapati Nilayam had been built to educate people about Independence fighters and the values of the freedom struggle.

It is for the first time that the heritage building has been opened for the people as earlier they could only visit the gardens of the Nilayam once a year for a limited period of time, a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

President Murmu was speaking via video conference at the Rashtrapati Nilayam’s official inauguration to the public where she laid the groundwork for the repair and conservation of the Jai Hind Ramp and a replica of the historic flag post.

Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, Union minister G. Kishan Reddy, and Telangana Home minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali were present at the event.

The Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rashtrapati Nilayam, as well as the unsung heroes of the liberation struggle, would be featured in the Knowledge Gallery. President Murmu has encouraged children to visit Rashtrapati Nilayam.

Key attractions

· On a tour of Nilayam, visitors can explore the edifice from the interior, including the Presidential Wing and the dining room, as well as appreciate traditional Telangana Cheriyal paintings while strolling through the underground tunnel connecting the Nilayam kitchen and the dining hall.

· At the Knowledge Gallery, which was previously used as stables, visitors can learn about the history of Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rashtrapati Nilayam, the Constitution, and the role and responsibilities of the President of India. In the Knowledge Gallery’s courtyard, visitors can take selfies with the Buggy and the President’s limousine.

· The 16-room estate is set across 90 acres (3,60,000 m²) and consists of a single-story building as well as visiting quarters that can accommodate 150 people. It has a dining hall, darbar hall, morning room, cinema hall, and other facilities. The kitchen and dining hall are separate buildings joined by a tunnel to serve meals, which is a unique feature of this Rashtrapati Nilayam.

· The retreat’s premises feature a landscaped garden, seasonal flowering plants and a display of potted plants around the main building, natural cascading waterfalls, and seven various types of nourishment gardens which are Mango, Pomegranate, Guava, Amla, Coconut, and Cheeku(Sapota)

Visiting hours

Visitors can visit the Rashtrapati Nilayam between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., except on Mondays and government holidays. There is a registration fee of Rs. 50 for Indian citizens and Rs. 250 for citizens of other countries.

About the Rashtrapati Nilayam

Rashtrapati Nilayam (meaning the “President's House”) formerly known as Residency House is the official retreat of the President of India located in Hyderabad, Telangana, where the President stays for at least two weeks during winter and does official business. It also serves as a guest house for visiting dignitaries. It is located in Bolaram in Secunderabad, a neighborhood of Hyderabad.

Nizam Nazir-ud-Dowla, originally known as the Residency House, was built in 1850. It was converted into the country house of the British Residents in Secunderabad. After the Hyderabad state’s integration into Indian Union in 1948, it became the President’s retreat and was used as the Southern Sojourn.