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Rashtrapati Nilayam (), formerly known as Residency House, is the official winter retreat of the
President of India The president of India (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, and the commander-in-chief, supreme commander of the Indian Armed ...
located in
Hyderabad Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River (India), Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. With an average altitude of , much ...
,
Telangana Telangana is a States and union territories of India, state in India situated in the Southern India, south-central part of the Indian subcontinent on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the List of states and union territories of India by area, ele ...
. The President stays here for at least two weeks during their winter visit and conducts official business. It is also used as a guest house for visiting dignitaries. It is located in Bolaram in
Secunderabad Secunderabad () is a twin cities, twin city of Hyderabad and one of the six zones of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Telangana. It is the headquarters of the South ...
, a neighbourhood of Hyderabad.


History

Originally called the Residency House, it was constructed in 1860 by
Nizam Nizam of Hyderabad was the title of the ruler of Hyderabad State ( part of the Indian state of Telangana, and the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka). ''Nizam'' is a shortened form of (; ), and was the title bestowed upon Asaf Jah I ...
Nazir-ud-Dowla. It became the country house of the
British Resident A resident minister, or resident for short, is a government official required to take up permanent residence in another country. A representative of his government, he officially has diplomatic functions which are often seen as a form of in ...
at Secunderabad. After the
Hyderabad state Hyderabad State () was a princely state in the Deccan region of south-central India with its capital at the city of Hyderabad. It is now divided into the present-day state of Telangana, the Kalyana-Karnataka region of Karnataka, and the ...
's integration into Indian Union (Read Operation Polo) in 1948, it became the President's retreat and used as the ''Southern Sojourn''. * * The decision to open the estate to the general public marked a significant step in making India's presidential history more accessible and engaging for a wider audience.


Architecture

The 16-room estate is spread over an area of , consisting of single storied building besides a visitors' quarters that can accommodate 150 people. It has a Dining Hall,
Durbar Hall Durbar is a Persian-derived term (from ) referring to the noble court of a king or ruler or a formal meeting where the king held all discussions regarding the state. It was used in South Asia for a ruler's court or feudal levy. A durbar may be ...
,
Morning Room Morning is either the period from sunrise to noon, or the period from midnight to noon. In the first definition it is preceded by the twilight period of dawn, and there are no exact times for when morning begins (also true of evening and night) b ...
, Cinema Hall, etc. A unique aspect of this Rashtrapati Nilayam is that the kitchen and dining hall are independent buildings connected with a tunnel to serve food. The President stays in the Main Building and conducts official business from here when they visit for their winter sojourn in December every year. The retreat's premises include a landscaped garden, seasonal flowering plants and display of potted plants around the main building, natural cascading water falls and different types of nutrition gardens.


Attractions


Knowledge Gallery

It has been established to provide more information about Rashtrapati Bhavan and its estates including Rashtrapati Nilayam, along with belongings of past Presidents of India. Apart from this there are enclaves dedicated to unsung heroes of Independence and chapters of Hyderabad history. The museum also showcases the cutlery used in the President's Kitchen along with pictures of the State Dinners hosted by each of the Past Presidents. .Draupadi murmu's statue is also located.


Flagpost

In December 2023, President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated a replica of the historic flag post at the Rashtrapati Nilayam on which the national flag was hoisted for the first time in Hyderabad after the princely state acceded to the Indian Union in 1948. This Flagpost is a one-of-its-kind 120 ft wooden structure made of Burma teak wood. This replaced the old flagpole which was dismantled in 2010 as it became dilapidated and posed a threat to the main building.


Stepwells

Smt. Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the revival of traditional water systems in Rashtrapati Nilayam. There are total 3 different 100 year old step wells in the premises of Rashtrapati Nilayam, that have been revived in 2023 - Jai Hind Step Well, Nakshtra Step Well, and Chinna Baavi. An Interpretation Centre has been curated alongside the Jai Hind Stepwell to educate the visitors about the various traditional water management systems of India.


Cheriyal Art Tunnel

The Kitchen tunnel, once essential as a discreet food passage, was restored in March 2023, and now features Telangana's Cheriyal folk art, emphasising the preservation of cultural heritage.


Gardens

There are a total of 6 gardens that exist today at Rashtrapati Nilayam - Nakshatra Garden, Herbal Garden, Rock Garden, Maze Garden, Palmatum, and Fruit Orchards. The Herbal Garden, inaugurated in December 2009, of medicinal and aromatic plants is spread over 7,000 sq metres, has about 116 species of medicinal and aromatic plants including sarpagandha, kalabandha, citronella, lemon grass, khus, geranium, coriander, sandalwood, tuber rose, jasmine, kalmegh, tulsi etc. The garden was built by Central Public Works Department and the Telangana Medicinal Plants Board, while Rashtrapati Bhavan and National Medicinal Plants Board funded the project. The Nakshatra Garden showcases the trees associated with various zodiac signs and planets. Additionally, the 90 acre main campus with 33 acres fruit orchards of different varieties – Mango, Chikkoo, Amla, Custard apple, Pomegranate, Guava, Coconut and big tamarind trees are the bio reserves of various fauna. Another feature interesting feature is the Palmatum which is a germplasm repository of 30 species of palms from Rhapis, Areca, Royal, Foxtail, Rhapis, Washingtonia etc. The Rock Garden was created by transforming the natural surroundings of existing rocks into cactus gardens, while also repurposing the boulders to create cascading water features. The Garden also features beautiful rock sculptures of Lord Shiva and Nandi Bull. The most recent addition to the gardens is the Maze Garden which offers a playful experience to the children visiting the property. At the culmination of the maze, there is a musical fountain which acts a key attractions for young visitors.


Public access and education

It was officially opened to the public in March 2023, allowing visitors to explore its vast grounds, thematic gardens, and architectural marvels. Since its opening to the public, Rashtrapati Nilayam has become a vibrant center for educational tours, interactive exhibitions, and cultural events that celebrate India's heritage.


Visiting information

Rashtrapati Nilayam is open to visitors with guided tours available, offering a comprehensive experience of its historical and cultural significance. For those interested in exploring India's presidential heritage and enjoying a day amidst nature and history, Rashtrapati Nilayam provides an unparalleled opportunity. The tickets can be booked on the official website of Rashtrapati Bhavan for slots between 10 AM to 5 PM from Tuesday to Sunday. Special Slots for Kala Sandhya (Cultural Evenings) are live from 5-7 PM on Saturday and Sunday.


See also

*
List of official residences of India Below is a list of official residences of India. Union State Union territories See also * Raj Bhavan * Raj Niwas References

{{reflist Official residences in India, Lists of government buildings, India Lists of buildings and structure ...
*
Rashtrapati Bhavan The Rashtrapati Bhavan (, ISO: ''Rāṣṭrapati Bhavana''; ; formerly Viceroy's House (1931–1947) and Government House (1947–1950)) is the official residence of the President of the Republic of India at the western end of Rajpath, Rai ...
,
New Delhi New Delhi (; ) is the Capital city, capital of India and a part of the Delhi, National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the Government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Parliament ...
* The Retreat Building,
Shimla Shimla, also known as Simla ( the official name until 1972), is the capital and the largest city of the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of British India. After independence, the city ...
*
Rashtrapati Ashiana Rashtrapati Ashiana is an official retreat of the President of India located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Established as a summer camp for horses in the Governor General's Bodyguard, the Ashiana was built in 1920 as the residence of the unit's com ...
,
Dehradun Dehradun (), also known as Dehra Doon, is the winter capital and the List of cities in Uttarakhand by population, most populous city of the Indian state of Uttarakhand. It is the administrative headquarters of the eponymous Dehradun district, d ...


References


External links


The official web site of President of India: President's Retreats

The official web site of Presidential EstatesTimes of India
{{Hyderabad topics Hyderabad State Official residences in India Buildings and structures in Secunderabad Tourist attractions in Hyderabad, India Presidential residences in India Palaces in Hyderabad, India