President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday declared the Rashtrapati Niwas in Shimla open for the general public and said people will be allowed to visit it from April 23. The President announced the news during an 'At Home' ceremony hosted by her at the 173-year-old heritage building located at Chhabra in Mashobra block of Shimla district.
People will be able to visit the retreat by paying a nominal fee of Rs 50 per person for Indian nationals and Rs 250 per person for foreign nationals, PTI reported. It will be open for visitors from April 23, 2023, between 10 am and 5 pm, except Mondays and other government holidays.
For people who visit the Rashtrapati Niwas, the key attraction would include the main building, official dining halls and artifacts. Other highlights include nature trails and the orchards at the Rashtrapati Niwas.
Provisions like a cloakroom, wheelchair, café, souvenir shop, restrooms, water dispensers and first aid will be available for the visitors.
President Murmu also opened the tulip garden at Rashtrapati Niwas in Mashobra.
Earlier in the day, the President visited the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) and toured the picture gallery, library, protected offices and the courtyard of the main building, PTI reported.
"I am very happy to visit the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, a premier research institute of the country promoting high-quality academic work in the fields of humanities, social sciences and natural sciences," she wrote in the visitor's book at the institute."
"Set up by my predecessor and renowned scholar Dr S Radhakrishanan, the IIAS encourages free and creative thought processes through research and exchange of ideas. I wish all research scholars, officials and staff a very bright future," the President added.