Rashtrapati Nilayam thrown open to public

Hyderabad: Rashtrapati Nilayam was opened for general public viewing on Tuesday and will remain open till January 15 between 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Nilayam at Bolarum in Secunderabad is President’s residence during his southern sojourn.

It is customary that the Nilayam be kept open for general public soon after the departure of the President after his southern sojourn. Spread over 76 acres of land, the building is a structural marvel. The Nilayam houses the herbal garden with 116 varieties of plants with unique medicinal properties.

The visitors have been requested to remain disciplined and not cause any damage or cross the barricades leading to the restricted areas. They are also requested not to bring any eatables including water bottles, brief cases, handbags, mobiles, radio/transistors, arms and ammunition with them. However, food and snack stalls have been established for the convenience of the visitors, a press release said. Guides will be available at the RP Nilyam, who will brief the visitors about the campus.

Visitors entry will be through Gate No 2 and exit through Gate No 1, according to the press release. The major attraction is the milky white palace built by Nizam Nazir-ud-Dowla in 1860, which played host to the then Chief Military Officer and British Viceroys. After independence, the palace came under the control of the Government of India.

The scorpion shaped building constructed on 2,500 sqm with three wings can accommodate 20 rooms including a cinema hall, dining hall and a morning room. The usually out-of-bounds 90-acre abode of the President is thrown open to the public for a week, the release said.