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Starting basic entry v1

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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{Distinguish|Rashtrapati Niwas}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Rashtrapati Niwas, Mashobra, Shimla
| image = File:Retreat Building.jpg
| caption = Rashtrapati Niwas
| current_tenants = *[[Draupadi Murmu]]<br/>([[President of India]])
| building_type = Summer Retreat
| architectural_style = European
| structural_system =
| location = [[Chharabra]], [[Shimla district|Shimla]], Himachal Pradesh, India
| completion_date = 1850; 174 years old
| opened_date =
| main_contractors =
| architect =
| structural_engineer =
}}
'''Rashtrapati Niwas''', previously known as '''The Retreat Building''' is the official summer retreat of the [[President of India]] near [[Chharabra]], [[Shimla]], in the state of [[Himachal Pradesh]].<ref name=president>[https://presidentofindia.nic.in/presidential-retreats.htm Official website of the President of India], Presidential retreats. Retrieved 11 February 2022.</ref><ref name=tribune>[https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/features/the-retreat-a-treat-for-indias-presidents-96750 "The Retreat, a treat for India's Presidents"], ''The Tribune'', 21 June 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2022.</ref> The President stays at the building for at least two weeks during summer and conducts official business.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/meghalaya-proposes-president-s-third-retreat-740980.html|title=Meghalaya proposes President's "third retreat"|work=Deccan Herald|date=2019-06-17 |accessdate=2019-08-30}}</ref> It is located 13 km away from the city of Shimla and is a thousand feet higher than the Shimla Ridge Top, which is part of the [[Himalayas]].

The other presidential homes are [[Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi|Rashtrapati Bhavan]] in [[New Delhi]], [[Rashtrapati Niketan]] in [[Dehradun]], Uttarakhand, and [[Rashtrapati Nilayam]] in [[Hyderabad]], Telangana.

==History==
The building was originally constructed by the then Medical Superintendent of Simla, whose name is not known (referred to merely as Mr. C____ in ''Simla Past and Present'' by Sir Edward J. Buck). The Retreat was taken on lease from the Raja of Koti by [[William Hay, 10th Marquess of Tweeddale|Lord William Hay]]. During this period, the local population called it "Larty Sahib Ki Kothi", i.e. house of Mr. Larty, as Lord William Hay was named by locals. The lease deed contained stipulations that: the two roads from Simla and Mashobra village should, in the interest of native population of Koti State, be open to the public; no trees should be felled; and no cattle be slaughtered on the grounds. The lease of the Retreat was then taken by [[William Mansfield, 1st Baron Sandhurst|Sir William Mansfield]], [[Commander-in-Chief, India|Commander-in-Chief]], and then By [[Edward Charles Buck|Sir Edward Buck]] in 1881.<ref>W. T. Pike (ed.), ''East Anglia in the Twentieth Century: Contemporary Biographies'' (1912), p. 131.</ref> In 1896, the Raja of Koti used his right of preemption and took the possession of the estate. Thereafter the Retreat was consigned to the government on permanent lease by the Raja of Koti. The [[Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin|Earl of Elgin]] was the first [[Viceroy of India]] to have used the Retreat as a viceregal residence. Lord Elgin secured use of the Retreat for future viceroys and constantly spent his weekends there.<ref name=president/><ref name=tribune/><ref>Edward J. Buck, ''Simla Past and Present'', Thacker, Spink and Co. (1904), pp. 177-180.</ref>

[[Lord Mountbatten]] was the last viceroy to have stayed here in 1947. Subsequently, the estate was transferred to the Government of India. In 1951, Dr. Rajendra Prasad became the first President of India to visit the estate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rashtrapati Niwas in Mashobra |url=https://thrilltourism.com/listings/rashtrapati-niwas-in-mashobra-in-chharabra-in-himachal-pradesh-171012-1172 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=thrilltourism.com |language=en}}</ref> In a historic shift in 1965, President [[Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan]] designated The Retreat as the President's summer retreat, shifting the summer residence from the [[Rashtrapati Niwas|Viceregal Lodge]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rashtrapati Niwas, Mashobra Visitor Booking |url=https://visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/visit/rashtrapati-niwas-mashobra-shimla/vm |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in}}</ref> Unlike the Viceregal Lodge, it offered a more private setting amidst oak, cedar, pine, and copper birch forests.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

Since then, most Presidents spend at least a week here every summer, along with their office.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirpal |first=Neha |date=2023-10-23 |title=Rashtrapati Niwas: A Slice Of History In Mashobra |url=https://www.outlooktraveller.com/experiences/heritage/rashtrapati-niwas-a-slice-of-history-in-mashobra |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Outlook Traveller |language=en}}</ref>

==Architecture==
The architecture and grounds of the site make it a tourist attraction in Shimla. One outstanding feature of this building is that it is purely a wooden structure with [[dhajji]] wall construction, which features timber-framed walls filled with stone and brick, blending naturally with its surroundings. This building has an area of {{convert|10628|sqft|m2}}.<ref name="president" />

== Public access==
On April 23, 2024, Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, officially inaugurated the public opening of the building. {{fact|date=March 2025}}

=== Rashtrapati Niwas Building ===
[[File:Rashtrapati_Niwas_Main_Building.jpg|thumb|294x294px|Rashtrapati Niwas Main Building]]
The main building of Rashtrapati Niwas, featuring earthquake-resistant dhajji wall construction, is open for public viewing. It also allows visitors to explore areas like the presidential wing and the official dining hall.

The residence features a top floor reserved for the President and her family, comprising six private rooms each with a balcony. The lower level accommodates the extensive entourage accompanying the President, including the ADC room, a drawing room, and a study with a view of the hills. This floor is adorned with British-era furnishings and includes a large dining room capable of hosting 22 guests, maintaining its original wooden fireplaces and antique switches.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

A special gallery displays a large photo of the current President, Shrimati Draupadi Murmu, alongside portraits of the 14 former presidents who have visited the residence. Additionally, the gallery features a black-and-white sketch of the Niwas by a local artist and paintings depicting traditional Himachali attire. Recent photos of President Murmu and significant past visits, including [[Mahatma Gandhi]]’s first visit to Shimla on May 12, 1921, are also exhibited.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirpal |first=Neha |date=2023-10-23 |title=Rashtrapati Niwas: A Slice Of History In Mashobra |url=https://www.outlooktraveller.com/experiences/heritage/rashtrapati-niwas-a-slice-of-history-in-mashobra |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Outlook Traveller |language=en}}</ref>

=== Rashtrapati Niwas Lawn ===
The expansive lawns include arranged flower beds of tulips & roses along with views of the surrounding mountains.{{fact|date=March 2025}}
[[File:Helipad_Nature_Trail_at_Rashtrapati_Niwas.jpg|thumb|242x242px|2.2 km trail through dense oak, deodar, pine trees]]

=== Kalyani Helipad & Nature Trail ===
Positioned at the highest elevation in the region, the Kalyani Helipad provides visitors with 360-degree views that span Shimla, Kufri, Chail, and Jakhu Hill.{{fact|date=March 2025}} Visible peaks from this vantage point include Deo Tibba, Shrikhand Mahadev Peak, Badrinath, and Parvati Parvat.

Spanning approximately 2.2 kilometers from the Helipad to Gate 2, this nature trail passes through Shimla's natural flora.{{fact|date=March 2025}} Trekkers can navigate through dense forests populated with oak, deodar, pine, and rhododendron trees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rashtrapati Niwas {{!}} Welcome to RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN - The Office and Residence of the President of India |url=https://rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/rashtrapati-niwas-0 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in}}</ref>
[[File:Orchards_at_Rashtrapati_Niwas.jpg|thumb|Orchard Trail]]

=== Slope Garden & Orchards Nature Trail ===
The slope garden displays an assortment of over 40 types of flora, including horse-chestnut, walnut, and green maple trees. It is home to 375 apple trees.{{fact|date=March 2025}}

These trails are designed for those seeking outdoor adventures and include several points of interest such as viewpoints for sunrise and sunset.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rashtrapati Niwas {{!}} Welcome to RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN - The Office and Residence of the President of India |url=https://rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/rashtrapati-niwas-0 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in}}</ref>

== Visiting information ==
Rashtrapati Niwas is open to visitors with guided tours. Tickets may be booked on the official website of Rashtrapati Bhavan for slots between 10 AM to 5 PM from Tuesday to Sunday.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rashtrapati Niwas, Mashobra Visitor Booking |url=https://visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/visit/rashtrapati-niwas-mashobra-shimla/vm |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[President of India]]
* [[Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi|Rashtrapati Bhavan]]
* [[Rashtrapati Nilayam]]
* [[Rashtrapati Niwas]]
* [[Rashtrapati Ashiana]]
* [[List of official residences of India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{coord|31|06|50|N|77|14|52|E|region:IN_type:landmark_source:kolossus-nowiki|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Retreat Building, The}}
[[Category:Official residences in India]]
[[Category:Presidential residences in India]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Shimla]]
[[Category:British-era buildings in Himachal Pradesh]]

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Rashtrapati Niwas, Mashobra - Revision history

GAURI PARIHAR: Starting basic entry v1