Shimla (Himachal Pradesh): Come April 23, the historic building and summer retreat of the President, will be thrown open for public viewing. The 173-year-old building is maintained by the Rashtrapati Bhavan Secretariat located in New Delhi. Apart from this, the Himachal Pradesh police are also deputed in front of the building for security purposes.
Visitors and tourists can visit the historical building by booking tickets online by paying nominal fees. Besides, one can book an online ticket on the website —rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in. Tourists from India will have to pay a fee of Rs 50 while foreigners will have to pay Rs 250.
The entry of children to the building, below 8 years of age, will be free. The historic building will be open for viewing till June 30, 2023. Besides, students belonging to government schools will also get free entry to the building.
Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh, has the distinction of having a President's summer retreat. Besides Shimla, Presdent's summer retreat is located in Hyderabad also. The building is located in Mashobra area close to Shimla.
Several interesting anecdotes are associated with this 173-year-old historic building situated in Shimla. In one such story, former President Ram Nath Kovind visited Shimla in May 2017 at the invitation of Acharya Devvrat.
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At that time, Kovind was not holding the post of President of India. Hence, he did not get an opportunity to see the summer retreat. Kovind was deprived of the experience of visiting the retreat as permission was not granted by Rashtrapanti Bhavan Secretariat in New Delhi.
But just after one month, on May 28, 2017, Ram Nath Kovind the NDA candidate for the President's post. Kovind who became President of India, during the summer retreat at Shimla was waiting to welcome him with open arms.
