THE RASHTRAPATI NILAYAM

RASHTRAPATI NILAYAM :

 Besides the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, the President has official residences in two other states - Rashtrapati Nilayam near Secunderabad and The Retreat at Mashobra, near Shimla.

The Rashtrapati Nilayam is the only Presidential retreat in the South of India

  Photographed by Raja Deen Dayal in the 1880’s this magnificent single storied mansion was constructed by Nizam Nazir-ud-Dowla in 1860. Located in the quite cantonment area of Bolarum in Secunderabad, this was originally the residence of Nizam’s chief military officer. This was later occupied by British Viceroys.

 
 The construction of this building was completed in 1860 and is spread over 97-acres of landscaped garden. The building has 20 rooms which include a darbar hall, morning room, dining hall and a cinema hall.

    The flag post-cum-weather watch instrument, which was located on the lawns on the north-west was erected in 1867. It was here the Prince Azam Jah handed over the Hyderabad state to Indian Union. After the merger of Hyderabad State with the Union of India in 1950, the government took over the building and converted it into a resort for the President.

    Only a replica of the flag post is exhibited in the Cinema Hall in residential complex. The 154 year old Residency House is now called Rashtrapati Nilayam.

    The three winged Madras style retreat is roofed at 20 to 25 feet in height, surrounded by-low level common verandah. The three wings are Presidents wing, family wins and dining wing. A 50-metre long ventilated tunnel links the state kitchen to the state dining hall. The tunnel was built for the safety of the Nizam, as there was a huge that his food could be poisoned by his enemies.

    The retreat's also has an old well, which is still used for irrigating the vast lawns of the Nilayam. The premises comprises landscaped garden, seasonal flowering plants and display of potted plants around the main building, natural cascading waterfalls and seven different types of nutrition gardens of Mango, Pomegranate, Guava, Amla, Coconut and Cheeku.

    In December 2009 the Herbal Garden was inaugurated  and included  medicinal , aromatic and 116 species of medicinal and aromatic plants including sarpagandha, kalabandha, citronella, lemon grass, khus, geranium, coriander, sandalwood, tuber rose, jasmine, kalmegh, tulsi etc.

 

Written by
Quddus Mohammed