Not many people in India are aware that the President of India has a southern retreat in Hyderabad to which he comes for a fortnite in the month of december and conducts his business from there.
The Rashtrapathi Nilayam as it known, is located at Bolarum inside the Cantonment.The building was taken over from the Nizam of Hyderabad after India attained independence and handed it over to the President's Secretariat. Constructed during 1860, this building has a total land area of 90 acres. A single storied building, it contains in its premises 11 rooms. It also has a Dining Hall, Cinema Hall, Darbar Hall, Morning room, Dining room etc.
There is a underground passage from the main building to the kitchen which is at a distance.
Just before the President arrives ,the estate is spruced up and in the process many snakes are caught from all over the large estate by a ngo called friend's of the snake and they leave them in forests.
Of course the President's visit creates major traffic jams wherever he/she travels as traffic is stopped.
After the President's visit the Rashtrapathi Nilayam is opened to the general public. It offers a glimpse of the lifestyle of yesteryear now modernised in parts.
The estate has fruit gardens and flower gardens which are maintained well.
Altogether a nice slice of history.
