Hyderabad, January 14: Over 63,000 people visited Rashtrapati Nilayam in ten days since it was opened to general public on Jan 1, 2011.
More than 10,000 people visited the premises on Jan 2 alone.
President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, in one of her people-friendly initiatives, for the first time, ordered that the Nilayam be opened for public viewing.
A herbal garden, on the Nilayam’s premises, having 116 species of medicinal and aromatic plants has also been thrown open to public.
Ever since Pratibha Patil’s first visit to the Nilayam in 2007, a number of environment-friendly initiatives have been put in place such as solar lights, drip irrigation system and percolation pond for efficient and judicious use of natural resources. Fruit gardens have also been developed in an area of about 35 acres.
The Rashtrapati Nilayam building was constructed in the rule of His Highness Nizam Nazir Ud Dowla in 1850. Sir Salar Jung was the Prime Minister of Nizam Government then. Bolaram was one of the military cantonments of Nizam Sarcar and the building was the residence of the chief military officer.
Later, the building was occupied by the British.
After achievement of Independence, the building was taken over by Government of India in 1948 from the Nizam and since then this building has been reserved for the President of India and has been named as Rashtrapati Nilayam.
–Agencies