Rashtrapati Niketan in Dehradun to Open for Public Viewing from June 24

GG News Bureau
Dehradun, 24th May: In a move to deepen citizen engagement with India’s presidential heritage, Rashtrapati Niketan, the official Presidential Retreat in Dehradun, will be opened to the public from June 24, 2025, the Cabinet Secretariat announced on Saturday.

The 186-year-old, 21-acre estate, formerly known as Rashtrapati Ashiana, becomes the latest presidential property to welcome visitors under a heritage-outreach initiative that began in 2023. The estate will showcase the historic legacy of the retreat, including curated artwork, horse stables of the President’s Bodyguard, and picturesque features like the Lily Pond, Rockery Pond, Rose Garden, and Pergola.

As part of the preparations, President Droupadi Murmu will visit the Rashtrapati Niketan on June 20 to oversee the arrangements and lay the foundation stone for Rashtrapati Udyan, a 132-acre ecological park envisioned as a space for environmental education and recreation.

Adjacent to the estate, visitors can also explore Rashtrapati Tapovan, a 19-acre forest trail located on Rajpur Road, offering a tranquil experience with dense native flora, birdwatching machans, wooden bridges, and eco-guided nature walks designed for reflection and environmental connection.

Once completed, Rashtrapati Udyan will offer thematic gardens, a butterfly park, a lake, aviary, children’s play areas, walking and cycling tracks, a sports zone, and outdoor learning spaces—making it a unique ecological and recreational hub for the public.

This initiative follows other similar openings: Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad, and Rashtrapati Niwas in Mashobra, which have been accessible to the public six days a week since 2023. Additionally, the Change of Guard ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan was reintroduced in a new format in February 2025, featuring enhanced public seating.