President Droupadi Murmu touched down in Hyderabad today, kicking off her five-day winter visit. She’s not just following a calendar—she’s carrying on a tradition that’s now over seventy years old, linking India’s highest office to this historic city. Her home for the week: Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolarum, Secunderabad. Until December 21, this southern retreat will serve as her base for official duties.
While she’s in Hyderabad, the President will kick off the National Conference for the Chairpersons of Public Service Commissions on December 19. The Telangana Public Service Commission (TGPSC) is hosting the event, and it draws in leaders from public service commissions all over India. The next day, December 20, the President takes the stage at another conference—this one called ‘Timeless Wisdom of Bharat: Pathways of Peace and Progress.’ Brahma Kumaris Shanti Sarovar is putting this together for its 21st anniversary, and it’s also happening in Hyderabad.
From Colonial Era to Presidential Retreat
This practice goes back to 1955, when Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President, spent a winter week here. Every President since has kept it alive, coming down to Hyderabad each December. Rashtrapati Nilayam in the south and The Retreat Building in Shimla up north aren’t just residences—they stand for unity, bringing together India’s many cultures and people. The President’s presence here reminds everyone that the office isn’t just rooted in Delhi; it stretches across the country.
The story of Rashtrapati Nilayam began long before independence. Built in 1860 by Nizam Nazir-ud-Dowla, it started as the Residency House, the country home for the British Resident in Secunderabad. Its crisp white walls and broad verandas are classic colonial style, built to beat the Deccan heat. When Hyderabad joined the Indian Union in 1948, the government transformed the property into the President’s southern retreat. It was once a symbol of British rule became a piece of India’s own heritage.
An Architectural and Natural Marvel
Rashtrapati Nilayam isn’t just a stately home. Spanning 90 acres, the estate holds 16 rooms, a grand Dining Hall, Durbar Hall, Morning Room, Cinema Hall, and visitor quarters for 150 people. Its architecture isn’t just impressive—it’s clever. The kitchen and dining hall sit in separate buildings, linked by a tunnel. That’s not just for show; it’s a practical design, ensuring privacy and comfort, a detail that’s survived from colonial days and still works today.
A Window into Presidential History
Step outside, and you’ll find a living museum of India’s natural and cultural richness. Six themed gardens spread across the grounds. There’s a herbal garden with 116 kinds of medicinal and aromatic plants, a Nakshatra Garden with trees tied to zodiac signs, and orchards heavy with mangoes, guavas, pomegranates, and more. In 2023, the estate revived three ancient stepwells, bringing back traditional water systems. President Murmu made history here too: in December 2023, she inaugurated a replica of the 120-foot teak flagpost where the Indian tricolour first flew in Hyderabad after the state joined India.
Since March 2023, Rashtrapati Nilayam has opened its gates to the public for most of the year. Visitors can wander through a museum filled with gifts to past Presidents, memorabilia, and exhibits on Hyderabad’s path into independent India. While President Murmu is in residence, she carries out her official work, backed by tight security and protocol. This annual visit isn’t just routine—it reminds the country that the President stands at the center, weaving together regions and traditions, linking India’s colonial past to its democratic present.
