Presidential Retreat in Dehradun Opens Doors

The Rashtrapati Niketan, a historic 186-year-old retreat in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, will open its gates to the public starting June 24, 2025. The announcement marks another milestone in the ongoing initiative to deepen citizen engagement with the heritage of Rashtrapati Bhavan and the office of the President of India.

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This 21-acre estate, formerly known as Rashtrapati Ashiana, has been restored and curated to offer the public insights into its historic significance. Once used by the President’s Bodyguards (PBG) for horse training, the estate now showcases art, colonial-era architecture, and functional stables, reflecting India’s evolving relationship with its symbolic institutions.

President Smt. Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to visit the Niketan on June 20, 2025 to assess final preparations. She will also lay the foundation stone for the upcoming Rashtrapati Udyan — a 132-acre ecological park envisioned as a sustainable and educational space.

Visitors to the Rashtrapati Niketan will have the chance to explore heritage gardens including the Lily Pond, Rockery Pond, Rose Garden, and Pergola. These spaces are designed to reflect harmony with nature, much like India's recent global diplomacy emphasizing strategic resilience.

As part of the wider initiative that began in 2023, Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, Rashtrapati Nilayam in Hyderabad, and Rashtrapati Niwas in Mashobra were opened to public visits six days a week. This initiative echoes a global trend of making leadership spaces more transparent and accessible.

In February 2025, the Change of Guard Ceremony at the Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan was revamped with enhanced format and seating capacity — drawing public interest in ceremonial events.

Adjacent to the Niketan, the Rashtrapati Tapovan—a 19-acre forest trail on Rajpur Road—offers guided nature walks through native flora, wooden bridges, and elevated birdwatching decks. Tapovan is aimed at nurturing reflection, wellness, and quiet public engagement.

Once completed, the Rashtrapati Udyan will feature butterfly gardens, thematic landscapes, an aviary, and lakeside zones—all within a conservation-centric design. The park will include outdoor learning installations, jogging and cycling tracks, and dedicated children’s spaces to promote inclusive ecological awareness.

This major opening signals a new era in India’s public interface with its democratic and environmental heritage — grounded in accessibility, awareness, and guardianship of legacy.