Rashtrapati Bhavan open for public - four days a week

Rashtrapati Bhavan, the sprawling official residence of the Indian President, will now be open for public viewing -- four days a week.

Starting on Thursday, for a charge of Rs 50, which is exempted for children below eight years, people can visit the British-built President's house on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. except on gazetted holidays.

"Entry and exit for visitors will be through Gate No 2 on Rajpath, Gate No 37 on Hukmi Mai Marg and Gate No 38 on Church Road," an official statement said on Wednesday. The visits can be booked on-line at http://rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in /rbtour

The Rashtrapati Bhavan was originally known as the Viceroy's House and came up when the British transferred the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. It has four floors and 340 rooms in the main building.

One of the largest residences of a head of state in the world, it covers a floor area of 200,000 square feet and boasts of a Mughal Gardens. Records say 700 million bricks went into building the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

"Indian citizens are required to carry any valid photo ID Cards while foreign citizens are required to carry their original passport at the time of visit," the statement added.

--IANS

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