President Droupadi Murmu arrives in Hyderabad for winter retreat

President of India Droupadi Murmu arrived in Hyderabad on Wednesday afternoon to spend her annual winter retreat. She will stay at the Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolaram, Secunderabad, until December 22.

At the Hakimpet Air Force Station, she was warmly received by Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, several state ministers, and senior officials. From there, the President proceeded directly to the Rashtrapati Nilayam.

During her stay, President Murmu will attend official meetings and events. On December 19, she will inaugurate the National Conference of Chairpersons of Public Service Commissions, organized by the Telangana Public Service Commission. On December 20, she is scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the 21st-anniversary celebrations of the Brahma Kumaris’ Shanti Sarovar organization in Hyderabad, during the event titled “Timeless Wisdom of India: Pathways of Peace and Progress.”

It is a longstanding tradition for the President to visit the Rashtrapati Nilayam at least once a year to perform official duties from the southern retreat. The Nilayam in Hyderabad and the Retreat Building in Shimla together serve as symbolic centers of the Presidency, reflecting India’s unity and cultural diversity across regions.

The Rashtrapati Nilayam in Bolaram was built in 1860. After India’s independence, the Hyderabad government handed it over to the Rashtrapati Secretariat. Spread over roughly 90 acres, the single-story building houses 11 rooms along with facilities such as a dining hall, cinema hall, and a morning room.