If you are looking for a picturesque destination in India then Shimla will be one among them and attracts tourists in large numbers from different parts of the globe. Besides being a popular tourist destination this place is also known to be one of the homes of some of the most beautiful churches and chapels of the world. It is also quite popular for its brilliant Viceregal Lodge. There are some very interesting facts to know about Viceregal Lodge in Shimla. This was a historical residence of the former Viceroy of British India which are still unknown to many.
The Viceregal Lodge used to be the home of the Viceroy for the period from 1888 to 1946
Henry Irwin, who was also the man behind the design of the famous Mysore Palace, planned the residence layout. Construction on this building project started in the year 1880. Lord Dufferin was the Viceroy of India during that time, and he occupied Viceregal Lodge in the year 1888. He was ruling the Indian sub-continent right from Shimla and from this house.
The second Indian President handed Viceregal Lodge to the Ministry of Education
Rashtrapati Niwas was the name given to this house after Indian Independence. The second President of India, Dr S Radhakrishnan found that he was using the residence for only a few days annually and believed that it would be better to use it for some good purpose. He handed the house for educational use to the Ministry of Education in the year 1964. In 1965 the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies was opened in this house.
The house where the Indian Institute of Advanced Studies was built is on the 2nd highest point of Shimla
Jakhoo Hill is the highest point of Shimla, but the Observatory Hill was a preferred choice for building the house. The hill was leveled and flattened for house construction and use of Light blue limestone as well as grey sandstone was made for its construction.
Viceregal Lodge has an indoor tennis court
The British used some of the latest technology for building the Viceregal Lodge to make it look ultra-modern. Many don’t know that this house has an Indoor tennis court along with a wine cellar.
Father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi visited this house 4 times during his lifetime
25 years invested by Mahatma Gandhi in the Indian Independence negotiation forced him to visit this house 4 times in this period for discussion with the Viceroy of India. But such effort did not help in getting Independence and failed badly.
Like the above 5 unknown facts, there is much other information about this house which is still unknown to many of the people. If you are planning a trip this vacation to Shimla then we suggest you visit this spot for sure and learn about the history of this place in detail for the guides over there. We are sure that you are going to love it when you come to know the details about Viceregal Lodge.
Architecture of Viceregal Lodge
If you look closely at the architecture of Viceregal Lodge it will remind you of the castles in the Scottish Highlands. The Viceregal Lodge was designed in the English Renaissance style. At the time when it was built, it occupied 331 acres, but eventually, today it occupies 110 acres. Teakwood from Burma was used in the interiors and the architect also used the local cedar and walnut wood. There are long corridors that run throughout the building. There are large rooms and galleries which are connected to the ballroom. Other rooms are exquisite and large and some are converted into libraries. Apart from these, there are dining rooms, waiting rooms, conference rooms, drawing rooms, and lounge rooms. The interiors are decorated with chandeliers, paintings, portraits of prominent British personalities, and wall coverings.
Other interesting things to know about Viceregal Lodge
An advanced piping system was used in the construction, and this meant that you get a constant flow of hot and cold water. Further, a rain harvesting system was used in the construction of this building, and this meant that it made the optimum use of rainwater for various purposes. The electricity in this building is generated by a steam generator, which provides the main electricity. There is a landscaped garden and lawns where there are water fountains and a greenhouse for growing plants. The library in Viceregal Lodge contains 1,80,000 books, manuscripts, and other volumes in Sanskrit, English, Tibetan, Urdu, Persian, Arabic and other languages.
Viceregal Lodge Address
Rashtrapati Nivas, Observatory Hill, Near Summer Hill Railway Station, Boileauganj, Shimla, HP, 171005, India.
Entry Fee & Timings of Viceregal Lodge
Indians need to pay INR 20 PP, whereas foreigners have to pay INR 50 PP as an entry fee to visit Viceregal Lodge. It is open from 10 am onwards till 5 pm and is closed on Mondays. Visiting duration is 2 hours.
How to reach Viceregal Lodge
- Flight: Shimla Airport is the closest airport to reach Viceregal Lodge. This airport is also called Jubarhatti Airport. It is 23 km from Viceregal Lodge. You can take a cab near the airport and reach Viceregal Lodge.
- Railways: Shimla Railway Station is the nearest station to Viceregal Lodge. It is 7 km from Viceregal Lodge. After alighting at Shimla Railway Station, you can take a cab or bus to reach Viceregal Lodge.
- Roadways: State-owned buses and private bus services are available to reach Shimla from major cities. From the main square, Viceregal Lodge is just 3.5 km away.
Conclusion
You should include Viceregal Lodge in your Shimla itinerary. This is a historic building in Shimla and is important from the point of view of the national freedom struggle. The above mentioned interesting facts to know about Viceregal Lodge in Shimla makes it even more alluring to visitors. Many famous personalities stayed here during their lifetime. The eye-catching architecture of Viceregal Lodge will captivate you as you visit it. The surrounding gardens and lawns are perfect for a calm stroll and viewing the grandeur of this iconic building in Shimla.
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