Dehradun, June 21: Indian President Droupadi Murmu inaugurated the Rashtrapati Niketan and Rashtrapati Tapovan in Dehradun during her three-day visit to Uttarakhand this week. The President, who turned 67 on Friday, also laid the foundation stone for Rashtrapati Udyan and visited a national institute for visually impaired persons.
The Rashtrapati Tapovan, a 19-acre Presidential Estate nestled in the Himalayan foothills, features rich native biodiversity including 117 plant species, 52 butterfly species, 41 bird species, and seven wild mammals, some of which are protected. It will open to the public from June 24.
Murmu also opened the Rashtrapati Niketan, formerly known as the Presidential Retreat. The 21-acre estate, dating back to 1838, once served as a summer camp for the Governor General’s bodyguard and was formally established in its current form in 1976. It includes orchards, lily ponds, historic buildings, and stables. It will be accessible to the public from July 1.
She also laid the foundation stone for Rashtrapati Udyan, a 132-acre park designed to be fully accessible for specially abled people. Officials said the park is intended to promote wellness, culture, and civic engagement.
Murmu released a biodiversity compendium cataloguing over 300 species of flora and 170 species of fauna, including butterflies, birds, and mammals found across the three estates.
On Thursday, the President visited the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities on Rajpur Road, where she interacted with students. She underscored India’s historical legacy of inclusion and compassion, and highlighted government efforts under the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan to create an accessible environment through infrastructure, transport, and digital communication.
“With the help of advanced technology, even people with disabilities can be able to contribute to the mainstream,” Murmu said.Tools
