PRESIDENT OF INDIA TO OPEN RASHTRAPATI BHAVAN'S ANNUAL "UDYANOTSAV" ON FEBRUARY 4

Rashtrapati Bhavan : 02.02.2020

The President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, will open the annual "Udyanotsav” of Rashtrapati Bhavan on February 04, 2020.

The Mughal Gardens will remain open for the general public from February 5, 2020 to March 08, 2020 (except on Mondays which are maintenance days) between 1000 hrs to 1600 hrs.

In addition to the direct walk-in entry like previous years,visitors can plan their visit to the Gardenswell in advancethrough online booking facility. Online Booking can be done by visiting https:// rashtrapatisachivalaya.gov.in and following ‘Explore and Tour’ link. Online Booking link is also available at https://rb.nic.in/rbvisit/ visit_plan.aspx. Both direct walk-in entry and online booking are free of cost.

The online booking facility -available seven days in advance - has been divided into seven hourly slotsstarting from 10 am to 4 pm in weekdays (Tuesday to Friday) and three hourly slots - 10 am, 11 am and 12 noonon weekends (Saturdays and Sundays) and on holidays. Each hourly slot on weekdays and weekends/holidays has slot for 1000 and 2500 visitors respectively. A maximum of 10 visitors can be booked in a single booking for weekday’s visit while maximum 5 visitors can be booked in a single booking for visit during weekend and holidays. Mobile number is mandatory for online booking and only one booking is permitted from one mobile number. Visitors who have booked online need to carry visitor entry pass (paper print or mobile pass) along with identity card.

Entry and exit for all online/walk-in visitors will be from Gate No. 35 of the President’s Estate, close to where North Avenue meets Rashtrapati Bhavan.However, there will be separate entry/queue for online visitors. It will be mandatory for them to adhere with their allotted time slots. In case a visitor arrives out of booked time slot, he/she would be requested to join the queue of "direct walk-in (offline)” visitors.

Visitors are requested not to bring any water bottles, briefcases, handbags/ladies purses, cameras, radios/transistors, boxes, umbrellas, eatables etc. Such articles, if any, will have to be deposited at the entry point. Arrangements of drinking water, toilets, first aid / medical facility, rest rooms for senior citizens, women and children are provided at various places along the public route.

The main attraction of this year’s "Udyanotsav”, beside Tulips and Exotic flowers, are bulbous flowerings. Around 10,000 Tulips specially cultivated in Mughal Gardens are expected to bloom in phases during February. They are in vivid colors of red, white, orange and yellow mixed with red and pink.

Flower Carpets in magnificent designs will also be on display in the Central Lawns revealing the skill and craft of the gardeners of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The dominant color scheme of this year’s ornamental flowers is white, yellow, red and orange.

As in previous years, a small beautified cactus corner with interesting varieties of cactus and succulents has been landscaped. Air purifying plants have been showcased in Garden. An Exhibition Stall will showcase organic fresh vegetables and fruits grown in the President’s Estate Organic Farm. A beautiful combination of flowering and other house plants on a sustainable vertical green wall will also be displayed.

The Mughal Gardens will be open on March 11, 2020 exclusively for special category visitors - farmers, differently-abled persons, defence/paramilitary forces and Delhi Police personnel - from 1000 hrs. to 1600 hrs.Entry and exit will also be through Gate No. 35.

The Herbal Garden (Tactile Garden) will be open exclusively for visually impaired people on March 11, 2020 from 1100 hrs. to 1600 hrs.Entry and exit will be from Gate No. 12, situated on Church Road (next to the North Avenue).

Apart from the annual opening of Mughal Gardens, throughout the year people can have tours of Rashtrapati Bhavan and Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum as well as witness Change of Guards Ceremony.

Rashtrapati Bhavan is open four days in a week (Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday) between 0900 to 1600 hrs.Visit can be booked online through the link http://rashtrapatisachivalaya. gov.in/rbtour/.

Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex – an event based story telling Museum showcasing the exquisite and invaluable artifacts symbolizing art, culture, heritage and history – is open for public on all days except Mondays and government holidays from 0900 hrs. to 1600 hrs. Visitors can book their tour online at https://rb.nic.in/rbvisit/ visit_plan.aspx. On the spot booking facility is also available at Reception (near Gate No. 30 of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Mother Teresa Crescent Road) on producing valid photo identity proof and debit/credit card for payment of registration charges. For further assistance, people can contact the Visitors’ Management Cell at +91-11-2301 7820 or rashtrapatibhavanmuseum@gmail. com.

Change of Guard Ceremony is held on every Saturday and Sunday atthe Forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan. A request to witness the Change of Guard Ceremony can be made online through a link on the website https://rb.nic.in/ rbvisit/rbvisit_cog.aspx.