Website, museum as President Mukherjee completes four years in office

New Delhi, July 20 (IANS) To mark completion of his four years in office on July 25, President Pranab Mukherjee will launch a micro-site on Rashtrapati Bhavan website containing information on the President's Estate as a tourist destination and its three new tourist circuits -- Rashtrapati Bhavan main building, museums and the gardens.

Mukherjee will also flag off a 'Hop-on-Hop off' tourist bus as a mark of opening of Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum to public.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate phase-II of Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum, it was announced on Wednesday.

"The inauguration of phase-II of the museum will complete the Rashtrapati Bhavan Museum Complex, which comprises the Stables Museum (phase -I), the Garages Museum (phase -II) and the Clock Tower, which will be home to the visitors reception centre, cafeteria and souvenir shop," a statement issued here said.

This phase is being developed at the site of a heritage building, where the garage for Rashtrapati Bhavan vehicles was earlier located. Phase-I of the museum, developed in the erstwhile stables of Rashtrapati Bhavan which used to house horses and ceremonial coaches, opened on July 25, 2014. The Clock Tower was inaugurated on July 25, 2015.

The phase-II of the museum, spread over 10,000 square metres, will be a hi-technology story-telling museum.

This museum will depict the story of the planning and construction of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the British viceroys who occupied the building till 1947; their reaction towards the tumultuous freedom movement in the country; the transfer of power; the formation of the Republic; the life and work of 13 Presidents of India since 1950; life in Rashtrapati Bhavan; the beauty and environment of the campus; the people working here and important visitors, it said.