President Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Hyderabad for southern sojourn

HYDERABAD: President Pranab Mukherjee arrived here today for a 10-day southern sojourn during which he will also visit Sri Kapileswara Swamy temple in Tirupati.

During the sojourn, he will stay at the ' Rashtrapati Nilayam' in Secunderabad here, one of the Presidential Retreats.

He will visit Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh on July 1, a press release issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan said yesterday.

On July 3, the President will receive first copy of a book 'Uniki' written by Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre in Telangana.

Mukherjee will also inaugurate a 'Nakshatra Vatika' at Rashtrapati Nilayam, Bolarum on July 6. The sojourn will end on July 8.

The Rashtrapati Nilayam building was taken over from the Nizam of Hyderabad after India attained independence and handed it over to the President's Secretariat.

Constructed during 1860, the building has a total land area of 90 acres.

The President visits the Rashtrapati Nilayam and stays there at least once a year and conducts official business from the Nilayam.