President Pranab Mukherjee arrives in Hyderabad for winter sojourn

HYDERABAD: President Pranab Mukherjee arrived here today for his customary winter sojourn.

Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, AP Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, AP Deputy Chief Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha, and several other dignitaries received the President at the Hakimpet Air Base here this evening.

The President would also be visiting other southern cities for several engagements, including unveiling of a statue of former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran, during his sojourn.

The President would stay at the Rashtrapati Nilayam at Bolarum, Secunderabad during his sojourn from December 19 to 31.

Rashtrapati Nilayam is one of the two official retreats of the President of India, the other being 'The Retreat Building' in Shimla.

It is customary for the President to visit Rashtrapati Nilayam and stay there at least once a year and conduct official business from there.

Located at Bolarum in Secunderabad, the 11-room single-storey building spread over 90 acres, which houses the Rashtrapati Nilayam, was handed over to the President's Secretariat after the estwhile state of Hyderabad was liberated from the Nizam through a police action.