MNS:- An online system of booking for tours of Rashtrapati Bhavan was launched by Secretary to the President Smt. Omita Paul on December 21, 2012. Beginning January 1, 2013 Rashtrapati Bhavan will also be opened for public viewing on Sundays and for increased hours.
\nThe days Rashtrapati Bhavan would be open for visitors are Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs without any lunch break.
\nTwo routes for such visits have been created and visitors can choose between them. The first route will cover Forecourt, Reception, Lutyen\u2019s Gallery, Marble Hall, Kitchen Museum, Children\u2019s Gallery, Gift Museum, Durbar Hall, Library, Long Drawing Room, North Drawing Room, Ashoka Hall, Loggia and Banquet Hall. Brief details of each of these places are on the Rashtrapati Bhavan website. The second will include all the above places and Mughal Gardens.
\nGuides will be provided. Entry is free.
\nInterested persons can log on to website www.presidentofindia.nic.in from December 21, 2012 and register themselves in the \u2018online booking\u2019 system for visits post January 1. Visits can be booked upto 30 days in advance. On-line Booking provides time-slot options starting from 0900 hrs to 1600 hrs and also indicates the available days for visit to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Each time-slot will be available for up to 50 visitors. In case of school children visits\/group visits, this restriction will not apply.
\nAfter on-line booking, within 2 working days, confirmation will be sent by email. The status of the booking can be checked on-line using the Registration No. and Date of Birth. In case of cancellation of tours due to other official engagements in Rashtrapati Bhavan, information will be sent by email to those who have booked tours.
\nThe system will operate on first come-first serve basis. Those who do not have email facility or access to the Internet can continue to follow the existing system of writing to Deputy Military Secretary, Rashtrapati Bhavan.
\nOnline booking system will cut down on paper communication and is environment-friendly. It will make management of visitors more efficient and provide visitors with a wide option of time-slots. The system has a tour guide management module, which will also be functional from January 1, 2013, using which guides will be allocated to each group of 50 visitors.<\/p>\n\n