Shimla’s Heritage Under Threat? Ex-Deputy Mayor Flags Reckless Renovation of Presidential Retreat
SHIMLA: The iconic Retreat, the summer residence of the President of India in Mashobra, is undergoing renovation. But the way it’s being done has raised serious concerns.
Former Deputy Mayor of Shimla, Tikender Singh Panwar, has shot off a letter to President Droupadi Murmu, urging her to intervene before irreversible damage is done.
His main concern? The reckless disregard for The Retreat’s 185-year-old heritage.
Steel and Concrete Over Wood and Stone?
Panwar, who oversaw protocol for presidential visits during his tenure (2012-2017), recently visited The Retreat. What he saw left him shocked.
A steel structure has come up near the main gate—completely out of sync with the original wooden and stone architecture.
Heritage Interiors Whitewashed?
Inside, it’s worse. Instead of maintaining the original wood-polished interiors, they’ve slapped on white paint—stripping away the old-world charm.
Panwar fears that the renovation is being carried out without consulting a heritage architect.
The result? A historical disaster in the making.
Appeal to Rashtrapati Bhawan
While appreciating the initiative to open The Retreat to the public, he has urged the President to course-correct before it’s too late.
"The Retreat is not just a building—it’s history, heritage, and an ecological asset. It must be preserved in its original form," his letter states.
Will Rashtrapati Bhawan take note? Or will history be lost in the name of modernisation?
