VP Dhankhar to stay at historic Simla site

Shimla

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar arrived in Himachal Pradesh on Friday and will be staying at the historic Raj Bhavan in Shimla, where the Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan was signed on July 2, 1972, after the 1971 war. The Raj Bhavan, formerly known as Barnes’ Court, dates back to British rule and once housed the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab.

Dhankhar was warmly welcomed at the Annandale helipad by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, along with other top state officials and ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri and Public Works Minister Vikramaditya Singh. The Governor honoured the Vice-President with a traditional Himachali cap, shawl, and memento on behalf of the people of the state.

During his stay, Dhankhar will also visit Solan, around 60 km from Shimla, on Saturday.

Shimla, once the summer capital of British India, is home to nearly 90 colonial-era buildings, many of which are now in poor condition. However, key sites like the Ellerslie (state secretariat), the Vidhan Sabha, the Town Hall, and Barnes’ Court remain well-preserved.

Since August 2023, Raj Bhavan (Barnes’ Court) has been open to the public every Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. Governor Shukla said the building, constructed in 1832, is a significant heritage site built with help from Indian artisans and has witnessed several historic events.