Rashtrapati Bhavan museum to open for public from October 2

New Delhi, Jul 24 The phase II of Rashtrapati Bhavan museum, which will cater the visitor with hi-tech storytelling experience through virtual reality and multi-screen projection, will open for public from October 2.

The museum will be inaugurated tomorrow by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to mark the completion of four years of President Pranab Mukherjee as the Head of State.

"Tomorrow we will be having a soft launch. We will give the tour operators a signal to start booking for it. For normal public the museum will open from October 2. "It will be open six days a week. We have put the initial ticket price to be Rs 50 and gate number 30 will be designated for the entry," Secretary to President Omita Paul said.

It took almost two years for the completion of the museum, which cost an estimated Rs 80 crore, and, according to Paul, their purpose is to take the common people on a ride through the history of President's estate.

"Our focus was not to focus on object. The artifacts we have put here are related to the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the legacy the presidents have left behind. Here our purpose was to present the history," she added.

A hop-on, hop-off tourist bus will also be flagged off by the President on the occasion of completing four years in office.

Created in the area of 1, 30,000 square feet, the museum will be a new home to around 2000 artifacts that will tell the tale of the Rashtrapati Bhavan and the presidents of India, said science populariser and museum maker Saroj Ghose.

"This is the only museum in the country which is underground. This is an event based story telling museum, it is not a object based museum. "It reflects particular events of history which are connected with the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The story is told in digital format, through virtual reality and other digital interactive platform," he said. Presenting history through various hi-tech mediums is the major highlight of the museum.

One of the virtual reality experiences will take the visitors to 1931 and join Mahatma Gandhi as he comes out of the Viceregal House after signing the Gandhi– Irwin Pact.

Replica of President's study is also projected on the television which digitally gives the visitors a chance to feature with the Head of State.

Apart from the artifacts, various censors are also installed in the museum which will help in protecting the possessions from lights that cause discoloration.

The museum developed at the site of the heritage building, where the garage for Rashtrapati Bhavan vehicles was earlier located, will also have an Art Gallery for holding exhibitions.

The phase I of the museum has also been renovated following shifting of few artifacts to the new area.

PTI