The Retreat Building

The Retreat Building is an official residence on a hilltop near Chharabra in India. The wooden structure uses dajji walls, a local building technique with timber frames and stone infill that has been known in this mountain region for centuries.

The estate was built in the year 1850 as housing for British administrators. After Indian independence in 1947, it was reassigned as a summer residence for the president and continues to serve that purpose today.

The building unites colonial design choices with traditional craftsmanship from Himachal Pradesh. Local carpenters worked alongside imported materials during construction, creating a link between European plans and regional skills.

Access is heavily restricted because the compound remains in active use as an official seat. One reaches the location from Shimla along a mountain road that climbs about 13 kilometers (8 miles) through forested slopes and gains elevation.

The Indian head of state moves here every summer with a small office staff and conducts government business from this mountain residence. The floor area of the estate covers roughly 987 square meters (10,628 square feet), distributed across several interconnected rooms.