Among Shimla's most palatial structures, Rashtrapati Niwas (visit.rashtrapatibhavan.gov.in/visit/rashtrapati-niwas-mashobra-shimla/vm; ₹250), still referred to locally by its former name – the Viceregal Lodge – is among Henry Irwin's finest creations. This Jacobethan-style state house was originally the official summer home of British viceroys under the Raj, and it was here that the Simla Conference, a pivotal event in defining the path for India's eventual independence, took place. It was also the first building in Shimla to have electricity. Today, the palace houses the Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS), and most of the property is off limits to the public. However, you can still wander the fountain-filled gardens or sign up for a tour (departing every 45 minutes from the cafe/ticket booth) that will take you into a few key rooms, where you'll be able to admire beautiful teak woodwork and a smattering of period decor.
The lodge is 3.5km west of Scandal Point: from the Oberoi Cecil hotel you can cross the grounds of the building's predecessor Peterhof (rebuilt after a 1981 fire as a not-quite-grand hotel), descend past a small aviary to the lodge gate (around 800m), then climb 500m more through mature woodland to the lodge itself.
