Retreat Building is one of the official residences of President of Independent India. It plays a most important role in administering the law and orders of North India from the hands of President.

Retreat Building, an official Retreat Residence of the President of India is located at Chharabra in Shimla (Himachal Pradesh).

Retreat Building is located at about ten kilometres away from Shimla. This hilly palace is placed at about thousand feet higher than the Shimla Ridge Top. The other presidential homes in India are Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi and Rashtrapati Nilayam at Secunderabad, which is now in the newly formed Indian state Telangana, with Hyderabad as the capital of this state for the span of 10 years.

Retreat Building was rebuilt in the year 1850 by the British Government in India at that time. This palace as the isolated place played the key role in maintaining the civil obedience in North India. And this regal building also acted as the summer place for the Viceroys of India. It was a part of the Viceroy of India property.

Located on the hill top of the Mashobra, Retreat Building was taken over during 1895 by the Viceroy of India from the local royal dynasty. The architecture and the picturesque surrounding of Retreat Building make it a major tourist attraction in Shimla. From Retreat Building, one can see the beautiful landscape hilly beauty mixed with mists and gentle breeze.

The outstanding architectural feature of Retreat Building is the wooden structure of the palace. The floors are purely made up of the wooden structure with dajji wall construction. This building has an area of 10,628 square feet. The presence of cedar forests has played a major role in the fruition and advancement of various architectural forms. The wood extracted from the cedar tree is full of strength and this wood is used in building the palace.

The President of Independent India visits the Retreat Building in Shimla at least once a year and the core office shifts to that place during stay in The Retreat. The thousand feet higher than the Shimla Ridge Top, this regal retreat is located in a picturesque surrounding. The architectural pattern and the natural beauty of the place have made this royal architectural beauty a famous tourist attraction in Shimla.