Advance study Shimla

The building that houses the institute was originally built as a home for Lord Dufferin, Viceroy of India from 1884–1888 and was called the Viceregal Lodge.[2] It housed all the subsequent viceroys and governors-general of India. It occupied Observatory Hill, one of the seven hills that Shimla is built upon.he building was designed by Henry Irwin, an architect in the Public Works Department. The Viceregal Lodge had electricity as early as 1888, much before the rest of the town of Shimla.[2] The building also was equipped with a sophisticated firefighting mechanism through wax-tipped water ducts. Many historic decisions have been taken in the building during the Indian independence movement. The Simla Conference was held here in 1945. The decision to carve out Pakistan and East Pakistan from India was also taken here in 1947

After India gained independence, the building was renamed Rashtrapati Niwas and was used as a summer retreat for the president of India. However, due to its neglect, Dr. S Radhakrishnan decided to turn it into a centre of higher learning. The summer retreat of the president was shifted from here to a building known as "The Retreat" situated in Chharabra, on the outskirts of Shimla. The Indian Institute of Advanced Study was first created as a society on 6 October 1964. The institute was formally inaugurated by Prof. S. Radhakrishnan on 20 October 1965. The eminent historian, Professor Niharranjan Ray, was appointed as the first Director of the Institute. Around 2004, a rare stické court was discovered on the grounds of the Viceregal Lodge complex. A bell made of eight metals which was presented by the king of Nepal was available to be admired by tourists till April 2010. The lawn in front of the lodge is above a water tank. All the rainwater from the building goes to this water tank. This rainwater harvesting system goes back to the 18th century when this building was designed by the Scottish architects. The Institute of Advance Studies is the first electrified building in Shimla. This electricity was run by steam engines which were brought from Britain.