Falaknuma Palace: The Grace and Glory of Ancient Times

In India, there is no dearth of structures that are considered to be among the finest in the history of architecture. These structures are symbols, legacies of the ancient people who believed in living a grand life and exhibiting their royalty by constructing buildings that redefine excellence. Falaknuma Palace is one such royal structure that is now one of the most attractive tourist spots. Falaknuma is an Urdu word that translates to “Sky-like.” The name itself makes it clear that the palace is vast like the sky and equally fascinating with its internal and external beauty.

History

Sir Viqar-ul-Umra Bahadur, also known as Nawab Viqar-ul-Umra, who was the Prime Minister of Hyderabad State during that period, laid the first foundation stone of the palace. Designed by a British architect, this palace was the residence of the prime minister. The construction began on March 3, 1884, and it took nine years to finish the construction and furnish the palace with whatever the prime minister wanted. Even before the construction was complete, Sir Viqar shifted into the palace to supervise the completion of the unfinished portions.

It is said that the prime minister ran out of funds due to the high costs involved in the construction of the palace. However, he borrowed funds in order to complete the construction. Sometime later, his wife suggested inviting Mehboob Ali Pasha Nizam VI to visit the palace. The Nizam, upon visiting the palace, realized that it was one of the finest structures in the city. Sir Viqar offered him the palace as an honor, and the Nizam accepted, ensuring that the amount spent on the construction of the palace would be paid to Sir Viqar.

The palace became the royal guesthouse in 1897, and it was the venue for many royal gatherings and events. The last guest to stay in the palace was the first President of independent India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad. Later, when the Nizam decided to shift his residence to a new location, the palace was left vacant. When the time came for renovating the palace, the authorities faced challenges in retaining its authentic appeal. However, all efforts were put in to restore the palace, including recreating damaged elements such as drapes and upholstery. The damages to the structure were repaired, and the damaged portions were recreated and restored to their original form. Additional rooms were created, along with new wings and extra restaurants.

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Structure

The shape of the palace is identical to that of a scorpion. The northern part of the palace is finished with wings that resemble the stings of a scorpion. The palace blends two very famous architectural styles: Italian and Tudor. The palace is spread over 32 acres of land. The total cost of building the palace was Rs. 60 lakh. The palace has 60 rooms.

The windows are made of colorful stained glass. When sunlight falls on these windows, the room looks like an artist’s palette, splattered with different colors.

What to See

All the portions of the palace, everything that comes across the visitor, is a specimen of the grandeur of the century-old royal lifestyle. As you enter the place, you will notice that the rooftop is glowing with beautiful frescoes. The ballroom too is equipped with a unique organ that weighs two tonnes, and it is said that no other organ in the world is as huge as this one. The walls of the palace are adorned with beautiful oil paintings of famous historical figures.

The ground floor of the palace was used as the living quarters. A dining table, measuring 108 feet in length, 5.7 feet in width, and 2.7 feet high, is still in the dining hall. It could seat around 100 persons at a time.

Inside the palace, there are 220 rooms, each one decorated with artifacts and accessories. There are 22 spacious halls along with the rooms. A unique collection of ornamental stones called jades is also kept at the palace. The library at the palace boasts a collection of the Quran, among other books and sacred texts. Another attraction of the palace is the billiards room. Though there were two tables, one was taken to Buckingham Palace, while the other is still kept here. Everything that adorns the palace is distinguishable due to some or other feature associated with it. For example, the chandeliers in the palace, imported from Venice, are so huge in size that it took six months to clean one chandelier. There are a total of 40 such chandeliers in the palace.

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Renovation and Conversion to a Hotel

The palace was renovated and converted into a luxury hotel by Taj Hotels, Resorts, and Palaces. The group invested ten years in the whole process, which began in 2000 and ended in 2010. The palace was decorated with accessories and restored to its former glory.

Best Time to Visit

The palace is now a world class hotel and is open to visitors all year long. With the price you pay and the time you put into explores this place, you will be surprised that there are so many things money can actually buy, even quality time. All the rooms of the hotel are comfortable, and the staff is equally supportive. The food of the restaurant is delectable. The view that the palace offers is equally delightful.

How to Reach

Falaknuma Palace is easily accessible, as it is within the city itself. The city of Hyderabad is easy to reach due to its proper rail, road, and air connectivity with various cities of the state and country.

Things to Remember

Keep in mind the weather during which you are traveling and make your reservations for accommodation in advance to avoid any inconvenience. Have an enticing and memorable trip!

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