Falaknuma Palace : mirror of the sky

Falaknuma Palace : mirror of the sky 

     The Falaknuma Palace at Hyderabad is a jewel among palaces. Built in the late 19th century, on a 32 acre piece of land, by Nawab Viqar-ul-Umrah, a Paigah noble and Prime Minister of the Hyderabad State during the erstwhile rule of the Nizam. Built on the Koh-i-tur Hill from 1884 to 1893 it is shaped like a scorpion. It took 22 years to fill the palace with artefacts, inlaid furniture, Venetian chandeliers, marble statues, stained glass windows, crystals and jades; also the portraits of royalty. The interiors represent different composite styles; Renaissance, Baroque, art-deco and Asaf Jahi elements to create a brilliant visual effect. The palace is 5 kilometres from Charminar, Hyderabad's iconic monument. Made from Italian marble, the palace has an area of 1,011,500 square feet. To a person on the ground, this grand beautiful white palace at a height seems to be in conversation with the passing white clouds in the sky, a mirror of the sky ! A piece of the sky. 

Falaknuma Palace, front view, Hyderabad.

Falaknuma Palace, main building, Hyderabad, pic by Raja Deen Dayal, 1890s.

  Probably Sir Viqar-ul-umrah had thought while building the palace -

Spread your wings, it's time to fly. Make the leap, own the sky.

                                                                              ....MsMoem




                          Falaknuma Palace, main building, Hyderabad.

      The palace  which is 2000 feet above the city, was given to the Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, Nizam VI by Nawab Viqar-ul-umrah around 1897. The VIth Nizam was enchanted with the palace on a visit, which he kept extending. This prompted Viqar-ul-Umrah to gift it to him, who was also his brother-in-law. The palace was designed by British architect William Ward Marret (1840-1903) and made at a cost of 4 million  rupees. Nizam VI used it till about 1911. Later it was used as a guest house for state visitors. The guests of the Nizam who stayed at the palace include King George V, Queen Mary, Edward VIII and Tsar Nicholas II.  President Rajendra Prasad stayed at the palace in 1951.It fell into disuse in the 1950s. The palace has been leased to the Taj Group of Hotels in 2000 by Prince Mukkaram Jah Bahadur, grandson of Nizam VII, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan and son of Princess Durrushevar. The renovation work was overseen by Princess Esra, his first wife. The palace was reopened as a heritage luxury hotel in 2010. The renovations were done very carefully as to retain the originality of the palace with its Asaf Jahi aura. The Nizams were the erstwhile rulers of the Hyderabad-Deccan state from the Asaf Jahi dynasty. At present one still finds beautiful tapestries, furniture, brocades et al. A marbled staircase leads to the upper floor with a carved balustrade having marble statues holding candelabras. The walls of the landing have oil paintings of the Asaf Jahi royalty. The Darbar Hall has parquet flooring, carved ceiling, walnut furniture and handmade mirrors. The State reception room is decorated with frescoes. The palace has 22 halls. The palace had Gol Bungalow where Sir Viqar-ul-umrah stayed, the zenana (women's quarters)and mardana (gentlemen's) sections, towards the south-side along with the kitchen. The palace has a Billiards room; with the exclusive table made by Burroughs and Williams, England. 

                               Archways, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.



                          After nightfall, Falaknuma Palace, main building, Hyderabad.



                              Coronation Hall, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad. 

      The hotel has 60 rooms for guests and serves both Indian and international cuisine. It has a the Jiva Spa, a fitness centre and space for business and weddings. The original breakfast room of the Nizam is now the Conference room. The dining table can seat 101 guests at a time having carved rosewood chairs and green leather upholstery. Originally the tableware was made of gold and crystal. The palace-hotel has a Huqqa lounge and the Adaa restaurant. The two halls of Gol Bungalow have been transformed into restaurants.

View in the courtyard, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad. 


                                 Cannon, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.



View in the courtyard, fountain, part of the palace, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.



View in the courtyard, fountain, part of the palace, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.

        Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.

Fresco at the main building, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.

                                    Interiors, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.




Balcony with cuppola, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.

Dining table, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.

                                           Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.

                         Portraits of royalty, interiors, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.
                               

                                        Interiors, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.

       The monogram of Sir Viqar-ul-umrah/Omra VO is found at many places in the palace; dining chairs, library ceiling. The library houses nearly 7000 manuscripts and books in English, Persian and Urdu, on various subjects ranging poetry, travels, art, architecture, encyclopaedias and Deccan history.

                                       Library,  Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.




 Sunset view, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad.






References :

• wikipedia.org
• Images are sourced from Wikimedia Commons, Coronation Hall, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad- www.flickr.com/photos/ankurp/23364900405 and Interiors, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad -www.flickr.com/photos/skender/9921654826 Portraits of royalty, interiors, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad -                            www.flickr.com/photos/skender/9921124994 Sunset view, Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad- https://www.flickr.com/photos/ankurp/23069090160  and The Hindu (newspaper)

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Soma Ghosh


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