Falaknuma Palace of the Nizams of Hyderabad | Taj Falaknuma Palace Hotel
Falaknuma Palace of Hyderabad, built by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra, is a well known tourist attraction and at present is a heritage hotel of the Taj Group Hotels, as well. Falaknuma Means the mirror of the sky and was built only using Italian marbles.
About Falaknuma Palace of the Nizams in Hyderabad
Falaknuma palace is one of the beautiful and the finest palaces in Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh in India. Falaknuma palace is located on a 32 acre, 19400 sqaure meters area in falaknuma about 5 kilometers from the Charminar atop a hill about 2000 feet high. This Palace in Falaknuma was built by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad, Falaknuma meaning mirror of the sky or just like the sky.About the construction of the Falaknuma palace
The palace was designed by an English architect and H.E. Sir Vicar Ul Umra Bahadur on 3 March 1884 laid the foundation. It took nine years to complete the building construction and the furnishing of the palace. The building of the palace was monitored regularly and only italian marbles were used for the construction of the palace. The palace has been designed like a scorpion with the wings spread out in the north like the scorpion's stings. The main building is in the middle of the construction, along with Gol Bangla, Kitchen, Zenana Mahal and the harem quarters to the south. Stined glass windows of the palace throw a spectrum of colours in to the rooms of the falaknuma palace. Since the nawab was an avid traveller, you can find various influences in the palace architecture. The Falaknuma Palace is a rae combination of the Italian and the tudor architecture.
Decorations Inside the Falaknuma Palace
State reception room is the highlight of the Falaknuma palace and its ceilings are covered with frescoes and gilded reliefs A 2 ton manually operated Organ is kept in the ball room of the palace a dn is believed to be one of its kind in the whole world. There are about 220 lavishly and beautifully decorated and about 22 halls which are spacious and decorated with the finest treasured collections of the Nizam. The palace has a large collection of rare treasures which include furniture, paintings, books and other manuscripts.
The palace has also Jade collection which is said to be unique in the whole world. In the table at the dining hall you could seat about 100 guests at the same time. The dining table comes with aesthetic furniture like chairs made of carved rosewood with green leather upholstery. Gold and crystal tableware wre used to serve.
The Falaknuma Palace also had a library with a walnut carved roof which is a replica of the one at Windsor castle. You can see one of the finest collections of Quran there at the library.
Living quarters was housed in the ground floor and a marbled staircase led to the upper floor with carved balustrades which also supports marble figurines with Candelabra. One can also see beautiful oil paintings of nawabs and other notable persons, namely,
1. H.H The Nizam VI, Nawab Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan Bahadur
2. H.E The Shams ul Umra II, Amir e Kabir I, Amir e Paigah II, Prime Minister of Hyderabad(Grand Father of Sir Vicar ul Umra)
3. Nawab Shams ul Umra IV, Amir e Kabir III, Amir e Paigah,Nawab Rahiduddin Khan Bahadur (Father of Sir Vicar ul Umra)
4. H.E Nawab Mohammed Fazaluddin Khan,Iqbal ud Dowla, Sir Vicar ul Umra Bahadur (Vikar Ul Oomra,"VO"), Amir e Paigah(1881- 1902) Prime Minister of Hyderanad (1893-1901)
5. Maharaja Narain Pershad Narainder Bahadur Raja e Rajayan, Peshkar
6. H.E Nawab Sir Salar Jung I Prime minister of Hyderabad 1853-1883
7. Nawab Sultan ul Mulk Bahadur, Amir e Paigah 1902-1949(Eldest son of Sir Vicar ul Umra Bahadur)Taj Falaknuma Palace at present
Falaknuma Palace has become Taj Falaknuma palace now. Taj hotels started renovating the palace in the year 2000 and restoring it without changing the architecture and keeping it just the way it was. The new renovated hotel came into existence in 2010. The rooms and the halls were decorated with beautiful ornate furniture , rich and hand made tapestries as well as brocade from France. They have splwendid interplay of chandeliers, intricate frescoes, rare artefacts, charming outdoor terraces, paintings etc. Durbar hall of the Falaknuma palace is embellished with intricately carved wooden ceilings, parquet flooring walnut furniture and handicrafted mirrors. How to Reach Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad
Taj Falaknuma Palace is located at just about 20 minutes drive from the airport at Hyderabad. You can reach Hyderabad from any of the cities in India. Since it is the capital city of the state of Andhra Pradesh, the city is easily accessible by flight, by rail or by road. The national highways passing through the area pass throughHyderabad and Secunderabad, its twin city. APSRTC buses ply through all the routes inside the city. You can also get cabs and autos to travel from one place to another. Contact Details of the Taj Falaknuma Palace
Falaknuma Palace
Engine Bowli, Falaknuma,
Hyderabad - 500 053
India
Tel: 040 6629 8585
Fax: 040 6629 8586
Email: falaknuma.hyderabad@tajhotels.com
