About Falaknuma Palace
The city of Hyderabad is replete with imposing monuments which give a
clue to the rich historical background of the land. It also boasts of
the magnificent palaces like the Falaknuma palace, the Chowmohalla palace
and the Purani Haveli.
Among these, the Falaknuma palace is a remarkable edifice which stands
atop a 200 feet high hillock. It is located 5 kms from Charminar. Built
by Nawab Vikar-Ul-Ulmara, the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, it is a stupendous
palace and connotes the "heavenly abode".
It is believed that the Falaknuma palace was gifted to the sixth Nizam
of Hyderabad, Mehboob Ali Khan by the generous Nawab. The palace was
constructed over a period of seven years and it covers a total area
of 9,39,712 square meters.
A majesty testimony to the glory of the Nizams, it stands atop a hill
2000 feet high. It has often been referred to as the 'Mirror of the
Sky'. The palace was designed by a Italian architect and follows a western
architectural style. Falaknuma houses a large collection of rare treasures
collected by the Nizam including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts
and books
The palace is laid out in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread
out as wings on the north. The middle part is occupied by the main building
and the kitchen and harem quarters stretch to the south. The Nawab being
an avid traveller, various influences show on the palace architecture.
The Falaknuma palace is a rare blend of Italian and Tudor architecture.
Its glass stained windows throw a spectrum of colors into the rooms.
The palace has a library with a walnut carved roof, a replica of the
one at Windsor Castle. The library had one of the finest collections
of the holy Quran in India.
The Falaknuma palace has other unique things to its credit. It includes
the largest Venetian chandeliers. It is said that it took six months
to clean a 138-arm Osler chandelier and the palace has 40 such chandeliers
adorning the halls ! The famed dining hall of the palace could seat
100 guests on a single table. The furniture is also very aesthetic.
The chairs are carved rosewood with green leather upholstery. The tableware
was made of gold and crystal to which fluted music was added. The telephone
and electrical system was introduced in 1883 by Osler and the palace
has one of the largest electrical switchboards in India.
The ground floor of the palace houses the living quarters. The marbled
staircase leads to the upper floor. It has carved balustrades which
supports marble figures with candelabra at intervals. The ceiling of
the reception room in the upper floor is carved with frescoes bordered
with gilded relief. This floor offers a panoramic view of the city.
The ballroom contains a two-ton manually operated organ said to be
the only one of its kind in the world. This apart the palace has as
many as 220 lavishly decorated rooms and 22 spacious halls. The palace
has some of the finest treasures collected by the Nizam. However, the
palace has proved to be fatal to those who have resided there for a
long period. The scorpion-like structure is believed to be the cause
of all deaths.
Prior permission is required to visit this palace. And a visit to the
Falaknuma palace is an awe-inspiring experience !
North
India States
