Falaknuma Palace
Encyclopedia
Falaknuma Palace is one of the finest palaces in Hyderabad, India
belonging to the Paigah (Hyderabad) State
but later owned by the Nizam
s. It is located on a 32 acre, 19400 square meters area. It is located in Falaknuma, 5 km. from Charminar
was built by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra
, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad ( He was also Uncle and Brother in law of H.H. The Nizam VI,Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Bahadur). Falak-numa literally means "Like the Sky" or "Mirror of the Sky" in Urdu.
It is the only seven star hotel in india and is tipped to be the grandest of all palace hotels in India.
The palace was built in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread out as wings in the north. The middle part is occupied by the main building and the kitchen, Gol Bangla,Zenana mehal, and harem quarters stretch to the south. The Nawab was an avid traveller, and his 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 colour into the rooms.
, short form of Vikar ul Omra is seen on every part and the furniture of the palace.
The Falaknuma Palace was so costly to build, that even Sir Vicar Ul Umra had to borrow money to complete it and realized that he had gone beyond his means. His very intelligent wife, Lady Vicar ul umra, thought up of a solution and advised her husband to invite Mehboob Ali Pasha Nizam VI to the Palace. As anticipated, the Nizam liked the palace so much that he extended his stay and this prompted Sir Viqar to offer that if his sovereign liked the palace he would be honoured to give it to him. The Nizam liked the gesture but being the grand man he was, he had his treasurer send the entire amount spent on te palace to Sir Viqar, thus easing his paigah noble from a financial crunch.( ref "The days of the Beloved" Berkley University Press.)
The Nizam
VI in 1897 used the palace as a royal guest house as it had a commanding view of the entire city.
However, after being a celebration of royal living and playing host to royalty and dignitaries from all over the globe, the Falaknuma fell silent after the 1950s when the Nizam moved to his next abode. In fact, the last guest was the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad
in 1951. Piecing together Falaknuma’s past glory was perhaps the biggest challenge of the restoration. These came with other challenges like retaining the eclectic blend of Renaissance architecture, Baroque style, French charm, art deco sensibilities and various other inspirations that were woven into the décor of the palace, and yet retaining its true-blue Nizam flavour. From sourcing the perfect upholstery to redo the sofas and chairs, to choosing fresh drapes to match the taste of the Nizams, polishing the marble, repairing damaged pieces, recreating broken structures and blending in new wings and spaces to accommodate more rooms, extra landscape and additional restaurants – the restoration was extensive and the result perfect.
es and gilded relief's. The ballroom
contains a two-ton manually operated organ said to be the only one of its kind in the world.
The palace has as many as 220 lavishly decorated rooms and 22 spacious halls. It has some of the finest treasures collections of the Nizam. Falaknuma houses a large collection of rare treasures including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books.
The Jade collection
of the Palace is considered to be unique in the world.
The famed dining hall of the palace could seat 100 guests on its dining table. The furniture was very aesthetic. The chairs were made of carved rosewood with green leather upholstery. The tableware was made of gold and crystal to which fluted music was added.
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 Quran in India.
The ground floor of the palace housed the living quarters. A marbled staircase leads to the upper floor. It has carved balustrades, which supports marble figurines with candelabra
at intervals.
There is a billiards room.Burroughs and Watts from England designed two identical tables. One found its way to the Buckingham Palace
and the other is right here, at the Falaknuma Palace.
On the walls of the landing are excellent oil paintings of (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) Nawab Sultan ul Mulk Bahadur, Amir e Paigah 1902-1949(Eldest son of Sir Vicar ul Umra Bahadur)(6) H.E Nawab Sir Salar Jung I Prime minister of Hyderabad 1853-1883 (7) Maharaja Narain Pershad Narainder Bahadur Raja e Rajayan, Peshkar and photographs of notable personages forming a very interesting historical picture gallery which adds greatly to the imposing effect of the staircase.
The Falaknuma palace has other unique things to its credit. It includes the largest collection of Venetian
chandelier
s. 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 telephone and electrical system was introduced in 1883 by Osler
and the palace has one of the largest electrical switchboards in India.
Since the palace was the private property of the Nizam family until recently, visitors weren't allowed. Occasionally, however, the venue is opened for public.
started renovating and restoring it. The new renovated hotel was opened in November, 2010. The rooms and halls were decorated with ornate furniture, rich handcrafted tapestries and brocade from France
. The interiors are a splendid interplay of Venetian
chandeliers and intricate frescos, and have charming outdoor terraces, and a treasure of rare artefacts,including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The palace also has a 101-seat dining hall, considered the largest in the world, and the Durbar Hall, embellished with intricately carved wooden ceilings, parquet flooring, regal walnut wood furniture and handcrafted mirrors.
The exquisite carpets were dyed as many as 300 times to match the colour of the now withered carpet that the Nizam of Hyderabad laid their feet on. The sparkling cutlery at the exclusive 101-seater dining table was specially crafted after peering into ancient photographs of the Nizam’s dining extravagance. And the exterior walls were painted 15 times before the perfect shade of grey could be chosen to resemble the sky.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
belonging to the Paigah (Hyderabad) State
Hyderabad State
-After Indian independence :When India gained independence in 1947 and Pakistan came into existence in 1947, the British left the local rulers of the princely states the choice of whether to join one of the new dominions or to remain independent...
but later owned by the Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
s. It is located on a 32 acre, 19400 square meters area. It is located in Falaknuma, 5 km. from Charminar
Charminar
Charminar built in 1591 AD, is a landmark monument located in Hyderabad, India. The two words Char Minar of Urdu language are combined to which it is known as Charminar . These are four ornate minarets attached and supported by four grand arches, it has become the global icon of Hyderabad and is...
was built by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra
Sir Vicar-ul-Umra
Sir Viqar ul-Umara, Iqtidar ul-Mulk, Iqbal ud Dowla, Secundar Jung, Nawab Muhammad Fazl ud-din Khan Bahadur, served as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad from 1893 to 1901 and Amir e Paigah 1881 to 1902....
, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad ( He was also Uncle and Brother in law of H.H. The Nizam VI,Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Bahadur). Falak-numa literally means "Like the Sky" or "Mirror of the Sky" in Urdu.
It is the only seven star hotel in india and is tipped to be the grandest of all palace hotels in India.
Design
An English architect designed this palace and the foundation for the construction was laid by H.E. Sir Vicar Ul Umra Bahadur on March 3rd 1884. It took 9 years to complete the construction and furnish the Palace. Sir Vicar moved into the Gol Bangla and Zanana Mahel of The Falaknuma Palace in December 1889 and closely monitored the finishing work at the Mardana Portion of Falaknuma. It is made completely with Italian marble and covers a total area of 93,971sqm.The palace was built in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread out as wings in the north. The middle part is occupied by the main building and the kitchen, Gol Bangla,Zenana mehal, and harem quarters stretch to the south. The Nawab was an avid traveller, and his 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 colour into the rooms.
History
Amir e Paigah Sir Vicar Ul Umra (Prime minister of Hyderabad and Berar) used this Palace as his private residence till it changed owners and the palace was handed over to H.H.The 6th Nizam of Hyderabad in ~1897-1898. Sir Vicar ul Umra or Sir Vikar UL Oomra apart from being the Prime Minister of Hyderabad was also the Amir of Paigah and was the meternal grandson of H.H. The Nizam III Nawab Sikandar Jah Bahadur. He was married to H.H Nizam VI Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan's older sister Princess Jahandarunnisa Begam Sahiba also known as Lady Vicar ul Umra.( The monograme VOVO
VO can refer to:* Austrian Arrows' IATA code* Data transfer object, formerly known as Value Object* Seagram's VO Whiskey* Vanadium oxide, an inorganic compound* Velocity obstacle* Virtual organization...
, short form of Vikar ul Omra is seen on every part and the furniture of the palace.
The Falaknuma Palace was so costly to build, that even Sir Vicar Ul Umra had to borrow money to complete it and realized that he had gone beyond his means. His very intelligent wife, Lady Vicar ul umra, thought up of a solution and advised her husband to invite Mehboob Ali Pasha Nizam VI to the Palace. As anticipated, the Nizam liked the palace so much that he extended his stay and this prompted Sir Viqar to offer that if his sovereign liked the palace he would be honoured to give it to him. The Nizam liked the gesture but being the grand man he was, he had his treasurer send the entire amount spent on te palace to Sir Viqar, thus easing his paigah noble from a financial crunch.( ref "The days of the Beloved" Berkley University Press.)
The Nizam
Nizam
Nizam-ul-Mulk of Hyderabad popularly known as Nizams of Hyderabad was a former monarchy of the Hyderabad State, now in the states of Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , and Maharashtra in India...
VI in 1897 used the palace as a royal guest house as it had a commanding view of the entire city.
However, after being a celebration of royal living and playing host to royalty and dignitaries from all over the globe, the Falaknuma fell silent after the 1950s when the Nizam moved to his next abode. In fact, the last guest was the first President of India, Dr Rajendra Prasad
Rajendra Prasad
Dr. Rajendra Prasad was an Indian politician and educator. He was one of the architects of the Indian Republic, having drafted its first constitution and serving as the first president of independent India...
in 1951. Piecing together Falaknuma’s past glory was perhaps the biggest challenge of the restoration. These came with other challenges like retaining the eclectic blend of Renaissance architecture, Baroque style, French charm, art deco sensibilities and various other inspirations that were woven into the décor of the palace, and yet retaining its true-blue Nizam flavour. From sourcing the perfect upholstery to redo the sofas and chairs, to choosing fresh drapes to match the taste of the Nizams, polishing the marble, repairing damaged pieces, recreating broken structures and blending in new wings and spaces to accommodate more rooms, extra landscape and additional restaurants – the restoration was extensive and the result perfect.
The Palace
One of the highlight's of the palace is the state reception room, whose ceiling is decorated with frescoFresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es and gilded relief's. The ballroom
Ballroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
contains a two-ton manually operated organ said to be the only one of its kind in the world.
The palace has as many as 220 lavishly decorated rooms and 22 spacious halls. It has some of the finest treasures collections of the Nizam. Falaknuma houses a large collection of rare treasures including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books.
The Jade collection
Jade
Jade is an ornamental stone.The term jade is applied to two different metamorphic rocks that are made up of different silicate minerals:...
of the Palace is considered to be unique in the world.
The famed dining hall of the palace could seat 100 guests on its dining table. The furniture was very aesthetic. The chairs were made of carved rosewood with green leather upholstery. The tableware was made of gold and crystal to which fluted music was added.
The palace has a library with a walnut carved roof, a replica of the one at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. The library had one of the finest collections of the Quran in India.
The ground floor of the palace housed the living quarters. A marbled staircase leads to the upper floor. It has carved balustrades, which supports marble figurines with candelabra
Candelabra
"Candelabra" is the traditional term for a set of multiple decorative candlesticks, each of which often holds a candle on each of multiple arms or branches connected to a column or pedestal...
at intervals.
There is a billiards room.Burroughs and Watts from England designed two identical tables. One found its way to the Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace, in London, is the principal residence and office of the British monarch. Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality...
and the other is right here, at the Falaknuma Palace.
On the walls of the landing are excellent oil paintings of (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) Nawab Sultan ul Mulk Bahadur, Amir e Paigah 1902-1949(Eldest son of Sir Vicar ul Umra Bahadur)(6) H.E Nawab Sir Salar Jung I Prime minister of Hyderabad 1853-1883 (7) Maharaja Narain Pershad Narainder Bahadur Raja e Rajayan, Peshkar and photographs of notable personages forming a very interesting historical picture gallery which adds greatly to the imposing effect of the staircase.
The Falaknuma palace has other unique things to its credit. It includes the largest collection of Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
chandelier
Chandelier
A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights. Chandeliers are often ornate, containing dozens of lamps and complex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light...
s. 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 telephone and electrical system was introduced in 1883 by Osler
Osler
Osler may refer to:*A. Follett Osler, Birmingham meteorologist and chronologist*Bennie Osler South African rugby union footballer*Edmund Boyd Osler ,...
and the palace has one of the largest electrical switchboards in India.
Since the palace was the private property of the Nizam family until recently, visitors weren't allowed. Occasionally, however, the venue is opened for public.
Renovation into luxury hotel
In 2000 Taj HotelsTaj Hotels
Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is a worldwide chain of hotels and resorts. A part of the Tata Group, one of India's largest business conglomerates, Taj Hotels Resort and Palaces own and operate 76 hotels, 7 palaces, serviced apartments, 6 private islands and 12 resorts and spas, spanning 52...
started renovating and restoring it. The new renovated hotel was opened in November, 2010. The rooms and halls were decorated with ornate furniture, rich handcrafted tapestries and brocade from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The interiors are a splendid interplay of Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
chandeliers and intricate frescos, and have charming outdoor terraces, and a treasure of rare artefacts,including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The palace also has a 101-seat dining hall, considered the largest in the world, and the Durbar Hall, embellished with intricately carved wooden ceilings, parquet flooring, regal walnut wood furniture and handcrafted mirrors.
The exquisite carpets were dyed as many as 300 times to match the colour of the now withered carpet that the Nizam of Hyderabad laid their feet on. The sparkling cutlery at the exclusive 101-seater dining table was specially crafted after peering into ancient photographs of the Nizam’s dining extravagance. And the exterior walls were painted 15 times before the perfect shade of grey could be chosen to resemble the sky.