Description of the attraction
Falaknum Palace was built in 1884 by order of Nawab-ul-Ulmar, who was the Prime Minister of Hyderabad at the time. The construction lasted 9 years, and cost Nawab-ul-Ulmar a fortune, therefore, on the advice of his wife, Lady Vikar ul Umra, he transferred it in 1897 to the ownership of Nizam VI Mehbob Ali Pasha, who made this place a kind of guest center for high-ranking officials, royals and honorary foreign delegations. But after the Nizam left Hyderabad, the palace was practically not used.
Located in the old town, the building with the surrounding area covers an area of about 13 hectares. Two styles were embodied in the architecture of the palace - the Italian Renaissance and the Tudor style, and in its shape the building resembles a scorpion. The decoration of the palace is made entirely of Italian white marble, the windows are decorated with stained glass, the halls are replete with columns, arches, carved borders and frescoes, and the upper tier of Falaknum is strewn with elegant turrets under the domes. The number of palace rooms reaches 220, and in addition there are 22 large halls.
Translated from Urdu, "falaknuma" means "mirror of the sky", and this name is by no means accidental. The dazzling white palace with many decorative details looks light and airy, like clouds.
Since 2000, Falaknum Palace has undergone restoration, and since 2010 it has become one of the upscale hotels of the Taj Hotels and Resorts chain. The owners decided not to make significant changes either to the architectural ensemble or to the interior. Therefore, all the originality and splendor of the "Mirror of Heaven" have been preserved. Although new furniture was purchased and some decor was added, including expensive paintings and luxurious hand-made tapestries, Falaknum still remains a cultural and historical monument, as well as a true architectural masterpiece.
