Taj Falaknuma Palace

Sir Viqar-ul-Umra, Prime Minister of Hyderabad, built Falaknuma Palace starting in 1884 (foundation stone March 3) and completed in 1893. Designed by British architect William Ward Marret, the palace is constructed entirely in Italian marble with stained-glass windows. It was the tallest building in Hyderabad upon completion. The palace was initially a private residence; in 1897, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad (Mir Mahbub Ali Khan) was invited to stay and eventually took ownership. Royal guests included King George V, Queen Mary, Edward VIII, and Tsar Nicholas II. After the 1950s, it fell into disuse until 2000, when restoration began under Princess Esra, the first wife of Mukarram Jah. The ten-year renovation (completed 2010) preserved the original architectural language—the Ballroom contains a 2-ton manually operated organ, said to be one of its kind. The hotel has 60 lavishly decorated rooms and 22 grand halls. It is filled with Nizam treasures: paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts, books. The palace sits on a hill overlooking the old city; views from the terraces are unobstructed. Peak season October–March; book early for suites with Nizam-era furnishings.