Over a hundred years later, the Falaknuma Palace, or ‘mirror in the sky’ in Urdu, is ready to welcome guests again. Used as a royal guest house by the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mehboob Ali Khan, and having received visitors including King Edward VIII and the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, the property has now been renovated and restored by the Taj Group as a hotel, which opened its doors this month.
Extensive restoration was carried out for ten years to bring the palace back to its original magnificence. The ornate inlaid furniture, the finest collection of jade, the rich handcrafted tapestries and brocades from France and intricate frescos with English, as well as Indian influences, together give the palace its distinct Baroque style.
An architectural gem, nestled amidst verdant and unique themed gardens, the palace, built in 1893, now offers a choice of 60 exquisite rooms and suites, including a grand presidential suite, two restaurants (Celeste, serving Italian and Mediterranean cuisine, and Adaa offering Indian fine dining), an outdoor pool and the signature Jiva Spa?all spread across 32 acres. These resplendent suites, which were once the private chambers of the Nizam, royal family and state guests, are beautifully detailed and complete with every modern comfort, from state-of-the-art amenities to a personal butler.
The guests are ferried on a ‘bagghi’ (horse carriage) and everything that is on offer is luxurious. ?The restoration work was challenging, but we paid attention to every single item,? says Mamta Singh, a Taj Group executive, adding, ?The whole idea is to give a glimpse of a day in the life of the Nizam.?
The palace called for about 800 people for the restoration works. Among the tough tasks was to get the original colour for the curtains, for which the yarn was dipped into dye about 300 times!
The palace boasts a bouquet of many firsts, amongst which are petrol pumps for a fleet of the finest vintage cars, original refrigerators by GE that have withstood the tests of time. A custom-designed, two-tonne musical orchestreone stands majestically beneath a dramatic cantilevered staircase, reminiscent of past glory.
Falaknuma also houses a large collection of rare treasures, including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and over 5,000 books in the library with a walnut carved roof, a replica of the one at Windsor Castle, and even an original book of the Titanic. The jade collection of the palace is considered to be unique in the world. The famed dining hall of the palace can seat 100 guests on its dining table.
?Guests can experience enchanting moments of luxury while reliving chapters from the lives of the Nizams,? says Ranjit Phillipose, GM, Taj Falaknuma Palace.
Everything, of course, also comes for a princely sum. The princely suite costs Rs 5 lakh per day and the next range starts from Rs 35,000 onwards per day.
Says Raymond Bickson, MD & CEO, Indian Hotels Company Ltd, ?Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces have established a legacy of being the first hospitality chain to acquire a host of authentic and magnificent palaces as part of our rich and esteemed collection. The Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad has been lovingly restored and enhanced and effortlessly fuses the old with the new, and tradition with modernity to create a luxury hotel.?
Taj Falaknuma Palace is an addition to the group’s other palace hotels, including the Taj Lake Palace, Umaid Bhawan Palace and Rambagh Palace in Rajasthan and the iconic Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai.
Passed on for generations like a precious jewel, Falaknuma Palace was the royal residence of Nizam Mehboob Ali Khan. It was built in 1893 by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra, the then prime minister of Hyderabad. An English architect designed the palace and the foundation stone was laid by Sir Vicar Ul Umra Bahadur on March 3, 1884. It took nine years to complete the construction and furnishing of the palace. Completely made with Italian marble, it covers a total area of 9,39,712 sq m.
The palace is laid out in the shape of a scorpion, with two appendages spread out as wings on the north. The middle part is occupied by the main building and the kitchen. Gol Bangla, Zenana Mehal and the harem quarters stretch to the south. The Falaknuma palace is a blend of Italian and Tudor architecture.
The Falaknuma was gifted to the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mehboob Ali Khan, by Nawab Sir Vikar-ul-Umra. The monogram VO, short form of Vikar-ul-Omra is throughout the palace, including the furniture. The Nizam VI in 1897 used the palace as a royal guest house as it had a commanding view of the entire city.
