{{short description|Palace in Hyderabad, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Use Indian English|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox Historic building | name = Falaknuma Palace | image = Falaknuma Palace 01.jpg | image_size = 300px | caption = Falaknuma Palace northern view | pushpin_map_alt = A map showing location of Hyderabad in Telangana, India. | pushpin_map = India Hyderabad | map_caption = Location in Hyderabad, Telangana | pushpin_mapsize = 300 | pushpin_label = Falaknuma Palace | coordinates = {{coord|17.3305|N|78.4675|E|display=inline}} | location = Hyderabad, India | owner = Azmet Jah | cost = {{INR|4 million|link=yes}} | operator = Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces | architect = William Ward Marrett<ref>{{cite web|title=Falaknuma palace|year=1884|url=http://dome.mit.edu/handle/1721.3/36809|access-date=3 March 2015|last1=Bahadur|first1=Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra}}</ref> | opening_date = 1 Nov 2010<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.luxurytravelmagazine.com/news-articles/taj-falaknuma-palace-hyderabad-opens|title=Taj Falaknuma Palace Hyderabad Opens November 1, 2010}}</ref> (as a hotel) <br /> 1893 (as a palace) | client = | engineer = | construction_start_date = 3 March 1884 | completion_date = {{start date and age| 1893}} | status = Adapted to a luxury hotel }}
'''Falaknuma''' is a palace and a luxury hotel in Hyderabad, Telangana, India.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/Falaknuma-Palace-Turning-the-pages-of-history/article17366606.ece|title=Falaknuma Palace: Turning the pages of history|last=Borah|first=Prabalika M.|date=2017-02-25|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-10|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> It originally belonged to the Paigah family, and was later owned by the Nizam of Hyderabad.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/affairsstate/417064/ |title=Affairs of state |newspaper=Business Standard India |date=4 December 2010 |publisher=Business-standard.com |access-date=2012-12-20}}</ref> It is on a hillock and covers a {{convert|32|acre|adj=on|order=flip}} area in Falaknuma, {{convert|5|km}} from Charminar.
Built by Nawab Sir Viqar-ul-Umra, Prime Minister of Hyderabad state and the uncle and brother-in-law of the sixth Nizam.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://hyderabad.clickindia.com/travel/falaknumapalace.html|title = Falaknuma Palace |author = Mohammed Azam Pasha |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080316040430/http://hyderabad.clickindia.com/travel/falaknumapalace.html |archive-date = 16 March 2008 |df = dmy}}</ref> ''Falak-numa'' means "Like the Sky" or "Mirror of Sky" in Urdu.<ref name=":1" /> At the time of its completion in 1893, it was the tallest building in Hyderabad.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-21 |title=Largest Indian Palaces |url=https://www.indiatodayne.in/visualstories/webstories/largest-indian-palaces-180815-21-10-2024 |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=www.indiatodayne.in |language=en}}</ref>
The palace post renovation carried out in 2010 today is a part of Taj Group and has been renamed as '''Taj Faluknama Palace'''. ==Design== <!--Its stained glass windows throw a spectrum of colour into the rooms.(Can be added back, but needs rewording--> An English architect William Ward Marret designed the palace. It is made completely with Italian marble with stained-glass windows.
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 this reflects in the architecture, which combines Italian and Tudor influences.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
The Palace has a library with a carved walnut roof, a replica of the one at Windsor Castle. The library had one of the finest collection of the Quran in India. The ground floor of the Palace housed the living quarters. A marble staircase leads to the upper floor. It has carved balustrades, which support marble figurines with candelabra at intervals.
One of the highlights of the Palace is the State Reception Room, where the ceiling is decorated with frescoes and gilded reliefs. The Ballroom contains a 2-ton manually operated organ, said to be the only one of its kind in the world. The palace has 60 lavishly decorated rooms and 22 spacious halls. It has some of the finest collections of the Nizam’s treasures, including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The jade collection at the Palace is considered to be unique in the world.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
==History== [[File:Falaknuma 1900.jpg|thumb|Falaknuma Palace, photographed by Lala Deen Dayal in 1900.|alt=|left]] The entrance to the Palace|thumb|left Sir Viqar-ul-Umra, the Prime Minister of Hyderabad, after a visit to Europe, decided to build a European styled residence for himself. The foundation stone for the construction was laid by Sir Vicar on 3 March 1884. It took nine 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 1890 and closely monitored the finishing work at the ''Mardana'' portion.
He used the palace as his private residence until the palace was handed over to the 6th Nizam of Hyderabad around 1897–1898.
The palace was built and furnished at a cost of {{INRConvert|4|m|year=1890|lk=r}}, which necessitated borrowing money from the Bank of Bengal. In the spring of 1897, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan was invited to stay at the palace. He extended his stay to a week, then a fortnight, and then a month, which prompted Sir Viqar to offer it to him. The Nizam accepted but paid some of the value of the palace.
The Nizam used the palace as a guest house for the royal guests visiting the kingdom of Hyderabad. The list of royal visitors included King George V, Queen Mary, Edward VIII and Tsar Nicholas II.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/feb/20/taj-falaknuma-palace-nizam|title=Jewel in the crown: a palace fit for a Nizam|date=20 Feb 2011|work=The Guardian|access-date=8 June 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/nizam-and-his-diamond-paper-weight/article22815646.ece|title=The story of a Hyderabad Nizam and his diamond paper weight|last=Seshan|first=K. S. S.|date=2018-02-21|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-10-19|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The palace fell into disuse after the 1950s. The last important guest was the President of India, Rajendra Prasad, in 1951.<ref name=":1" />
The palace was then restored after being leased by the Taj Group of Hotels. The restoration, which began in 2000, took ten years, and was managed by Princess Esra, the first wife of Mukarram Jah. Now, the hotel is again used to host guests in Hyderabad, such as Aga Khan IV, Ivanka Trump and Narendra Modi.
==Palace architecture== thumb|right|The reception room of the Palace. One of the highlights of the palace is the state reception room, where the ceiling is decorated with frescoes. The ballroom contains a two-ton manually operated organ said to be the only one of its kind in the world <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/hyderabad-s-falaknuma-palace-where-pm-modi-ivanka-trump-will-dine-10-points-1780669|title=All About Hyderabad's Falaknuma Palace Where PM Modi, Ivanka Trump Will Dine|last=Taneja|first=Richa|date=27 November 2017|work=NDTV|access-date=7 June 2018}}</ref> The palace has 60 rooms and 22 halls. It has considerable collections of the Nizam's artifacts including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts, books, an extensive jade collection, and the largest collection of Venetian chandeliers, with 40 138-arm Osler chandeliers in the halls.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.tourism-of-india.com/falaknuma-palace.html | work=tourism-of-india | title= Architecture of Falaknuma Palace | access-date =7 June 2018}}</ref>
The dining hall can seat 101 guests.<ref name=":1" /> The chairs are made of carved rosewood with green leather upholstery.
It has a library with a carved walnut roof, a replica of the one at Windsor Castle. The library houses more than five thousand books. It has an extensive collection of English, Urdu and Persian books as well as copies of the Quran, and rare first editions.<ref name=":0" />
thumb|right|The dining hall
Burroughs and Watts from England designed two identical billiards tables, one of which is in Buckingham Palace and the other in the palace's billiards room.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/taj-falaknuma-palace-review-one-with-the-sky-one-with-royalty/article23029712.ece|title=Taj Falaknuma Palace review - One with the sky, one with royalty|last=Mamotra|first=Anyushi|date=2011-01-24|work=The Hindu Business Line|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190208112815/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/taj-falaknuma-palace-review-one-with-the-sky-one-with-royalty/article23029712.ece|archive-date=2019-02-08|url-status=live}}</ref>
The palace was the private property of the Nizam family, and not normally open to the public, until 2000.
== Renovation into a luxury hotel == In 2000, Taj Hotels started renovating and restoring the palace.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_ratan-tata-to-meet-k-rosaiah-on-november-7_1460400 |title=Ratan Tata to meet K Rosaiah on November 7 – Money – DNA |publisher=Dnaindia.com |date=2010-10-31 |access-date=2012-12-20}}</ref> The renovated hotel was opened in November 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cook |first=Sharell |title=Falaknuma Palace Hyderabad Opens as a Luxury Taj Hotel |url=http://goindia.about.com/b/2010/11/09/falaknuma-palace-hyderabad-open-as-a-luxury-taj-hotel.htm |access-date=9 November 2010 |archive-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105000145/http://goindia.about.com/b/2010/11/09/falaknuma-palace-hyderabad-open-as-a-luxury-taj-hotel.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20101114/main6.htm |title=Regal splendour & luxury at Rs 5 lakh a night! | first=Suresh | last=Dharur | newspaper=The Tribune | location=Chandigarh, India |access-date=23 September 2019}}</ref>
==In popular culture== * Scenes of films like Radhe Shyam, K.G.F: Chapter 2 and Sikandar were shot inside Falaknuma Palace.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/prabhas-shoots-for-radhe-shyam-at-falaknuma-palace-in-hyderabad-1756413-2021-01-06|title=Prabhas shoots for Radhe Shyam at Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/telugu/movies/news/radhe-shyam-shooting-of-prabhas-starrer-at-falaknuma-palace-teaser-on-the-way/articleshow/80114495.cms|title='Radhe Shyam': Shooting of Prabhas starrer at Falaknuma Palace, teaser on the way|newspaper=The Times of India |date=5 January 2021 }}</ref><ref>https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/news/sikandar-salman-khan-poses-at-hyderabads-falaknuma-palace-during-shoot-bigg-boss-contestant-arun-mashettey-shares-inside-pic-1357751</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * [http://www.smh.com.au/travel/touched-by-royalty-20101206-18m2u.html Sydney Morning Herald article] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20150216052453/http://www.tajhotels.com/luxury/grand-palaces-and-iconic-hotels/taj-falaknuma-palace-hyderabad/overview.html Taj Falaknuma] * [https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2011/feb/20/taj-falaknuma-palace-nizam Nizam used to have enough pearls to pave Piccadilly] {{Hyderabad topics}} {{coord|17.330955|78.467504|type:landmark_region:IN|display=title}}
Category:Hyderabad State Category:Heritage structures in Hyderabad, India Category:Royal residences in India Category:Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces Category:Heritage hotels in India Category:Hotels established in 2010 Category:Tourist attractions in Hyderabad, India Category:Houses completed in 1889 Category:Hotels in Hyderabad Category:Palaces of Nizams of Hyderabad Category:Neoclassical architecture in India Category:Palaces of Paigah of Hyderabad