Falaknuma Palace
The Historic Falaknuma Palace is one of the prestigious assets the city of Hyderabad has. It was originally build by the Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra of Hyderabad State, which was ruled by the Nizams from 1724 till 1948. The palace initially built with a cost of 40 lakhs in 1890 was used as the private residence of Sir Vicar before he handed it over to the 6th Nizam in 1897-98. The word Falak-numa in Urdu means ‘Mirror of the Sky’
The palace which was designed by an English man had a lot of planning and struggle that it underwent before it emerged out this wonderful piece of architect we see it today. It is a fine blend of the Italian and Tudor architecture.
Here know some of the jaw dropping features the palace posses and the amazing history attached to it.
1. It took a total 9 years to complete this marvellous palace.
2. It has the largest collection of Venetian Chandeliers. The number goes upto 40 Osler chandeliers in the halls.
3. Having one of the finest collection of Quran, the palace has a library with a carved walnut roof. A replica of the library at Windsor Castle.
4. Two identical billiards table have been designed Burroughs and Watts from England. One is in the billiards room here at Falaknuma and the other at Buckingham Palace.
5. This palace has one of the largest electrical switchboards in India. It was in 1883 when telephone and electrical system was introduced by Osler.
6. The ballroom contains a two-ton manually operated organ said to be the only one of its kind in the world.
7. The 101 dining room with 101 chairs is said to be the world’s longest dining table.
8. The last important guest to this palace before it went silent and then for a renovation in 2000 was the President of India, Rajendra Prasad.
9. It was in the year 2000, Taj group of hotels took over the renovation and restoring the palace. It was reopened in 2010 – A time that it almost took to build it.
10. Until 2000, the palace was not opened to the public as it was a private property of the Nizams.
