It took 10 years of painstaking restoration efforts to convert the 19th century palace into an exclusive luxury hotel by Taj Group of hotels.
Built in 1893, Falaknuma Palace, which means “mirror in the sky” in Urdu, is a majestic blend of Italian and Tudor architecture. The scorpion-shaped, all-marble majestic structure is located on the banks of Musi river, about five kms from the historic Charminar. It was the royal residence of Nizam Mehboob Ali Khan.
An ultimate symbol of royalty and opulence, the palace was bought over by Taj Group of Hotels and restored to its past glory. The super luxury hotel, with 60 rooms, will be thrown open to customers on November 13, offering them a glimpse of the regal lifestyle.
The grand presidential suite at the hotel will cost Rs 5 lakh per night, making it the most expensive palace hotel in the country. The suite will take you back in time and make you feel like relaxing in the private chambers of the Nizam, sitting in the splendid Durbar Hall that once hosted guests like King George V and Czar Nicholas II.
The other rooms come with a price tag of Rs 33,000
per day, plus taxes.
“We have ensured that it will be the experience of a lifetime as guests can experience enchanting moments of luxury while reliving chapters from the lives
of the Nizams,” said Ranjit Phillipose, General Manager, Taj Falaknuma Palace. The rooms and halls are decorated with ornate furniture, rich handcrafted tapestries and brocade from France. The interiors are a splendid interplay of Venetian chandeliers and intricate frescos, and have charming outdoor terraces, and a treasure of rare artefacts,including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books.
The palace also has a 101-seat dining hall, considered the largest in the world, and the Durbar Hall, embellished with intricately carved wooden ceilings, parquet flooring, regal walnut wood furniture and handcrafted mirrors.
“The palace was in a state of disuse. It took us nearly ten years to restore it to its past glory. We paid attention to every single item,” Phillipose said.
From the zanana wing for ladies to the gossip room - where the Nizam used to discuss the day's events with his family - every nook and corner of the palace has its own history. The Nizam's writing
table, for instance, has a priceless Jacob diamond, which was once used as a paperweight.
The Nizam's breakfast room has been converted into a conference room, an oasis of modernity in the century-old palace.
The two halls in the 'Gole bungalow' have been transformed into restaurants serving Italian, Indian and Mediterranean cuisine, perhaps in deference to the architectural inspirations of the building.
Though it is the fourth palace in the country which the Taj Group has converted to a luxury hotel, executives say Falaknuma stands out for its exclusive splendour and majesty.
It was Nawab Vaqar-ul-Umra, the Nizam's prime minister, who built the palace. Impressed by its magnificence, the Nizam bought it for himself.
Spread over 35 acres, the palace has many firsts to its name. It had the country's first GE refrigerator, first electrical switch board,
first telephone exchange, first petrol pump, and first attached bathroom. Princess Esra Birgin, the first wife of Mukarram Jah, thescion of the Nizam family, played a key role in the restoration of the palace.
Apart from 60 exquisite rooms and suites, the hotel offers an outdoor pool and the signature Jiva Spa of manicured gardens.
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.From the moment they arrive at the hotel’s main entrance, the guests are given royal treatment. They are ferried on a “bagghi” (horse carriage).
"Everything that we offer is luxury. The idea is to give a glimpse of a day in the life of Nizam," says an executive of the hotel.
