Hyderabad’s Falaknuma Palace is quite literally a palace that reaches for the sky. Falaknuma means “like the sky”, and the palace was built high above the city as one man’s wildly ambitious attempt to bring a slice of Europe to Hyderabad. We got to explore the full story in our latest episode of The Palaces Of India, and here’s why this magnificent palace is more than just a royal residence.
The Dream Behind Falaknuma Palace In Hyderabad
The man behind it was Nawab Sir Viqar-ul-Umra, the Prime Minister of Hyderabad and a member of the Paigah family. After travelling through Europe, he returned impressed by its grand palaces and architecture. And instead of simply admiring them, he decided to build one of his own.
So, in 1884, construction began. And it started as a dream, but soon became an expensive obsession. It took nearly 10 years to complete Falaknuma, and the cost reportedly climbed to around ₹40 lakh–which was a massive amount back then. The more the palace grew, the deeper Viqar-ul-Umra sank into debt.
Then, enter the Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan.
At the time, the Nizam was one of the most powerful and wealthy rulers in India. Hyderabad had its own currency and railway, and the Nizam had the kind of wealth that made a ₹40-lakh palace possible.
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When The Nizam Of Hyderabad Arrived As A Guest
In 1897, Viqar-ul-Umra invited the Nizam to Falaknuma. The Nizam arrived as a guest and was so taken by the palace that his visit kept getting extended. Days turned into weeks, because apparently, once you entered Falaknuma, leaving was easier said than done.
The Nizam eventually acquired the palace from Viqar-ul-Umra, helping ease the financial burden that had followed its construction.
And that is how Falaknuma found its royal owner.
The palace that began with one man’s European-inspired dream, consumed 10 years and ₹40 lakh, and nearly drowned him in debt, ended up becoming a favourite residence of the very man who had first walked through its doors as a guest.
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Some palaces are built for royalty, but Falaknuma was built by a dreamer and accidentally found its way to one.
Cover Image Courtesy: Internal
FAQs
Who built Falaknuma Palace?
Falaknuma Palace was built by Nawab Sir Viqar-ul-Umra, a Prime Minister of Hyderabad and member of the Paigah family.