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Perched high above Hyderabad, Falaknuma Palace isn’t just a monument; it is a glimpse into royal life frozen in time.
Falaknuma Palace was built in 1893.
There is a place in Hyderabad that truly lives up to its name, Falaknuma, which means “like the sky.” Sitting high above the city, this palace stretches across 32 acres and is so vast that it is said to be five times larger than India’s Parliament House. It is not just a royal residence; it is a glimpse into another world, where every wall and hallway still carries whispers of history.
Built in 1893 by Nawab Sir Viqar-ul-Umra, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad, Falaknuma Palace was a dream that came at a steep price. Inspired by European architecture, the Nawab reportedly spent nearly Rs 4 lakh, a massive fortune at the time, and almost went bankrupt.
Luckily, when the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, visited, he was so impressed that he decided to buy the palace himself. From that moment, Falaknuma became a royal gem in Hyderabad’s skyline.
A Palace With Stories In Every Corner
From the top, the palace looks like a scorpion, a design said to represent power and protection. But it is what’s inside that leaves visitors speechless.
The grand staircase, Venetian chandeliers, and hand-painted ceilings make it feel like stepping back in time. Every room seems to echo with stories of royal feasts, laughter, and decisions that shaped an era.
One of the most remarkable rooms is the library, modelled after a Venetian castle. With walnut wood ceilings and over 6,000 books, it houses part of the Nizam’s personal collection, some dating back to 1801. Even more fascinating, the library still holds a record of every royal guest who ever visited.
The Dining Room That Hosted 101 Guests
The palace’s most famous spot is its dining room, home to the world’s largest dining table, 80 feet long and made from seven separate pieces of wood. It once seated 101 guests under glittering Belgian crystal chandeliers.
It is said the Nizam used paintings on the wall as his “menu,” pointing to the dish he wanted served. The hall was also built with such perfect acoustics that a whisper at one end could be heard clearly at the other.
Where Royal Music Still Echoes
Falaknuma Palace also houses one of only two manually operated pipe organs (hand-operated musical organs) in the world. Nearby stands a billiards table that is a replica of the one at Buckingham Palace, a reminder of how closely Hyderabad’s royalty matched European grandeur.
But perhaps the palace’s most magical moment comes when you step onto the round terrace. From there, the entire city of Hyderabad lies below, its lights twinkling like stars. It is easy to see why they called it Falaknuma, the palace that feels like it’s part of the sky.
Delhi, India, India
November 02, 2025, 18:21 IST
