Taj Falaknuma Palace truly justifies the quote ‘Live life King Size’. The palace converted to a hotel makes you the guest of the rulers of Hyderabad for the day. The hotel is not just a 5 star rated luxury hotel, but it is the place that makes you relive the Nizam’s era enjoying the riches and aristocracies of the Nizam. The palace was taken over by the Taj Group in 2000 to be converted to a hotel keeping the palatial style with the art and architecture intact.
Falaknuma, in Urdu refers to the ‘like the sky’ or ‘mirror of the sky’. The monument stands true to its name with a height of 2000 feet from Hyderabad. Spread on a 32 acre area, the Falaknuma palace spells old world charm like no other palace.
The palace has a history with it in terms of ownership. Nawab Vikar-Ul-Umra, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad along with Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Bahadur had started the construction of the palace in 1893. However, Sir Vikar took over the entire project and shifted to the place. Unfortunately the construction had been too expensive and he was ruined midway itself. Then coincidentally Mehboob Ali Pasha, Nizam VI showed his interest to own the property. The deal was finalized and the Nizam paid the entire amount since the construction started of the monument. The palace had been indeed a grand palace. But after the demise of the Nizam in 1951, the palace remained closed for and was finally given on a 30 year lease to the Taj Group in the year 2000 for a 50% profit. The palace remained closed for another 10 years for renovation and finally the transformed hotel was opened to the public in 2010.
Each and every room in the palace has its uniqueness in terms of the instruments and the decorative items contained therein. The ballroom has a manually operated unique organ weighing about 2 tons. The second piece of this does not exist. The dining table is yet another unique item with a length of 108 feet with a seating capacity of 101 people at a time. This room is designed in such a way that person saying something at one end of the table is audible to each and every seat on the other end of the table.
The chandeliers in the palace have their own worth. It has the maximum number of Venetian chandeliers numbering to 40. The electrical switchboard in the palace is the largest in India. The Billiards table put in here is the second piece of the one present in Buckingham Palace.
The present day hotel makes you relive the past. The horse drawn carriage rides to the gate, petal shower welcome to the finest of services, the grandest dining and the best suites makes you the guests of the Nawabs during your stay here. The services offered here are similar to those of the Nawabs to ensure that the Nawabi style isn’t lost.
Timings: 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM and 7:30 PM to 10:45 PM
Falaknuma Palace Entry Fee:
Entry will be only through Telangana Tourism.
NIZAM PALACES TOUR is for Half-a-day tour and open only on saturday’s and Sunday’s.
Price Details:
Tour A: Rs.3,100/ for Adult and Rs.2480/ for Childrens
Which Includes: Entry Tickets, Tea & Snacks, A/c Transport and a Guide.
Tour B: Rs.2,000/ for Adult and Rs.1,600/ for Child
Which Includes: Entry Ticket, Tea & Snacks, A/c Transport and a Guide.
Place 1 : Falaknuma Palace Tour will starts from Tourism Plaza Begumpet at 1:00 PM.
Place 2 : From Hotel Taj Krishna in Banjara Hills at 1:20 PM.
Place 3 : From Hotel Golconda in Masabtank at 1:45 PM.
2:30 PM arrive at Chowmahalla Palace (30 mins Tour)
4:00 PM arrive at Falaknuma Palace (90 mins Tour + Hi-tea)
6:45 PM arrive at Golconda Fort (75 mins with Sound & Light Show)
9:00 PM Tour ends – Drop at respective pick-up points.
Taj Falaknuma Palace Address:
Engine Bowli,
Falaknuma, Hyderabad,
Telangana 500053.
Phone:040 6629 8585