Forts and Palaces of Hyderabad

Falaknuma Palace

Introduction : Located about 5 Kilometers from Charminar, the Falaknuma Palace is well known for its architecture and for housing the largest Venetian chandeliers. The Palace has 40 beautiful Venetian chandeliers. Often referred to as the Mirror of the Sky, the Falaknuma Palace is 2000 feet tall.

Description of Falaknuma Palace : Covering an area of 9,39,712 square meters, the Falaknuma Palace is designed by a famous Italian architect who combined Italian and Tudor architecture to build a marvelous piece of art.

The palace is shaped like a scorpion with two stings stretching outwards. The main building of the palace in located at the centre while the kitchen and the harem are built in the southern parts.

The stained glass windows, a library with a special walnut carved roof, the Venetian chandeliers, the carved rosewood furniture and the green leather upholstery combines to make the Falaknuma Palace a grand example of an extraordinary monument of Hyderabad.

The marbled staircase leads to the upper floors of the palace where the ceilings are carved with frescos. The two ton organ in the ball room is a special feature of the Falaknuma Palace.

Golconda Fort

Once the name Golconda was synonymous with diamonds and extraordinary wealth. The fame of its diamond mines was legendary and some of the greatest diamonds in history - the Kohinoor, the Darya-i-noor were mined here. Today extensive ruins of Golconda bear witness to the engineering genius of the Qutb Shahi builders. The ramparts of citadel were built of enormous stones some of which weighed many tonnes. The fort was guarded by a marvelous signaling system and a clap at the gate, the Fateh Darwaza could be heard at the top of the fort in the Darbar hall. An ingenious water supply system carried water up the hill to the citadel.

Qutb Shahi Tombs

The royal cemetery of the Qutub Shahi kings lies about 2 Kms. from the Golconda Fort. Landscaped gardens surround these graceful structures and every arch, dome and gallery speak of Qutb Shahi architectural excellence.

Amidst beautifully laid out gardens of Ibrahim Bagh there are seven tombs, erected in memory of the departed kings of Golconda called as Qutub Shahi Tombs. They are magnificent monuments of architectural excellence and stand as solemn reminders of the grandeur and glory of Golconda and the great kings who are buried here. The unique feature of this place is nowhere in the world are there so many tombs in one place.