Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad (must see)

Falaknuma Palace stands on a hill and reflects the wealth, ambition, and technical curiosity of the Nizam era. Its name means “Mirror of the Sky,” and its elevated setting gave it wide views over the surrounding landscape. Built for Nawab Sir Viqar-ul-Umra, the palace follows a scorpion-shaped plan, with long wings extending like pincers.

The palace combines Italian Renaissance and Victorian influences with local craftsmanship. Its marble staircases, carved furniture, painted ceilings, Venetian chandeliers, and mirrored halls were designed for formal receptions and royal guests. In the Grand Ballroom, large mirrors placed opposite one another multiply the reflection of the chandeliers, creating the illusion of a long glowing corridor. The ballroom also contains a rare two-ton manually operated organ, custom-built in England.

The dining hall is one of the palace’s best-known spaces. Its 108-foot table can seat 101 guests, and the hall’s structure is often linked with an acoustic feature that allowed sound to travel clearly from one end to the other. Ceiling paintings are said to show banquet dishes, while the billiard room holds a Burroughs and Watts table linked to a matching one at Buckingham Palace.

Falaknuma also reflects the tastes, habits, and beliefs of the Nizams. Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, the sixth Nizam, acquired the palace and used it for royal hospitality, while his famous long wardrobe was located at Purani Haveli rather than here. The palace was among the earliest local buildings with electricity and telephones. Later, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam, reportedly avoided living there because he considered it unlucky for the ruler, using it mainly as a royal guest house.