Eka in Hyderabad - Eka Resources

Falaknuma Palace by Deen Dayal, c. 1890 — A view of the Falaknuma Palace, taken by Deen Dayal in the 1880s, from the Curzon Collection: 'Views of HH the Nizam's Dominions, Hyderabad, Deccan, 1892'. Falaknuma Palace, literally 'Mirror of the Sky', was designed in 1872 by an English architect as the private residence of a rich Muslim grandee. In 1897 the Nizam purchased it for use as a guest house. The main part of the building is classical in style with a two storey verandah carrying a central pediment. Another smaller building to the rear, which once housed the zenana, is designed in Indo-Saracenic style. The interior is opulent with an Italianate staircase and a fountain in the marble entrance hall, lined with portraits of British Governor-Generals. The future King George V and Queen Mary stayed here in 1906. This is a distant view of the palace from an opposite hillside.

As part of our ongoing preparations for the ‘Deen Dayal Studio’ exhibition we’re doing with IGNCA, Eka was recently in Hyderabad, the hometown of the Deen Dayal family today and the scene of much of the photographer’s activities. We got sneak previews of the Falaknuma Palace too, reputed to be one of the most fabulous palaces owned by the Asaf Jahs and purchased by the 6th Nizam from his prime minister Vikar ul-Umra. The Palace is now being converted into a heritage hotel by the Taj Group. Watch this space for photos, we’ll put them up as soon as the Hotel is officially open in mid-November! In the meanwhile, you can take a look at the attached photo (Source: The British Library via Wikimedia Commons) of Falaknuma shot by Deen Dayal in the 1880s, from the Curzon Collection: ‘Views of HH the Nizam’s Dominions, Hyderabad, Deccan, 1892’.