HYDERABAD ( ASMAN GARH PALACE )

ASMAN GARH PALACE

•  The Paigah Nawab ensured that the once well-furnished villa was a perfect place to unwind for the nobles tired from hunting down animals, big and small that came their way. No wonder it was one of the favorite resorts of the Sixth Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan. He never missed staying here, as the castle was strategically located enroute to Saroornagar and its surrounding areas, his chosen place for hunting big game.

•   After a few stays, he liked the villa and Sir Asman Jah in true Paigah style, could never say no to the ruler who was also his brother-in-law. Thus from the Paigahs the palace passed on to the Nizams. The idyllic setting of the palace, perhaps made the Seventh Nizam, choose it for initially locating the Osmania University campus , much before the present site at what was a village, Adikmet.

• The palace remained idle for a long time after the momentous political changes of the past century until the Birlas took over the building for locating the Birla Archaeological Museum and Research Centre.

                               

•  The Paigah noble is credited with ushering sweeping changes in the administration and revenue departments besides improving the financial condition of the State and giving a boost to indigenous industry. The Irrigation Board was set up and several new projects introduced for the benefit of farmers. He was among the few nobles from Hyderabad to represent the Nizam at the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Queen Victoria.

•   A high point of his visit to London, was the Queen pinning the Jubilee Medal on him and the reception he was given by the Prince of Wales. From London, he proceeded to other major cities of Europe. On the occasion of his receiving the knighthood, A.P. Powell, the then British Resident of Hyderabad, spoke in glowing terms about him.