HYDERABAD ( FALAKNUMA PALACE )

FALAKNUMA PALACE

RENOVATION INTO LUXURY HOTEL

• In 2000 Taj Hotels started renovating and restoring it.  The new renovated hotel was opened in November, 2010. The rooms and halls were decorated with ornate furniture, rich handcrafted tapestries and brocade from France.

• The interiors are a splendid interplay of Venetian chandeliers and intricate frescos, and have charming outdoor terraces, and a treasure of rare artefacts,including paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books.

• The palace also has a 101-seat dining hall, considered the largest in the world, and the Durbar Hall, embellished with intricately carved wooden ceilings, parquet flooring, regal walnut wood furniture and handcrafted mirrors.

• The restoration work on the Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad has taken 10 long years to be completed. The wait has been worth it though because the end result is simply breathtaking. And yes, you can see it!  The Falaknuma Palace recently opened as a luxury Taj hotel.

•  Every bit of opulence has been preserved and restored.  There's a billiards room, library housing the Nizam's acclaimed collection of the Holy Quran, and dining room with the world's longest dining table. Add to this marble staircases, Venetian chandeliers, a vast crystal collection, priceless statues, and artwork.

• The hotel has  60 guestrooms and suites. As is to be expected, the royal experience doesn't come cheap though. Rooms start from around $500 per night, for a double. Even if you can't afford to stay at the hotel, there are plenty of other options for feeling like a king or a queen.

• The hotel has a tea room, hookah lounge,  and two restaurants. An alfresco cocktail under the delicate stained glass of the Gol Bungalow pavilion is unforgettable. Or you can simply go on a leisurely historic walk and admire the artifacts. If you're visiting Hyderabad, it's definitely not to be missed.