Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, part of the Tata group, has opened Taj Falaknuma Palace, an architectural gem nestled amidst verdant and unique themed gardens in Hyderabad.
Falaknuma or 'Mirror of the Sky' was the residence of Nizam Mehboob Ali Khan.
The palace, restored to its original magnificence over the past six years, offers 60 exquisite rooms including a grand presidential suite, two restaurants, an outdoor pool and a spa spread across 32 acres.
“For over 10 years, we have worked on preserving the priceless art and artifacts. We are very proud today to welcome our guests,” Taj Falaknuma general manager, Ranjit Phillipose, said.
At one point of time, around 800 people were engaged in the extensive restoration work, Phillipose said adding that the whole idea was to take the person entering the palace back to the times of the Nizam. He, however, declined to disclose the cost of restoration.
The Taj group operates three other palace hotels, all located in Rajasthan. “The three palace hotels in Rajasthan mainly cater to the leisure traveller while Falaknuma caters to both leisure and business traveller,” Phillipose said.
The presidential suite is the most expensive one being offered at a tariff of Rs 5 lakh a day. It has a private pool, exclusive garden and a separate entrance. A butler will exclusively cater to the needs of the occupants of the suite.
Phillipose said those coming to stay at Falaknuma would be welcomed with a traditional drink on their arrival and would be put on a horse-driven carriage at the gate that takes them to the palace located on a hillock.
