The Lost Palace of Hyderabad

    By syediqbal158

    The Lost Palace of Hyderabad cover image

    20 Apr, 2024

    a man in a gold and black outfit standing in a room with a statue of a man in a gold and black outfit, samikshavad, a bronze sculpture, Bikash Bhattacharjee, vfx

    I'm Syed I Chavan, standing amidst the dazzling artifacts of the Salarjung Museum. The grandeur before us hides a poignant tale of a lost palace.

    a man in a black and gold outfit standing in a room with gold and gold decorations on the walls, samikshavad, a character portrait, Bholekar Srihari, jayison devadas

    The Salarjungs, a family of Arab origin, served as prime ministers to the Nizam. Their wealth and power were legendary, and their palace, the Divan Devdi, was a testament to their status.

    a man in a black outfit standing in a room with arches and pillars and a ceiling with a painting of a man in a black outfit, arts and crafts movement, a photorealistic painting, Bholekar Srihari, cinematic photography

    Hyderabad, once known as the 'City of Palaces,' saw the rise of many grand devdis. The Divan Devdi, home to the Salarjungs, was the grandest of them all.

    a large room with a lot of windows and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a couch in the middle, bengal school of art, a flemish Baroque, David Chipperfield, adobe lightroom

    Unfortunately, the palace met a tragic fate in the late 1960s. It was razed to make way for commercial ventures, erasing it entirely from the cityscape.

    a man standing in front of a building with a clock tower in the background and a crowd of people walking around, samikshavad, a detailed matte painting, Bholekar Srihari, cinematic photography

    Today, only remnants of the palace gateway remain. They stand as ghostly reminders of the palace's former glory, overshadowed by the city's relentless modernization.

    a man sitting on a ledge looking at a map in front of a building with a clock tower in the background, bengal school of art, a detailed matte painting, Abdur Rahman Chughtai, matte painting

    An old city survey map from 1912 provides us with a glimpse of the palace's grandeur. Its extensive layout and opulent features are laid bare for us to imagine.

    a man in a turban standing in a courtyard with a potted plant in the background and a walkway leading to the entrance, samikshavad, a character portrait, Altoon Sultan, regal

    The Divan Devdi comprised multiple palaces set amidst lush gardens along the Musi River. The grand gateway would lead visitors into a vast square surrounded by reception halls and estate offices.

    a large room with chandeliers and a chandelier hanging from the ceiling and a couple of people walking around, neoclassicism, a flemish Baroque, Enguerrand Quarton, luxury

    Among the palace's many features was the Aina Khana, a grand reception hall adorned with Belgian mirrors and chandeliers. It was here that the Salarjungs hosted their esteemed guests.

    a man sitting in a room with a rug and a table with a lamp on it and a painting on the wall, qajar art, egyptian art, Altoon Sultan, orientalism

    The palace also housed the Chini Khana, or House of Porcelain. This room, adorned with antique china, was a testament to the palace's eclectic charm.

    a man in a yellow outfit standing in a room with wooden floors and walls and a ceiling with intricate carvings, qajar art, an album cover, Amir Zand, orientalism

    Adjacent pavilions and courtyards were home to countless treasures. One such treasure was the famed Lakkad Kot, a wooden palace that was said to surpass even that of Tipu Sultan.

    a man standing in front of a building with a large dome on top of it and a sky background, samikshavad, a detailed matte painting, Bholekar Srihari, cinematic photography

    The story of the vanished Divan Devdi Palace is a poignant reminder of our past. A tale of grandeur, power, and ultimately, loss.

    a man standing in a room with statues in the background and a statue of a man in a suit, arts and crafts movement, a character portrait, Bholekar Srihari, portrait photography

    As we stand amidst the artifacts of the Salarjung Museum, we can only imagine the splendor that once was. The palace may be gone, but its story lives on.

    The Lost Palace of Hyderabad

    AI Historical Stories