Hyderabad is not just a city which boasts of sprawling IT hubs, posh malls, lavish fine dining restaurants. Its a city with rich culture and heritage. So in my "Hidden Gem" series, I will focus on few less known places, which one must experience if he/she is visiting the city of Nizams.
Paigah Tombs are the tombs belonging to the nobility of Paigah family, who were fierce loyalists of the Nizams, served as states-people, philanthropists and generals under and alongside them. Its an architectural marvel. Its located near the iconic Charminar, in a small lane across from Owasi Hospital near Santosh Nagar.
I have visited this place only once, and it was deserted. Few local people were there, but not a single tourist (that too on a Sunday afternoon!). With marvelous carvings and motifs in floral designs and inlaid mosaic tile-works, the tombs are exquisite to walk around. Its entire area is not really big, and you can end up visiting entire the place within an hour. But more experience this place, more you will understand the level of craftsmanship. Its an absolute architectural marvel!
The Indo-Islamic architecture is a mix of both the Asaf Jahi and the Rajputana styles of architecture. You will also see decor in fabulous stucco work, representing the Mughal, Persian and Deccan style too. The geometrical designs with their perforated screens are unique in their make and craftsmanship.
The Tomb of Asman Jah and Begum Khurshid Jah attract maximum number of tourists. The structures are made of marble and were once adorned with precious and semi-precious stones which changed colors with the change of seasons. The Tombs are enclosed by a wall which is ornamented with lattice work and exotic floral and geometric designs. Each wall is done up differently with fruits, drums, serpents, flowers, vases, etc.
On my visit, I found the place pretty clean and maintained. There was an eerie silence, which only added to the charm of the place.
There is also a mosque on the opposite side of the tombs. I found few local people gathered for evening prayer.
Few kids were playing around, and were having a good time. Each tomb has diverse architecture and it takes time to admire( and photograph!) .
Also good to see that restoration work is being undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to restore the missing architectural features, replace faulty repairs, and fix structural cracks. I loved this place for its architecture and ambiance!
So if you love history and admire architecture, this is the place to visit!
