Walking on the streets of the hustling and bustling streets of Hyderabad, the beautiful drive down the most focalized tourist point that stands right in the heart of the city, Hussain Sagar is bound to be filled with people trying to capture the essence of the alluring space. Most of them fail to recognize a royal heritage property of 113793 sqft built in the 1880s that used to overlook Hussain Sagar back in its day. Errum Manzil Palace to be precise, is a two-story complex that stands tall today and has tended to become a spot known to few.
Thought Behind the Making
The palace has passed the test of time for around 150 years now, as this palace has still stood true to its roots to date constructed centuries ago as a result of a friendly competition between the Nawab and Sir Vicar ul Umra (The prolific Paigah aristocrat/builder from the city who also built the Falaknuma Palace) as to who could build a higher palace—made by Fakhrul Mulk whose mastermind never ceased to amaze people. The conceptualization and originality of the palace were visible as the amalgamation of different architectural styles made it stand out from its competitors. Later this turned out to become Fakhrul Mulk’s residence that housed his family.
Location
Standing tall on a hilltop, the palace instantly stood out for the neighboring context. This was done to ensure that power and nobility spoke for themselves. This also resulted in a quieter and more peaceful environment for Fakhrul Mulk’s family. Today, the views from the palace have lost its essence due to the ever-growing buildings around it that have somehow seemed to sprawl across the street. It has merged well with the greens around it and if you’re lucky enough you can catch a glimpse of it while using the Errum Manzil metro station named after the palace.
History
Back in its day, the palace had 150 rooms with French furniture that spoke for the royalty of the palace. Just like any other palace back in the day, it also housed a polo ground along with a nine-hole golf course, a dairy farm, and a stable for the royal horses. This palace had initially been used for nobility affairs and acted as a royal banquet. However, with time, the palace lost its popularity and today stands as a neglected space
The method adopted to construct the palace was envisioned quite futuristically while consisting of hints of various architectural styles that can be seen to date. Right from the gothic arches to indo sarsenic bits in the horseshoe openings to the Romanesque semicircular arches binding it with an Indo-European baroque style, the palace blends all these architectural styles quite effortlessly and beautifully. The brilliant amalgamation of the styles makes the palace quite popular to date.
Architectural Features
The building is ‘U’ in shape with enclosed courtyards on three sides on the western end with multiple entrances leading to the building. Each of these entry points had a unique feature that was engraved into it that made it stand the test of time. It housed a fountain right amidst the block that helped to double up the space while playing Holi. The interior steps are wooden while the exteriors are granite. Many describe this place as seeming quite perplexing due to the different room layouts that fit into each other quite seamlessly. Different rooms lead to unique spaces that indicate the brilliant brains of Fakhrul Mulk. It also had water bodies inside the site to aid passive cooling and create an unforgettable space in itself.
Standing The Test of Time
Eventually, with time, the government took over the palace right from the hands of the Nawabs. From a royal heritage palace to a space used for storing records the palace had become quieter and more isolated. Once the Andhra Pradesh government came to power, the state government quarters were constructed in the open lands which led to a hotspot that was the Errum manzil colony. Tourists were not allowed to enter the palace hence a lot of heritage enthusiasts lost touch with the property. In 2017, when the KCR government came into power, they wanted to demolish the building to construct the state legislative assembly. The outcry of various activists and several petitions later, the decision was not passed and the palace still stands high today.
The palace now needs restoration and modification to further become a booming spot. It is an excellent example of the blend of unique architectural styles that blend effortlessly to create something quite unforgettable. The aesthetic value it holds today is well appreciated on the heritage walks conducted here now and then. Every inch and ounce of this palace had been trying to be restored and conserved through various means and to date continues to seek help.
References:
1.Firstpost. (2021). Iram Manzil, palace overlooking Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad, has been a silent surveyor of the city-Art-and-culture News , Firstpost. [online] Available at: https://www.firstpost.com/art-and-culture/iram-manzil-palace-overlooking-hussain-sagar-in-hyderabad-has-been-a-silent-surveyor-of-the-city-10076191.html [Accessed 31 Dec. 2023].
2. siaphotography. (n.d.). Irrum Manzil / Erra Manzil – Heritage of Hyderabad | SIA Photography. [online] Available at: https://siaphotography.in/blog/erra-manzil-heritage-building-in-hyderabad/ [Accessed 31 Dec. 2023].
