Asman Garh Palace is a palace located in

Hyderabad Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India ...

, Telangana, India. ''Asman'' means "sky", and ''Garh'' means "home", since the palace was located so high on a hillock. The palace hosted a museum displaying archaeological relics. After that converted to an orphanage for a brief period of time. The palace presently is converted into a school (St Joseph's Public School, Asman Garh Palace branch). Located near the TV tower at Malakpet, the Asmangarh Palace was constructed in 1885 by the Paigah Noble Sir Asman Jah.

History

The Asmangarh Palace is located on a hillock with a commanding view of the surrounding forest, which served as a hunting preserve for the

Nizam The Nizams were the rulers of Hyderabad from the 18th through the 20th century. Nizam of Hyderabad (Niẓām ul-Mulk, also known as Asaf Jah) was the title of the monarch of the Hyderabad State ( divided between the state of Telangana, Mar ...

and his courtiers. The

was so fascinated by this miniature castle that he became a regular visitor. Sir Asman Jah eventually gave it to the

. It was designed personally and built by the erstwhile Prime Minister of Hyderabad state Sir Asman Jah in 1885 on a hillock for leisure. He belonged to the

Paigah family Paigah is a noble family in the senior aristocracy of Hyderabad State, who were associated with the ruling Nizam since its inception and each maintained his own court, individual palaces, and a standing army of about fourteen thousand troops, ...

. He fulfilled his dream of building a home close to the sky. It is believed that there is a tunnel (Underground way) in the basement of the building leading to the Golkonda Fort. Unused for quite some time, the palace was leased to the Birlas who located their Archaeological Museum in it. After more than four decades, the Birla Museum moved out and the building is now under the management of St. Joseph's Education Society (St. Joseph's School, Asmangadh palace branch), which has bought the building in the year 2000 and runs a branch of the main school (at King Kothi). They have added a new four-storied building, in front of the villa. The school's principal is Mrs. U.A. Sundari.

Design

It is based on

Gothic architecture Gothic architecture (or pointed architecture) is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It ...

and is in the shape of a European medieval castle. The granite turrets and arched windows of Asman Garh palace stand out. A granite structure in Gothic style, the compact building is too small to technically qualify as a palace, let alone the European castle which no doubt inspired its construction. Its claim as a palace is however justified by its architectural style and lofty location on a high plinth. The entrance is approached by a pair of simple symmetrical staircases which lead up to a verandah with painted arches springing from slender Corinthian columns. The painted arch is repeated in the window openings. The multi-level terraced roof is topped with castellated battlements, which form the parapet and are the most noticeable of its architectural elements. When the 7th

Mir Osman Ali Khan Mir Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII (5 or 6 April 1886 — 24 February 1967), was the last Nizam (ruler) of the Princely State of Hyderabad, the largest princely state in British India. He ascended the throne on 29 August 1911, at the age o ...

inherited the palace he added a unique arched gateway in the shape of the Royal Dastar (turban-like headgear, part of Hyderabad court dress and a symbol of the state).

References

External links

Picture of Asman Garh Palace

Heritage structures in Hyderabad, India Hyderabad State Palaces of Paigah of Hyderabad {{India-palace-stub