Hyderabad's paradise in sky will soon fade into history books

Nobleman Nawab Fakhrul Mulk has lost his bet twice. The Errumnuma Palace (meaning paradise in sky in Arabic) housed the Chest Hospital till 2013 and is all set to be demolished. It was built by him in Erragadda, outside the walled city of Hyderabad as an extension to Errumanzil, which he built in a bet with another kingsman, Nawab Viqarul Umra. However, Viqarul Umra's Falaknuma Palace (mirror in the sky) is still intact and is fully restored by the Taj Group to its original sheen.

The Telangana government wants a new state Secretariat to come up in its (Errumnuma Palace) place. The Falaknuma Palace has always won accolades from the day it was built while the “paradise in sky” remained away from public glare tucked in the dense teakwood plantation used by the Nawab for hunting.

The area where Errumnuma Palace was built in later years became popular as Erragadda. However, the Nawab seldom used to visit the palace which has over 100 spacious rooms that could accommodate royalty.

Unlike the other Nizam’s structures where there were separate rooms for women and men, the Errumnuma Palace had massive rooms which were common for all with dining halls and pathways connecting them. These rooms in later years were used as hospital wards.

The Errumnuma Palace had seen its glory days when the Fakhrul Mulk, the classmate of sixth Nizam Mahbub Ali Pasha, hosted feasts before embarking on each hunting session in the great fields of the Nizam spread across the princely state. The food served at the palace included many European dishes, particularly soups. It is said that the Nawab got his clothes stitched and dry cleaned in Paris. Built with lime, the building used to work like a climatiser, keeping the residents cool in summer and warm in winter.

Even though he along with his one son and 18 grandchildren used to live in the nearby Errumanzil Palace which now houses the Telangana irrigation department, his favourite hideout to throw big parties was always the Errumnuma Palace.

“There was also a tragedy that occurred during one of the hunting sessions. Fakhrul Mulk’s brother-in-law Sarwar Jung accidentally dropped a loaded a gun, which fired killing him instantly,” a historian recalled.

After the death of the Nawab Fakhr-ul-Mulk, his tomb was built very close to the Errumnuma Palace near S R Nagar main road as per his wish. Tombs of his kin also found place next to his tomb. As per the tradition all the male members of the family were buried alongside the Nawab. Erected on 2 acres in Qutub Shahi architecture the tomb is made out of stone, lime stone and sand.

After the unification of Hyderabad with the Indian union, the Errumnuma Palace and the 65 acre open area were given to the TB and Chest hospital which ran a 670-bed hospital. It then become a major regional centre for treating TB in the south west of the country. Tollywood also shot many Telugu films in the building and surroundings. Chiranjeevi starrer “Gang Leader” was shot here.
Down the years, the hospital become a white elephant for the government as there were complaints about low occupancy at any given time and the open ground surrounding the main building had become a safe haven for miscreants.

Plagued by leaking pipes and bad drainage the walls became damp and the plaster that once earned Errumnuma the title of “Pink Palace” started peeling off. “At one time the monthly sanitation bill was almost Rs 8 lakh and providing security to the vast area used to cost Rs 3 lakh per month,” a retired Chest hospital employee said, recalling the days prior to 2013.

However, the Telangana government has decided to shift the hospital to the 150-bed TB Sanitarium in Ananthagiri near Vikarabad of Ranga Reddy district, 70 km away from Erragadda.The orders to shift the hospital have been issued through GO RT No 61 by the health, medical and family welfare department. The government also sanctioned Rs 7.70 crore for carrying out repairs and renovation to TB sanitarium to accommodate patients from Chest hospital.
The irony is that the TB sanitarium is located in the estate of Nawab Fakhrul Mulk’s rival Viqarul Umra.
The state government’s move to shift the hospital and to build a new secretariat on this heritage site drew flak not only from political parties but also historians who have been advocating protection of rich heritage of Hyderabad for the future generation.

“Look at the Union Government which has maintained the Hyderabad House in Delhi in pristine condition that hosts all foreign dignitaries,” said Dr D Bhaskar Rao, chief curator Nizam Museum. He suggests that the main building could still be restored. With the National Geo Travelers Magazine choosing Hyderabad as the second best destination for 2015, many are demanding the government to
protect heritage sites such as Errumnuma Palace, Errumanzil Palace and the Tomb of Nawab Fakhrul Mulk.

“It was the Nawab who used to take a stick and draw plans on the floor and then build them. That is why all important structures are located in the vicinity of one another, this is like a tourism
circuit,” an Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage representative rued. Only 166 structures are left to showcase for a city of more than 426 years of heritage, he argued.
JBS Umanadh in Hyderabad