A Magical Journey into a Forgotten Palace By Debika Sen

A Magical Journey into a Forgotten Palace

By Debika Sen

I discover a map in the deep recess of my draw. My fingers lovingly caress the outlines of the various countries as my eyes hungrily drink in the tantalizing places my soul yearns to visit. I rush to my bookshelf and pull out all The Taj magazines. I carefully turn each page – there is my favorite hotel in the world – The Taj Falaknuma Palace. A grandiose palace I visited 10 years ago when the Taj Group of Hotels began their renovations in 2010. This journey is a prelude to what is to come – a long awaited moment to visit a distant land. India!

Enchanting, incredible, historical India – a land for all travelers for any season, 365 days in a year! A destination where palaces are converted into hotels, deserts whose colorless landscape is enhanced by the locals’ colorful attires, temples whose sculptures convey a glimpse into a traditional, Indian lifestyle, rugged mountains and magical backwaters of Kerala. A country interspersed with regional cuisine, traditions, dialects – a destination casting spells on her unsuspecting visitors. A magical beginning to one’s journey through Exotic India, enveloped in the warm hospitality of The Taj Group of Hotels where “Our Guests are our Gods.”.

An Urdu word, Falaknuma means “Like the Sky” or “Mirror in the sky.” A sprawling palace perched 2,000 feet above Hyderabad over a hillock built in 1894 - also been referred to as the ‘Jewel in the clouds.’  The panoramic views are majestic, a delight to photographers and painters alike. The Falaknuma Palace was gifted to the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad, rumored to be the richest man in the world at one time. Overlooking the twinkling city of pearls, this enchanting palace exudes romance and grandeur in an opulent style.

As the car drove up the neglected driveway, my imagination ran wild with images of all the magnificent Dignitaries and Royalties who once visited this palace – the lavish parties, music flowing from the resplendent rooms, smoked filled billiard room, food served on a rosewood dining table seating 101 guests, priceless objects d’art lovingly restored, library showcasing rare books and a grand Mughal garden – a spectacular past now brought to life by The Taj Group of Hotels. The palace is not only about an extravagant lifestyle but also a tale of a compassionate Nizam who loved his people. I was escorted to a room where beautiful woodwork was kept. A popular story making the rounds is one where the Nizam, upon hearing of a woodcarver desperately struggling to feed his family, requested him to design some wooden carvings for the Palace. The woodcarver complied and was generously rewarded.

This five star luxury hotel is spread over 32 acres with 60 rooms and suites which have been beautifully refurbished. The rooms provide a spectacular view of the palace courtyard and the 400 year old city of Hyderabad. By far, this unrivalled palace, situated far from the chaos of an overpopulated city, lends a charm of peace, luxury and comfort, making one feel “this could very well be my home.”

Further ahead, at a distance, looms the magnificent Golconda Fort. It is believed that the name ‘Golconda’ is derived from ‘Golla Konda’ meaning ‘Shepherds Hill.’ The Fort itself became a seat of power for different dynasties. Golconda flourished as a trade centre of large diamonds known as the Golconda diamonds. The region is renowned for producing some of the world’s most famous diamonds including the colorless Koh-i-noor (now owned by the United Kingdom) and the Hope Diamond (currently owned by the United States). The 16th century Golconda Fort is situated on a 120 meter high hill providing sweeping views of the surrounding areas. Climbing further up one can spot the spectacular Deccan Plateau with a panoramic view of the entire bustling city.

My favorite city, Hyderabad and hotel – Taj Falaknuma Palace, contrasting powerful constructions – a fort and a palace whose majestic walls whisper in thunderous silence waiting patiently to divulge their secret stories of a bygone era.

Debika Sen

Currently, Debika is the Founder and President of A Classic Tours Collection, an immersive tour operator that takes tour participants across continents on unique tour experiences.

Website:  www.aclassictour.com

After entering the travel industry as a receptionist, Debika discovered a fascination for designing trips. As she began to understand the mechanisms of what makes a trip great, Debika embarked on designing trips that today focus on - and fulfill - a spiritual and emotional need for travelers. It was her passion for unique tours that culminated in the launch of A Classic Tours in 2008, based in Redondo Beach, CA. Over the past decade, Debika has grown her tour offerings, team and business, and has offered over 30 experiences across 20 countries.

Notably, Debika created the Women’s Empowerment Tour after being selected for - and participating in – The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program. During this time, Debika developed the unique Women’s Empowerment Tour of India, which led to additional tours of historical importance, from Women Empowerment tours to Tahiti, Croatia and Japan, to her one-of-a-kind journey into Imperial Russia and The Occult.

In her downtime, Debika is an avid reader and writer, putting together articles about travel and insights gained through travel, and devouring a multitude of books on travel and history. She also enjoys seeing movies and of course, traveling!