News and Updates

The restored Rang Mahal Gate, Hyderabad. Photograph by Lithish Wesley

We are delighted to share that the restoration of the Rang Mahal Gate at Hyderabad’s former British Residency is now complete. With generous funding support from Sonata Software, this beautiful Deccan structure and its adjoining gardens, located within the campus of Osmania Women’s University, have been revived. The DHF envisions the site as a vibrant cultural hub for university students and the public, hosting concerts, events, and gatherings. Now open to visitors, the site will be maintained through funds collected from ticket sales.

To learn more about the restoration, visit the DHF website. You can also support our ongoing efforts to preserve historic sites across the Deccan. Consider making a donation by clicking the button below.

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Chowmahalla Palace: A Legacy of the Nizams

The remarkable interiors of the Darbar Hall at Chowmahalla Palace, Hyderabad. Photograph by Ayesha Dias

Construction of the famous Chowmahalla Palace began in 1750 by Salabat Jung, the third son of the first Nizam of Hyderabad, Asaf Jah I. Visitors should note the famous Darbar Hall (ca 1780), or Khilwat. Painstakingly restored, it boasts a marble throne platform and floors, as well as stunning chandeliers of Belgian crystal.

The Spanish Mosque in Hyderabad. Photograph by Surendra Kumar

Known colloquially as the ‘Spanish Mosque,’ the Jama Masjid Aiwan-e-Begumpet is a remarkable yet lesser-known architectural gem in Hyderabad, built in 1906. Commissioned by Sir Viqar ul-Umra, a noble of the Paigah family, the structure is inspired by the Moorish architecture of the Iberian Peninsula, characterised by geometric and vegetal compositions, intricate floral ornamentation, elaborate calligraphy, and horseshoe arches. Unlike most mosques in India, which typically feature bulbous domes, the Spanish Mosque stands apart with its slender spires, reflecting a distinct architectural influence.

Aerial view of the Qutb Shahi Palace. Photograph by Surendra Kumar

The original structure at Golconda, an enormous fortress on the outskirts of Hyderabad, was built sometime in the 13th or early 14th century and sits atop a rugged granite hill known as Bala Hisar. At the summit of Bala Hisar stands a magnificent Baradari (12-arched garden pavilion), which offers spectacular panoramas of the entire fort, including the vast Qutb Shahi Palace beneath it.

Uncovered stepwells at the Golconda Fort. Photograph by Marika Sardar

Marika Sardar, author of the DHF’s Hyderabad, Golconda guidebook, recently returned to the Qutb Shahi tombs and shared fascinating insights from her visit:

“A recent return to Hyderabad brought the chance to revisit the Qutb Shahi tombs and explore the latest discoveries there. A number of stepwells, for instance, have been found under decades of overgrowth, and a series of buildings, partially excavated in the 1970s, have been cleared to the north of the western side of the tombs enclosure. These findings change how we imagine the area was used before it was transformed into a dynastic necropolis. They seem to indicate that despite being outside the fort walls, the area was occupied and also played a practical role in storing and transferring of water into the fortified zone. The tombs then seem to have been constructed here not because it was an unbuilt and tranquil space, but rather because the heavy use of the area site would have brought greater visibility to the tombs.”

Explore Hyderabad’s rich history through the pages of the DHF’s Hyderabad, Golconda guidebook—available in print or as an e-book for instant download to your phone or tablet.

Buy ‘Hyderabad, Golconda’

The DHF is pleased to introduce newly available e-guidebook bundles, including the Discover Telangana collection, along with Discover Karnataka and Discover Maharashtra. Each bundle brings together all of the DHF’s e-guides for the region—ready for instant download and perfect for planning extended travels.

Buy the e-guidebook bundles

We look forward to bringing you more updates on our restoration projects, along with curated travel recommendations to help you explore the rich heritage of the Deccan.