Hyderabad is always a popular spot for sightseeing for the tourists because of the beautiful heritage structures and historical monuments. After all, if you visit the vintage locations that is the only way to get an idea about the golden days of the past. And one such location in Hyderabad is the Purani Haveli Hyderabad. The Purani Haveli as the name suggests is an old palace dating back to the 17th century. It is a beautiful palace which is currently a museum. It is one of the richest museums when it comes to exhibiting various artefacts, souvenirs and mementos. You would further get a glimpse into the royal life of the Nizams as well as you visit this location. Furthermore, the golden days of the rich past are interesting enough to learn about. And for history buffs visiting a location like this will always be enriching.
Purani Haveli Hyderabad
The Purani Haveli Museum is rich with its artefacts. And the main idea behind the creation of this museum was to showcase the riches of the city of Hyderabad. And the museum here does exactly that. So when you are visiting Hyderabad then you certainly need to make a visit to this location. You would get an insight about the days when the Nizams used to rule Hyderabad. The interior and the vibe of this vintage palace will take you back to those days long gone. Keep on reading this article as here I will mention everything that you need to know about the Purani Haveli. It will be a helpful article for you if you are planning a trip to this location anytime soon.
Location: The Purani Haveli Hyderabad location is Pathar Gatti, near Princess Durru Shehvar Hospital, Hyderabad, Telangana
Location on Map:
Timings: Purani Haveli Hyderabad timings are from 10 am to 5 pm on all days except Fridays. Fridays are close days.
Entry fee: The entry fee is Rs. 80 per person for adults, Rs. 15 per person for children. Also there is an additional charge for cameras that range from Rs. 150 to Rs. 500
How to reach
By air
The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad is the nearest airport to Purani Haveli Hyderabad. From the airport the location of the haveli is about 21.6 km away. It would take you around 50 minutes to reach the location from the airport. The most convenient way to reach the location from the Hyderabad airport would be to take a cab or hire a car. Or else you can also take a bus from the airport to reach the haveli as well.
By train
If you are travelling by air then the nearest railway station to reach the Purani Haveli is the Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station. From there the distance of the haveli is 4.4 km and it would take you around 13 minutes to reach there. The Nampally Railway Station is also yet another major nearest railway station to reach the haveli. It is located at a distance of 4.6 km and you can reach there in about 15 minutes. From both the railway stations you can easily take an auto rickshaw to reach the Purani Haveli Hyderabad.
By road
Hyderabad is well connected through roadways and buses here are one of the major modes of transport. You can get buses from nearby cities and towns to reach here. Also if you are travelling within the city then also you can opt for the city buses as well. Some of the nearby bus stops are the Purani Haveli Bus Stop, Pathar Gatti Bust Stop, Madina Market Bus Station, Yakupura Bus Station etc. So you can reach the Purani Haveli. Auto rickshaws are also a common mode of transport here so you can opt for that as well to reach the location from various directions within the city. Or else you can take a car or hire a cab as well to reach there from any location.
By metro
If you are travelling by metro then the Salar Jung Metro station is the nearest metro station located 1.3 km away. From there the Purani Haveli is located at a distance of 5 minutes or else you can walk for about 16 minutes to reach there as well. The Charminar Metro Station is located at a distance of 2 km. It would take about 10 minutes to reach there from the metro station.
Overview of Purani Haveli
The Purani Haveli Hyderabad as the name suggests is one of the old palaces in Hyderabad that reflects the heritage of the city. It is one of the exquisite palaces in Hyderabad that reflects the royal charm. Furthermore it is one of the popular sightseeing spots in the city as well. Originally the purpose of building this haveli was to serve as a residence of the Peshwa of Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah, Mir Momen. At present however the haveli is an example of the golden era of Hyderabad. It further reflects how the city of Hyderabad looked back in the 18th century. Currently the museum at the Purani Haveli is one of the major attractions in the city because of the priceless exhibits.
For history lovers this palace can be one of the must visit locations to visit in Hyderabad. Located near Dewan Devdi at the South East of Afzal Gunj Bridge it is a U shaped complex with a single storied central building. Purani Haveli or the Old Palace is also popular as the Nizams Purani Haveli Hyderabad. The second Nizam, third Nizam and the sixth Nizam had stayed here for a certain period of time. The vast complex of the haveli currently also serves as educational institutions. The haveli houses a fascinating collection of artefacts, souvenirs, exhibits and gifts. So make sure you are visiting here once.
History of Purani Haveli
Originally the main idea behind the construction of the Purani Haveli was to serve it as a residence for Mir Momen who was the Prime Minister of Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah who was the then ruler of Hyderabad during 16th century. Later the Nizams of Hyderabad acquired the Haveli during the 18th century. The second Nizam of Hyderabad refurbished this Haveli for his son Sikandar Jah in 1777. However, soon Sikandar Jah shifted his residence to the Chowmahalla Palace. And it was then that this haveli came to be known as the Purani Haveli or the Old Palace.
It also shifted from being in the limelight and was ignored for some time. Later during the 19th century again the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad Mir Mehboob Ali Khan again made this haveli his official residence. He also spent most of his life in this haveli. And it was then that the old grandeur of the Haveli was again back in its full glory.
Architecture of Purani Haveli
The structure of the Purani Haveli is undoubtedly one of the major attractions of this beautiful location. The architecture of this haveli reflects a grand European style of architecture which was prevalent during the 18th century. However not just European style of architecture, but along with that a mix of Indian style of architecture is also visible here. There are elegant Indian style courtyards here that look splendid. Inside Purani Haveli Hyderabad complex there are many antique furniture that elevates the beauty of this structure. The U shaped structure has a single storey central structure. Alongside there are two double storeyed oblong wings. On the western wing you will find the world’s longest wardrobe. This is built on two levels along with two hand operated elevators as well.
Moreover both the wings here have beautiful sprawling courtyards. And around them you will find elongated verandahs and rooms. There are chambers here which are beautifully embellished with mosaics and exquisite tiles. All these further give a royal look to the palace. The Purani Haveli Hyderabad gives a very vintage vibe mixed with modern elements. Some of the areas here had been repaired in the due course of time. But still the opulent structure reflects the glory of the rich past and the glorious days long gone.
Purani Haveli Museum
The main attraction of the Purani Haveli Hyderabad is the museum here. It was the wish of the last Nizam of Hydeabad Mir Osman Ali Khan to exhibit the collection of items that he received as gifts. He wanted to tell the world about the achievements of the people of Hyderabad via this museum. Different dignitaries from all around the world gifted him souvenirs and mementos all of which are exhibited here. Furthermore the museum also houses the silver replicas of monuments that are present across Hyderabad.
There is a gold tiffin box here that has jewels like diamonds in it. Also there are daggers which are studded with gold and diamonds. Some other attractions here are silver perfume containers, painting of Mir Osman Ali Khan, pearl studded wooden writing box etc. You will also find silver filigree elephants, silver coffee cups studded with diamonds, caskets etc. Some citations about Mir Osman Ali Khan are also present here. And one of the major pieces of exhibit here is the wooden throne of the last Nizam which was used for his silver jubilee celebrations. Some vintage cars also adorn the museum at Purani Haveli. Some of them are Jaguar Mark V, 1930 Rolls Royce, a Packard etc.
Wrapping Up!
So that was everything about the Purani Haveli and now you can plan a trip to this location. It will be an interesting trip overall to visit a vintage palace like this. With time the palace has lost its charm but yet it stands tall in its glory. It has also passed the test of time very well and a visit there would truly be enriching. A peek into the golden period of the Nizams of Hyderabad can be exciting for the history buffs for sure. And the museum here also exhibits artefacts which are extremely rich. People from all over the country and beyond visits here to witness the grandeur of the past.
So if you are planning to visit Hyderabad you simply cannot miss out on visiting this location. A trip to this Haveli would be thrilling and add this location among the top places that you can visit in the city. So when are you planning a trip to this haveli in Hyderabad? And let me know if this article on the Purani Haveli Hyderabad is helpful for you in planning a trip to this location.
