Location : The South east of Afzal Gunj Bridge near
Dewandevdi.
Timing : 10:30 A.M. to 5.00 P.M.
Open : Daily (Except Friday)
Purani Haveli lies to the southeast of Afzal Gunj Bridge near
Dewandevdi in Hyderabad. Purani Haveli is a U shaped complex with a
single storied central building in European style, bordered by two
double storied oblong wings.
Purani Haveli (lit. 'Old Quarters') was originally established and
designated to be the residential quarters of Mir Momen, the
Peshwa(Prime Minister) of Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in the late
sixteenth century. It was acquired by Nizam III in the eighteenth
century to renovate and designate it to be his son's (Sikandar
Jah's) quarters. When Sikandar Jah decided to move to the Khilaurat
complex, this place came to be known as Purani Haveli .
This architectural landmark of Hyderabad reflects the combination
of 18th century European facades with traditional Indian courtyards.
Two annexes are attached to the northern ends of the parallel wings.
The 18th century European architecture is reflected in the main
building which has many interesting pieces of antique furniture. One
can see two vast courtyards surrounded by rooms and deep verandahs
with semicircular European arches. It was built during the reign of
the Asaf Jahis. Some rooms still have their tiled walls and mosaic
flooring intact, and their multitude colours recall the past glory
of the palace. A library and the Mukarram Jah Technical Institute
form part of the complex. A museum with seventh Nizam's collection
of gifts is also seen.
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