The Paigah tombs, though a recent discovery, date back to the
late eighteenth century and embody unparalleled grace and elegance
in marble. Though these stunning tombs are strewn over 30-40 acres,
tombs of the Paigahas who had married daughters of the Nizams and
their spouses are confined to a two-acre site.
It was Abdul Fateh Khan Tegh Jung who founded the Paigah nobility
and rendered service to the second Nizam (1760 and 1803). The Nizam
conferred on him the title of Shams-ul-umra, meaning the sun among
the masses. Tegh Jung was buried in 1786 at the entrance of the
complex, now known as Paiga tombs. An iron plaque at the entrance of
the complex traces the Paigah lineage and eulogises the marble
magnificence of the mausoleums. The Paigahs were also great patrons
of arts, literature and sports and commanded the respect of the
rulers and the people.
Built with unique lime and mortar in the Indo Saracenic
architecture and delightfully decorated with flowers, famous jali
work and have marble inlay work on them. the Paigah Tombs situated
at Santoshnagar, 10 km from Charminar. Apart from the family of the
nizam, the highest ranking nobles in princely Hyderabad were the
Paigah nobles. "Paigah" is not a family name; it's Farsi
for "footstool." An English equivalent might be "right-hand
man," though that phrase has a casual tone far removed from the
refinements of the Hyderabadi court.
The Paigah tombs house the graves of several members of the Paigah
families who were the primary nobility in the court of the Nizams of
Hyderabad. In simple words, these tombs are works of art. The
Paigahs were the only noble family of Hyderabad to be permitted by
the Sultans to maintain a private army.
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