How about Sita invites you for dinner on the world’s largest dining table that once regularly hosted a hundred people at a time, all royal dignitaries, including the King and Queen of England and Tsar of Russia. And what if I tell you that each one of you will have your own personal butler pouring you wine into exquisite cut glasses and serving you food on plates specially made to order by Versace.
Kuntil from our Destination Knowledge Centre is just back from Hyderabad where he went to see the Falaknuma Palace after its delicate and painstaking restoration for nearly a decade by the Taj Group of Hotels. Built by Nizam Mehboob Ali Pasha Nizam VI in the 19th century, the Falaknuma Palace was the royal guesthouse for visiting dignitaries to Hyderabad. He was taken on a walk of the Falaknuma Palace designed like a Scorpion by the resident historian. Wandering through its many halls and historical rooms they arrived at the 101 Dining Hall, one of the largest rooms in the Falaknuma Palace. And there it was – the pièce de résistance of Falaknuma Palace – the world largest dining table taking you back in time to the decadent lifestyle of the Nizams of Hyderabad and their stately guests.
Mehboob Ali Pasha Nizam VI, the richest man of the world of his times, entertained hundred guests on this marvelous highly curved single dining table. The length of the table is 108 feet and breadth is 5.7 and height is 2.7 feet. At the mere nod of the Nizam, royal butlers used to pour wine into exquisite cut glasses and served food on gold plates which were more than 100 in number. At that very time, the Queen of England had only 50 gold plates. According to the resident historian hundreds of horse carriages passed through the gates of the Falaknuma Palace carrying English Lords and Ladies anxious for a glimpse of this much talked about royal guest house of the Nizam.
The 101 Dining Hall has revolutionary acoustics and one could very clearly hear a normal conversation at either end of the dining table. The hall has 28 paintings on the wall which depicts various cuisines. It is said that the Nizam used to point at his choice of cuisine for the day. All 101 chairs are identical with green leather on them except for the one used by the Nizam, which has higher arm rests.
The opulent 101 Dining Hall has timber flooring and stucco dado imitating timber adorning the walls in a combination of dual shades of teak and walnut brown. Fluted pilasters with gold gilding and large chandeliers add to the baroque flavour, while the false ceiling is decorated with paintings of various floral and animal representations. The 101 Dining Hall is adequately serviced by a pantry area and has a separate flight of steps through the veranda for additional service. Menus are customised as per the requirement and they need a minimum guarantee of 40 diners.
So how about being a personal guest of the Nizam and dine at the Falaknuma Palace?
