Walking Through An Artistic Excellence- The Paigah Tombs……..
It is always exciting if something is planned all of a sudden and if that is to visit a place of architectural excellence then it is quite hard to check one’s adrenaline rush, isn’t it? That is what exactly happened when we planned a sudden weekend gate-away to the Paigah Tombs, located 4 km southeast of the famous Charminar in Hyderabad, India.
Equipped with our Google Maps for help in finding our way, kick-started from our home and comfortably went through the highways until we reached the old city. Soon after, Google began to guide us through the lanes and by-lanes of old Hyderabad city, a far cry from the malls and high-risers that dominate the skylines of the modern city. We reached our destination in good time and managed somehow to get our car inside the tomb courtyard through the very narrow lanes.
For the next two and half hours we were completely enthralled with the architectural grandeur of the place having the “Krishnachura” (Delonix regia) trees in full bloom. The red flowers provided a perfect backdrop for this relatively obscure place. The tombs, its peaceful location and chirping of birds in the background helped sooth our nerves.
The Paigah Tombs are 200 years old which is nestled in 30 acres of land that represent the burial ground for several generations of the Paigah Nobles who were highly loyal to the great Nizam family. The Paigahs were mostly married to the daughters of the Nizam family and were wealthier than the average maharajas in India. Their fierce inclination to the art was reflected in the marvelous artistry in these tombs. Paigah tombs are designed with stucco work and represent Mughal, Greek, Persian, Asaf Jahi, Rajasthani and Deccani style of architecture which is prominent in the inlaid mosaic work.
These tombs are examples of exemplary craftsmanship. Constructed in limestone and marbles, the tombs are a treat for the sore eyes. The perforated and floral wood works in the doors and screens will leave anybody speechless.
Besides these the trellis marble fencing, canopies, and exotic lattice works throughout the walls are absolutely mesmerizing. Most strikingly, none of the designs in the tombs, doors, walls are repetitive and it takes some patience and an artistic perspective to understand these intricate differences.
The Paigah Tombs are undoubtedly a treasure house of fascinating artistry and extraordinary craftsmanship which once again prove the cultural and artistic excellence attained by the ruling houses of the then Hyderabad. Unfortunately, this fabulous artistic place is not as well known to the tourists unlike their popular and more frequently visited counterpart, the Qutb Shahi tombs. Though its beauty lies in its obscurity, nevertheless the people should know about the hidden treasures from a bygone era.
