In New Delhi, Hyderabad House stands as a reminder of the opulence of Mir Osman Ali Khan, the Nizam of Hyderabad. Designed by Edwin Lutyens and completed in the 1920s, the palace combines European and Mughal architectural elements and occupies 8.2 acres near India Gate.
Constructed at an original cost of £200,000 (roughly Rs 170 crore today), Hyderabad House was the Nizam’s Delhi residence. The building includes 36 rooms, courtyards, archways, grand staircases, fireplaces and fountains, all reflecting the ruler’s taste. Lutyens’s “butterfly” plan shaped the layout: a central dome with symmetrical wings extending at about 55 degrees, linked by striking rhombic marble flooring in the circular foyer and first-floor corridor. The palace even featured a dining hall designed to seat 500 guests.
A notable internal feature was the zenana, the women’s quarters, arranged as a circular court with small rooms around it. Lord Hardinge, on visiting, described these rooms as “the size of a horsebox,” noting taps for hot and cold water but no baths—an illustration of traditional arrangements intersecting with modern plumbing.
After India’s independence, Hyderabad House passed into government hands and, in 1974, was designated the Prime Minister’s state guest house. As Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India, Hyderabad House figures prominently in his two-day itinerary, hosting official meetings and receptions. Photographs from the visit show President Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeting each other at the residence and the welcoming ceremony at Palam Air Base.
