The heritage glory of Hyderabad city needs no special introduction. The city is home to numerous centuries-old structures, associated with their own history. The Paigah Tombs belongs to the nobility of family, once the fierce loyalists of the Nizams. They were also well-known philanthropists and generals who worked with the Nizam.

These tombs are a major wonder of Hyderabad State, known for architectural excellence, and are made out of lime and mortar with beautiful inlaid marble carvings.

TheHistory of Paigahs

The noble families of Paigah, were highly influential and powerful families of Hyderabad’s aristocracy during the 18th century. The Paigahs, also considered as great patrons of arts are known for their inimitable elegance seen in the exquisite tombs.

They were instrumental in building AsmanJahi Palace, Vicar-ul-Umarahi palace and Khursheed Jahi Palace. The Paigah tombs represent delicate works of art in the style of Mughals. The overall area of the tombs is about 35 to 40 acres, while the tombs of the Paigahswho were married to the daughters of the Nizams are located in a two-acre site.

A Royal Necropolis!

Paigah tombs are 200-year old, final resting places of several generations of the Paigah Nobles.The remarkable artistry and exquisite inlaid mosaic work, along with geometrical patterns of these tombs are unique and one-of-its-kind in the world. The sublime beauty of these tombs continues to enchant many over the years.

The highlight about this structure is that these designs are non-repetitive. Every part of these tombs is uniquely different with stunning variations in the carvings, with intricately designed lattice work. The brilliantly carved wooden doors and window screens are made in jaali i.e. perforated work. The mausoleum represents exemplary craftsmanship with skillfully carved canopies along with marble inlaid floral designs.

Paigah Tombs combines Mughal and Moorish styles which lead to a unique synthesis. The crypts, which are made of lime and mortar, features intricate marble inlay work, which are reminiscent of the Seville in Spain. The surrounding walls have latticed panels, accompanied by geometrical and floral designs. The delicate and polished stucco work as well as Jali is highly artistic.

These tombs represent various styles like Mughal, Greek, Persian, Asaf Jahi,Deccaniand Rajasthani styles of architecture. The geometrical designs of these tombs are unique, which are perforated with great craftsmanship. The tombs belonging to Asman Jah and Begum Khurshid Jah attracts maximum number of visitors as they are made of marble and are adorned with many precious and semi-precious stones that changes colorsbased on seasons.

How to Reach

The necropolis is located about 4 km to the southeast of Charminar, at Pisalbanda near Santosh Nagar. Situated in the old city of Hyderabad, it is well-accessible by road.