The 101-seat table
In the hall where the Nizam gave his private feasts, 101 sit down together; at dinner the brigade serves every course at the same moment.
Taj Falaknuma Palace
Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad is the Nizams’ palace of 1894 on top of the Falaknuma hill, with 60 rooms and suites, a dining table that seats 101 and the whole city below its terraces.
A week here, month by monthFalaknuma suits couples or an anniversary, 2 or 3 nights with the carriage up the hill, tea at Celeste and qawwali in the courtyard, from INR 52,156 a night for 2 adults with the lowest seller on Google. With meetings in the western business districts, I would sleep on that side of the city.
Official site RoomsWould you go?
Keep it among your hotels and see it on the budget globe, month by month.Like a regular
A suite facing the city
The 3 Historical Suites stand at the front of the palace, with sweeping views of Hyderabad and a private sit-out over the city, 55–153 m². I would ask for one for the evenings.
The cheaper November nights
From 8 to 12 November 2026, single nights for 2 adults ranged from INR 52,400 to INR 54,356 on Google, read on 17 October 2026. Leaving out lone nights, the calendar reached INR 113,162 on 24 February 2027.
Spa extras on top
The spa menu prices its treatments before government taxes. A treatment in your room adds INR 1,500, and no cross-gender treatment is given in the room.
The walk at sunset
The palace historian leads the Heritage Walk through the Nizam’s former palace, and it begins at sunset. I would keep the hour before dinner free for it.
What Falaknuma is
The palace stands 609 metres above sea level on the hill south of the old city. The official factsheet dates it to 1894 and gives it 32 acres of gardens; it was the Nizam of Hyderabad’s private residence, and Taj reopened it as a hotel after a 10-year restoration guided by Princess Esra. From the gate you ride up in a horse-drawn carriage, then climb the marble staircase under rose petals: the hotel calls it the Spectacular Arrival.
The 60 rooms and suites come in 6 categories. Palace Rooms look over the gardens, 55 to 66 m², with canopied beds and hand-painted motifs on the walls; Luxury Rooms measure 50 to 55 m² and sleep up to 4. The 3 Historical Suites sit at the front of the palace, each with an outdoor corner facing the city; at the top is the Nizam Suite, a 180 m² duplex with its own pool and exclusive access to the J Wellness Circle spa.
Evenings are spent in rooms with a past. The hall of the 101-seat table, which Taj calls the longest permanent dining table in the world, opens for private dinners served by a brigade of waiters; at Gol Bungalow, the terrace where George V and Queen Mary were received, dinner is served above the lights of the city; the Hookah Bar, with its antique Burroughs and Watts billiard table, is for resident guests only. Every evening there is qawwali in the courtyards.
In the Lumina Guide
Lumina Guide 2027
Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad is the Nizams’ palace of 1894 on top of the Falaknuma hill, with 60 rooms and suites, a dining table that seats 101 and the whole city below its terraces.
Distinctions
Our reading, point by point
What we found reading the hotel’s own pages, one thing at a time.
Location
On the Falaknuma hill, at 609 m, above the old city
Character
The Nizams’ palace of 1894, with the 101-seat table and the library
Rooms
6 categories, from 50 m² Luxury Rooms to the 180 m² Nizam Suite
Food and social life
Adaa for Hyderabadi cooking, Celeste, Gol Bungalow and the Hookah Bar
Wellness
The J Wellness Circle spa and a large outdoor pool
The stay as a whole
The carriage, the sunset tour and qawwali every evening
The 5 things that matter, as guests tell them
What do Taj Falaknuma Palace’s guests say? They write it in their reviews, even those who only came for a drink or dinner: we read every one and tell the 5 things that matter, from the location to the bill.
Location
9 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. On the hill above the old city: guests write of the view over Hyderabad, the peacocks in the gardens and the quiet beyond the gate; some write of the narrow approach road and the distance from the newer districts.
Room
8 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Spacious, comfortable rooms with period furniture, canopy beds and large bathtubs; some find them a little rustic for the palace’s age.
Staff and service
8 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Guests remember the carriage arrival, the tour with the historian, the surprises for birthdays and anniversaries and many of the staff by name; others write of unanswered calls to reservations and of waits at afternoon tea.
Breakfast
8 in 10 guests who mention it are happy with it. Breakfast is liked for its range, the teas and the live flute in the morning, with the city below the terrace; some wanted more choice among the hot dishes.
Price
5 in 10 guests who mention the price find it fair. Guests call it expensive; those who stay often write that it is worth the money, while many who came for a dinner, a lunch or tea with the tour find the bill high for what reaches the plate.
Where Taj Falaknuma Palace leads
- Room
On the room it comes ahead of the 4 other hotels it is compared with in Hyderabad.
The numbers, and how we count them
| What | Score out of 10 | Guests who mention it | Happy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Location | 8.3 | 72 | 88% |
| Room | 7.8 | 38 | 82% |
| Staff and service | 7.6 | 274 | 75% |
| Breakfast | 7.8 | 21 | 81% |
| Price | – | 37 | 46% |
The scores come from 500 Google reviews with text, left from 13 September 2023 to 16 October 2026. The other hotels are the ones weighed for a stay in Hyderabad: for each we read its latest 500 Google reviews with text, or all of them where there are fewer, as of 17 October 2026. The score is the average of what they say, from 0 if they speak of it very badly to 10 if they speak of it very well. Where only a few mention something, the score stays close to the guide’s average: a handful of voices does not make a reputation.
The hotels we weigh it against in Hyderabad:
- ITC Kohenur, Hyderabad
- Park Hyatt Hyderabad
- Taj Krishna, Hyderabad
- ITC Kakatiya, Hyderabad
Price: for two on the night of 16 March 2027, from 52,156 INR (seen on Google Hotels on 17 October 2026).
What a night costs, season by season
Single nights for 2 adults ranged from INR 52,400 to INR 96,615 between 1 November 2026 and 8 February 2027, and from INR 48,740 to INR 76,700 between 25 February and 11 September 2027. For a winter stay, I would compare the whole stay before choosing dates.
| Period | Rupees a night |
|---|---|
| 17 October to 31 October 2026 | 31,014–43,660 |
| 1 Nov 2026–8 Feb 2027 | 52,400–96,615 |
| 9 February to 24 February 2027 | 53,930–113,162 |
| 25 February to 11 September 2027 | 48,740–76,700 |
The lowest calendar price Google Hotels showed for each night for 2 adults, read on 17 October 2026; no room or meal plan was named. The calendar stops at 11 September 2027, and 12 nights inside it show no price. Within the table, 23 November 2026 showed INR 133,471 between cheaper nights.
From the carriage on the ramp to the 101-seat table
4 videos published between August 2025 and September 2026: the arrival by carriage, a Palace Room and the Nizam Suite, the long table, Gol Bungalow above the city and the Celeste dining room.
YouTube
1:32
YouTube
0:38
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2:54
YouTube4:30
YouTube4:52
YouTube
8:24
The 101-seat table, Gol Bungalow and the Hookah Bar
Gol Bungalow
The terrace over the «city of pearls», open for dinner from 7pm to 10.45pm, with personalised menus and dishes from the Nizam’s state banquets.
The Hookah Bar
For resident guests, 7.30pm to 10.30pm: embossed leather, a mahogany ceiling and an original Burroughs and Watts billiard table.
Adaa, the Nizams’ cooking
Slow-cooked Hyderabadi recipes at lunch and dinner; the Kachche Gosht lamb biryani costs INR 1,950, plus taxes.
The pool
A large outdoor pool among the trees, below the palace arcades.
The J Wellness Circle spa
Open from 8am to 8pm, with steam and experience showers; the 120-minute Nawab-e-Khaas ritual costs INR 14,000, plus taxes.
Good to know before you book
Reservations are hard to reach by phone: several guests say so on Google between March and October 2026. The official FAQ also gives an email address for tables.
Visitors not staying come in with a restaurant or tea booking, which the official FAQ takes by phone or email; the Taj pages read on 17 October 2026 publish no entry ticket for a visit.
The Hookah Bar is for hotel guests only; every restaurant asks for smart casual dress.
According to Booking.com an extra bed costs INR 2,500 a night for children aged 6 to 11 and INR 5,000 from 12, and guests pay as adults from 18. Under-16s cannot use the spa.
No pets, says the official FAQ.
Prices on the Adaa menu and the spa menu exclude government taxes.
Rooms and suites in the palace, 50 to 180 m²
Getting there
| Address | Engine Bowli, Falaknuma, Hyderabad 500053, on the hill south of the old city. |
|---|---|
| From the airport | About 25 minutes by car from Rajiv Gandhi International, says the official site. Transfers are requested by email at least 24 hours ahead with flight details; Agoda lists them at INR 4,000. |
| Up the hill | From the gate to the palace you ride up in a horse-drawn carriage, as the official welcome has it; at the top come the staircase and the rose petals. |
| Parking | Outdoors, for up to 350 cars; Booking.com lists it as free. |
| Check-in and check-out | Check-in from 2pm, check-out by noon; early arrival and late departure are requested in advance. |
Access guidance from the official site, read on 17 October 2026.
Down in the old city, and out to Golconda
Charminar
5.2 km away, open 9.30am to 5.30pm; entry is INR 25 for Indian visitors and INR 300 for foreign nationals. Taj suggests early morning or late afternoon.
Chowmahalla Palace
The Nizams’ official residence, 5 km away: 10am to 5pm, closed on Fridays, INR 100 for Indian visitors and INR 400 for foreign nationals.
Golconda Fort
14 km away, open 9am to 5.30pm; in the evening there is a sound and light show, INR 140 for adults in the Executive class.
Taj Falaknuma Palace and Hyderabad
On the Falaknuma hill, south of the old city
Loading map…
Recommended for you
A day at Falaknuma
On arrival
Ride up by carriage
Guests ride up in a horse-drawn carriage, attended by the palace’s butlers, then climb the Nizams’ grand staircase.
12.30pm
Lunch at Adaa
Adaa serves Hyderabadi cooking from the Nizams’ kitchens, with lunch from 12.30pm to 2.45pm.
The afternoon
High tea at Celeste
Afternoon high tea is served at Celeste in the palace tradition.
7pm
Dinner at Gol Bungalow
Gol Bungalow serves heirloom recipes from the Nizams’ banquets, with dinner from 7pm to 10.45pm.
7.30pm
A drink at the Hookah Bar
The Hookah Bar opens at 7.30pm with cocktails, fine malts and cigars under antique chandeliers.
Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad reviews
Google, read on 17 October 2026: 4.6/5 from 13,722 reviews. The latest 500 reviews with text run from 13 September 2023 to 16 October 2026 and cover stays as well as lunches, dinners and teas by people not staying. Booking.com, read the same day: 9.4/10 from 185 reviews.
Guest voices
3 Google reviews written between March and June 2026.
GoogleTea at 4, the tour at 5
A guest writing in June 2026 sets out the afternoon: complimentary tea at 4pm, the palace tour at 5pm and qawwali at 6pm; for children, on request, a baking session.
Google · June 2026Read the review
GoogleFrom the clock tower
A guest writing in May 2026 describes the carriage ride from the clock tower, the toy swords given to the children on arrival and a first-floor room, more private than those on the ground floor.
Google · May 2026Read the review
GoogleBeyond the gate
A guest writing in March 2026, after 3 days, remembers a quieter, slower place, far from the heat and dust of Engine Bowli just outside the gates, and breakfasts with a live flute.
Google · March 2026Read the review
Questions about Taj Falaknuma Palace
What is Taj Falaknuma Palace?
The Nizams of Hyderabad’s palace, dated to 1894 by the official factsheet, turned into a hotel by Taj (IHCL) after a 10-year restoration with Princess Esra. The Ministry of Tourism certificate classifies it 5-Star Deluxe, with 60 rooms; it stands 609 metres above sea level in 32 acres of gardens, with 3 restaurants and 1 bar.
Which room should you book?
Palace Rooms (55–66 m²) look over the gardens, with canopied beds; Luxury Rooms (50–55 m²) sleep up to 4. Among the suites: Historical Suites with an outdoor corner over the city (55–153 m², 3 in all), the 65 m² Royal Suite, Grand Royal Suites of 75–103 m² with a living room and a Jacuzzi, and the 180 m² Nizam Suite on 2 floors with its own pool.
How much does a night cost?
Google Hotels, read on 17 October 2026 for 2 adults, showed INR 31,014 for 27 October 2026, a night 10 days after the reading, INR 52,400 for 10 November 2026, INR 53,332 for 22 December 2026, INR 48,740 for the single night of 10 March 2027 and INR 57,170 for 15 July 2027; the dearest night in the calendar is INR 133,471 on 23 November 2026, and some nights, 31 December among them, showed no price. These are calendar prices for individual nights: the calendar names neither the room nor breakfast and does not establish whether taxes are included.
What restaurants are there?
Adaa for Hyderabadi cooking and Celeste for Italian and international, both 12.30pm to 2.45pm and 7pm to 10.45pm; Gol Bungalow for dinner, 7pm to 10.45pm, on the terrace above the city; the Hookah Bar, for resident guests, 7.30pm to 10.30pm. From the Adaa menu: the Kachche Gosht lamb biryani and the haleem cost INR 1,950, plus taxes.
Is there a dress code?
Yes: smart casual at Adaa, Celeste, Gol Bungalow and the Hookah Bar, according to the official restaurant pages.
Can you have afternoon tea?
Yes: the official site lists Afternoon High Tea at Celeste, without a price. A guest writing in June 2026 describes tea offered to resident guests at 4pm, before the 5pm tour.
Can you visit the palace without staying?
With a restaurant or tea booking, which the official FAQ takes by phone (+91 40 6629 8585) or email; Taj’s pages publish no entry ticket. The hall of the 101-seat table is booked as an event venue.
What is the carriage arrival like?
It is the Spectacular Arrival of the official experiences: from the gate you ride up to the palace in a horse-drawn carriage, then climb the staircase under rose petals; the factsheet adds a garland of mogra. A guest writing in May 2026 describes the carriage ride from the clock tower.
What is there to do in the palace?
The tour with the historian, which starts at sunset; qawwali every evening in the courtyards; morning yoga; the historic library; personalised dinners in the palace’s rooms and gardens, according to the official experiences and the factsheet.
Is there a pool?
Yes, a large outdoor pool, says the official FAQ; hours and temperature are not published. The Nizam Suite has its own pool.
What does the spa offer, and what does it cost?
J Wellness Circle has 2 single treatment suites, a double one, 2 beauty rooms and a wet area with steam and experience showers; it opens 8am to 8pm. From the official menu: the 120-minute Nawab-e-Khaas INR 14,000, the 90-minute Pehlwān Mālish INR 10,500, plus taxes; in-room treatments cost INR 1,500 more. The gym is open 24 hours.
Can non-residents use the spa?
The spa menu read on 17 October 2026 sells treatments and publishes no day pass; the spa is closed to under-16s.
Can you stay with children?
Yes. The room cards offer cots up to 2 years and paid rollaway beds; according to Booking.com an extra bed costs INR 2,500 a night for ages 6 to 11 and INR 5,000 from 12, and guests pay as adults from 18. Luxury Rooms sleep up to 4; under-16s cannot use the spa.
Can you bring a pet?
No: the official FAQ says the hotel does not take pets.
How far is the airport, and is there parking?
About 25 minutes by car, according to the official site; transfers are requested by email at least 24 hours ahead, and Agoda lists them at INR 4,000. Parking is outdoors, for up to 350 cars; Booking.com gives it as free.
Where is it, and how far is the old city?
In Engine Bowli, on the Falaknuma hill south of the old city. According to Taj’s page on the surroundings the Charminar is 5.2 km away, Chowmahalla Palace 5 km, the Salar Jung Museum 7 km and Golconda Fort 14 km.
Is Wi-Fi included?
Basic Wi-Fi is; premium Wi-Fi carries a small charge, according to the official facilities. Agoda lists it at INR 200 a day.
What are check-in and check-out times?
Check-in from 2pm, check-out by noon; for an earlier arrival or a later departure the official FAQ asks guests to let the hotel know in advance.
Can you hold a wedding or event, for how many guests and at what cost?
Yes. From the official venues page: the Main Lawns up to 1,200 theatre-style, the Pool Lawns 500 standing, the Rajasthani Gardens and Durbar Hall 150, the hall of the 101-seat table 90, the 1906 Coronation Hall and the Jade Room 60, the Boardroom 20. The site publishes no prices.
Is there a compulsory New Year’s Eve dinner?
The official pages read on 17 October 2026 publish no New Year’s Eve programme; Google Hotels showed no price for 31 December 2026.
Is the hotel open, and when should you go?
It is open all year: on 17 October 2026 the site was selling nights and Google Hotels had prices into September 2027. In the calendar the cheapest nights fall in late October 2026, the dearest between November and February.
What do the reviews say?
Google showed 4.6/5 from 13,722 reviews on 17 October 2026, Booking.com 9.4/10 from 185 and Agoda 9.3/10 from 320. On Google guests return to the carriage arrival, the tour with the historian, the qawwali and the staff; several write that reservations are hard to reach by phone.
What special offers or packages are there?
On 17 October 2026 Taj offered Royal Experiences (breakfast and one meal a day, a guided walk of the palace, return airport transfers, 15% off spa therapies), Suite Surprises (20% off suites, with breakfast), Stay a Bit Longer (from 3 nights, at least 15% off the best available rate), the breakfast-inclusive rate and, for members, Festivals of India until 10 November 2026.
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