Paigah Tombs

Paigah Tombs  belonging to the nobility of the Paigah or the Shums ul Umrahi family.  Spread across  area of 30-40 acres, the origin of Paigah Tombs can be traced back to late 18th century. Paigah Tombs are  one of the Historical attractions in Hyderabad, located in Pisal banda suburb area. The  style of architecture is unique to the Paigah tombs.
The tombs were constructed in the year 1787's by Nawab Taig Jung Bahadur and Later by his son Amir e Kabir I ( In the 1880s some additions were made by Sir Asman Jah, Sir Khurshid Jah And Sir Vikar Ul Umra). This  tombs of several generations of the Paigah nobles includes  Abul Fatah Khan Shums ul Umra I to shums ul Umra v, Sir Asman Jah, Sir Khursheed Jah, Sir Vicar-ul-Umra, Sultan ul Mulk, Lady Vicar ul Umra, Lady Khurshid Jah, Lady Asman Jah, Moin ud Dowla, Zaheer yar Jung and other members of the Paigah Family.
The  Paigah family are one  of the most  influential and powerful families of the Hyderabad State aristocracy during 18th century. The Paigah Nobles, are claims  to have descended of  Hazrath Omar bin Al-Khattab, the second caliph of Islam, were much more  richer than the average Indian Maharaja. the  Paigah  alone hold exclusive rights to maintain their own court, their own palaces, and their own  private armies that contains  to more than  thousands. The word Paigah is Farsi meaning to  “footstool”.  In  English this is  equivalent  to “right-hand man”.

 
The Paigah nobility was founded by Abdul Fateh Khan Tegh Jung while in service to the second

Nizam, Salabat Jang. For his dedication and efforts, the Nizam facilitated  to him as the hereditary titles of  "Shams-ul-Doula, Sahams-ul-Mulk, and Shams-ul-Umara"  the latter meaning  “the sun among the nobles or masses”  and the Paigahs were tasked to take care of the defense and security of the Hyderabad state. The Paigah nobles were very nearest  to the Nizams and it  was  more strengthened  when Abdul Fateh Khan Tegh Jung’s  son "Fakhruddin Khan"  was married to  the daughter of the second Nizam of Hyderabad in 1797.  Since then, Fakhruddin Khan’s descendants married daughters of other Nizams. By protocol, the Paigahs were considered next only to the Nizams.
The Paigahs were,  great patrons of the arts and commanding the respect of the other nobles and the people.  The Paigah Tombs are from the wonders of Hyderabad and their marvelous art  is  shown  in their inlaid mosaic  tile-work.

Located at the Pisal Banda, these tombs are city attractions in Hyderabad, the Paigah Tombs

are delicately carved and enclosed in pierced marble facades. The Paigah Tombs are regarded as the finest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture, having both features of the Asaf jah and Rajputani style of architecture. A majestic, double-storyed gateway structure greets the visitor at the beginning.The tombs are magnificent structures, decorated in stucco work, and represent the Moghal,Greek,Persian, Asaf Jahi, Rajasthani and Deccani style of architecture.
The Paigahs are comprised aristocrats in the former State of Hyderabad. They were the first lieutenants of the Nizam who established his rule in the Deccan in 1724. Ranked second only to the Royal family of the Nizam they mostly served in the military and administration. Paigah nobles were perhaps the only ones with whom the Nizams had established matrimonial relationship. The Paigah nobles have to their credit several of city's architectural structures, most notably the Falaknuma Palace one of the tourist places in Hyderabad.