Saifabad Palace, Government palace in Hyderabad, India
Saifabad Palace is an administrative building in Hyderabad displaying European architectural features including semi-circular arches, Corinthian columns, and a central wooden staircase. The structure was located within the Mint Compound, a key administrative area of the city.
The building was constructed in 1888 under Nizam Mir Mahbub Ali Khan and initially served as an administrative center for Hyderabad state. It remained in operation for more than a century before being demolished in 2020.
The palace represented a visible shift in how power was exercised in Hyderabad as British administrative influence grew stronger. Its design showed how European and local architectural traditions came together in response to changing governance.
The building was not accessible to the public as it was located within a restricted administrative compound. Access was limited to officials and authorized personnel only.
A sighting of a monitor lizard in the building was so concerning that the Nizam refused to live there. This incident shaped the decision to convert it into offices for government staff instead.
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