(By Mohammed Mirza)
The issue of a heritage site living in neglect may not be new to us, but seeing neglect at such a scale all across the city is depressing. The heritage of the Nizams, who were the rulers of the largest princely state in British India has been deteriorating with the passage of time. A city that was known for its palaces, mansion, devdis and other royal estates has already lost many of them. Seeing the state that some of their last remaining structures are under, it won’t be surprising to see more of them disappear in the near future.
Mahboob Mansion, Malakpet
The mansion was named after AsafJah VI who lived here occasionally. His permanent residence was the Purani Haveli. Constructed towards the end of the 19th Century, the structure is a fabulous mix of European and Mughal architectural styles. Today this architectural gem is in ruins and encroachments have slowly started to make their way onto the mansion lands. Garbage, rot and filth dot the palace today. It is similar to the eastern blocks of Mubarak Mansion, Nazri Bagh of King Kothi Palace. In 1983, the spices market Osman Gunj was officially shifted to the open land on Mahboob mansion.
The palace is currently abandoned and in very poor condition, and the surrounding estates have been entirely taken over by housing and commercial developments Several monuments in the city have been crying for protection and restoration. Mahboob Mansion is among those which may yet be salvaged if the right measures are undertaken.
The palace is currently abandoned and in very poor condition, and the surrounding estates have been entirely taken over by housing and commercial developments Several monuments in the city have been crying for protection and restoration. Mahboob Mansion is among those which may yet be salvaged if the right measures are undertaken.
