A diamond in the dust. That's what it is. The magnificent Paigah Tombs, considered the Taj of the South, are in a sorry state of neglect. One can notice official apathy and the stamp of neglect all over.
The Paigah's necropolis is located in a quiet neighbourhood 4 km southeast of Charminar, Hyderabad, near the Pisal banda suburb. Paigah Tombs or Maqhbara Shams al-Umara, are the tombs belonging to the nobles of the Paigah family, who were fiercely loyal to the Nizams, served as states-people, and generals under and alongside them. The Paigah tombs are among the major wonders of Hyderabad, known for their architectural excellence as shown in their in-laid mosaic tiles and craftsmanship work.
The Paigah tombs is where seven generations of the Paigah family has been laid to rest. Known for maintaining the security and defense of the Nizam, their tombs have now become fair game to encroachers and vandalism. What was originally an almost 40 acre ground of serenity, is now a mere two acre land with 27 tombs of the royal family.
The main tombs in this complex are of Asman Jah, Khurshid Jah And Sir Vikar Ul Umra who served as prime ministers to the princely state of Hyderabad. The tomb of Sir Asman Jah attracts tourist as it has the finest marble inlay work and in its hey-days, sported an intricately etched semi-precious stone. The stone was known to change colors according to the seasons – green in monsoon, white in winter and yellow in summer – but it is missing now.
Another interesting tomb is of Amir-e-Kabir. The structure has fine carvings of Urdu inscriptions on either sides. Richly decorated with floral and foliage motifs, the canopy is supported with pillars. These pillars have several arches fringed again by smaller semicircular arches.
The third jewel-in-the-rough is the resting place of Begum Kurshid Jah. Carved in marble, the tomb was decorated with many precious stones embedded in it. But as time passed, these stone went missing. However, the tomb still continues to attract the tourists with its floral inlay work.
These stunning beautiful tombs have been in sore need of preservation and restoration. Besides the vandalism, the general structure of the tombs seems ready to crumble. In some tomb enclosures half of the jaali work is missing. The exquisitely carved wooden doors and panels also show signs of decay.
These buildings are an integral part of the Rich Heritage of our region. Apathy of the authorities and the general public is causing them to lose the charm they had in the glory days. Frankly, it doesn't take much to keep these buildings running, just a little attention is all it needs.





