Paigah Tombs

Paigah Tombs or Maqhbara Shums Ul Umra,are the tombs belonging to the nobility of the Paigah or the Shums ul Umrahi family. They are located in Hyderabad, India, at Pisal banda suburb.

This style of architecture is unique to the Paigah tombs

Paigah tombs in Hyderabad are located at Santoshnagar, 10 kilometers from the city center. The tomb is a wonderful piece of architecture. It has got marvelous carvings of marble.The Paigah tombs of Hyderabad are basically the tombs of the Paigah noble family and are constructed according to the generations. The Paigah noble family enjoyed a close intimacy with the the Nizams. They thereby used to have a conspicuous position in the society

The Paigah tombs of Hyderabad are basically the tombs of the Paigah noble family and are constructed according to the generations. The Paigah noble family enjoyed a close intimacy with the the Nizams. They thereby used to have a conspicuous position in the society. They were entrusted with the responsibility of vigilance, security as well as of the defense of the state. Among the Paigah nobles the notable ones whose tombs have been constructed here are:

• Asman Jah
• Viqar-ul-Umara and
• Shams-ul-Umara

Paigah tombs of Hyderabad will take you to the old days when Abdul Fateh Khan Tegh Jung established the Paigah nobility. He used to render service to the second Nizam, who was on the throne between 1760 and 1803. The Nizam honored him with the title of Shams-ul-Umra, that is "the Sun among the masses" which was of great prestige.

Tegh Jung was buried in 1786 at the complex of the Paigah tombs. You will find an iron plaque at the main entry point of the complex which reveals the Paigah heritage.

The Paigahs, apart from being efficient administrators were nevertheless great patrons of fine arts, literature and sports. The other contemporary rulers as well as the ordinary people had a tremendous love and respect for the Paigahs.

The Paigah tombs at Hyderabad are wonderful pieces of extraordinary craftsmanship that is evident from the beautifully laid mosaic works. The people over here takes pride that the geometrical patterns followed in the designing of these exquisite tombs are unique and not seen anywhere else in the world.

You can reach the Paigah tombs simply by the local transport within the Hyderabad city.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).the tombs of several generations of the Paigah nobles include 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 tombs are magnificent structures, decorated in stucco work, and represent the Moghal,Greek,Persian, Asaf Jahi, Rajasthani and Deccani style of architecture.

 The geometrical designs in the Paigah Tombs are unique and are perforated with screens with great craftsmanship. Which has been constructed by Amir e kabir I (Details of which are available in the diary of the Viceroy and the letter written by the then Resident J.C Bayley to Nawab Salar Jung the then prime minister Informing him about important details regarding tombs on 10 March 1882 after the death of the Co Regent and Amir E Kabir III Nawab Rashid uddin Khan Bahadur informing Sir Salar Jung that all the three Amirs wanted to perform the Urs of their Grand Father and Great Grand Father on the same day,he advised The Prime minister to see to it that all three Paigahs perform the Urs ceremony at the same time to maintain protocol and to avoid a situation in which who would perform first could be discussed)Nawab Sir Asman Jah Bahadur, Sir Khurshid Jah and Sir Vikar Ul Umra later made some additions which included the chowkhandis of marble added by Sir Khurshid Jah (this was taken up when Sir Khurshid Jah ordered 18 Chowkhandis over the shrines of Important holy saints all over India.

The last addition was made by Lady Vikar ul Umra for herself and her son Nawab Sultan ul Mulk Bahadur Beside the tomb of Amir e Kabir III Nawab Rashid uddin Khan Bahadur.It is in Hyderabad