Taj Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad

It was a short and sweet stay for one night. Even though we didn’t have much time to enjoy the property due to meetings in the day, the staff were outstanding and they showed us around the palace at 9 at night. 😊 a special shout out to Jahnavi, Abid, Tejal and Rahul who made this short stay extremely memorable. From the upgrade to the special tour in the night to also finding a kolkata connection!

One of the most memorable visit to Taj property with the best hospitality and royal treatment from each and everyone . They left to stone unturned to make us feel special on every moment from entry to exit. We celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with utmost pampering from the Taj family .

Our one night stay here was perfect. From the grandiosity of the carriage ride up to the palace to the small details such as leaving a multani mitti face mask in the room, we could not fault it. The staff were incredibly courteous and we felt well looked after. Food was delicious. We particularly enjoyed the palace tour and Qawwali session. I would highly recommend staying here.

Everyone, prepare yourselves for a very long review. But this review is not due to any hardships we faced during our 5-night stay at the lovely Falaknuma Palace Taj resort. In fact, the opposite is true – we were completely blown away by our experience! I am sitting here 2 weeks after my return home to America, and I am still at a loss for words on the level of care and hospitality we received during our stay. It all started with our Airport Transport to the hotel, when we were greeted warmly by Santosh. As he drove us to the resort, he regaled us with the history of the area as well as the hotel. He was extremely personable and a very experienced and careful driver. As many who travel throughout India know, the roadways are a crowded mess of rickshaws, trucks, cars, motorcycles, scooters, and people, so navigating along the crowded streets can be very tricky. But the constant stop-and-go that is often felt with drivers of India was not felt at all with Santosh. We made sure to request his service for the duration of our trip when we went out into Hyderabad, and also for our return journey to the airport. Upon arrival, we were pleasantly surprised with a horse-drawn carriage ride that took us from the Entry Tower to the front steps of the Palace hotel. It was a short trek, but lovely nonetheless, and at the end we were invited to interact with the horses, which was great considering the beauty of the majestic creatures! As we ascended the staircase, we were treated to a transcendent welcome ceremony put on by the Welcoming Team of the Taj Falaknuma Family. I don’t wish to spoil the surprise, but note that you will feel like you’ve ascended into the level of Royalty. After a brief introduction to the Palace hotel, we were shown to our room. The team had thoughtfully moved our room from their initial assignment on the 2nd floor, to the 1st floor owing to my parents’ age, and we were very grateful for their foresight. There are a minimal number of elevators on the property, so ascending and descending the stairs for 5 days would have been tiresome for my parents. I’m not entirely sure how they knew to change the room location, since it they let us know almost immediately upon arrival, so I can only assume the information was relayed to the Check-In Team from the Welcome Team when we arrived. I was very touched that they took the initiative to change the room without my having to ask. The entire grounds are easy to traverse, and the gardens are well-maintained. As we stayed there from New Years Eve until January 5, the palace was decorated beautifully with traditional Christmas-related greenery, lights, and decorations. Specifically at night-time, it was beautiful to behold. We arrived on New Year’s Eve and attended the Gala Dinner, held on the front lawn of the Falaknuma Palace grounds; it truly was one of the best New Year’s Eve events that I have been to in a very long time. The Cultural Program was amazing, and opened with a Kuchipudi dance, followed by a Kathak dance troupe. After the dance performances, we were treated to a Qawali performance for the ages, that we felt to the inner parts of our souls. Following that there was a live band, and then a DJ that brought us energetically into 2025. The food tables had a LARGE variety of non-veg and veg options, along with many dessert tables, and drink options. Throughout our stay, we also made use of the on-site Jiva Spa, managed by the ever-lovely Madhavi. She was extremely attentive to our needs/ailments, and made sure to speak beforehand with the Massage Therapist assigned to my mom, as she has spine issues that required extra delicate hands. My mom was treated by Vinika, my father by Sita (twice) and Mina (once), and I was treated by Dharitri. In my line of work (healthcare), it is a constant struggle due to neck and back positioning for patient care, and I have been plagued with discomfort as a result. Dharitri was an ABSOLUTE MAGICIAN, and I left feeling 100% relaxed with most of my pains/aches completely gone. My parents likewise had the same experiences with Vinika, Sita, and Mina, and it was so nice to see them both feeling happy and relaxed after their sessions. We were also treated to the special tea that is brewed fresh multiple times per day, and while we were winding down, we had lengthy discussions with Madhavi about the products that were used. The Taj Group holds local artisans in high regard, and Madhavi truly showed her immense pride in the Taj Family by telling us of all the variety of industries that the Taj Group supports. Often times, Massage Therapists receive flak for what it is that they do, but in my opinion, the work they do to help others with their pain is truly amazing. The therapists with the Taj all go through vigorous training to qualify to work at the Jiva Spas, studying body mechanics, anatomy, and physiology, and on top of that, training in the ways of Taj Hospitality. I truly believe these men and women are at the top of their field, and it shows in their level of work ethic, care, and empathy for their clients. Taj Hospitality – this is the central theme for my review, and it certainly applies to the Kitchen/Restaurant team as well as the Housekeeping team as well. During our stay, we mostly indulged during breakfast, and the team at the Falaknuma restaurant always did their best to provide the most indulgent experience for us. Often times, I would only need to go to the buffet once, and any additional food I would want, the wait staff would already be bringing it out for me. Arfin was amazing, and remembered my eggs and pancakes order every morning. Archana was lovely and always made sure that my mom’s pot of tea was brewed exactly as she likes it. We were also looked after by Pydi Babu, Santosh, Swarnendu, and Elizabeth. They always had a kind word for us, and went out of their way to ensure that we were happy with our experience. Our room attendants (in-room dining and housekeeping) were Sahil, Abhishek, Sagar, and Shubham. They absolutely went ABOVE AND BEYOND to take care of our every need. Sagar and Shubham also did a lovely natural artwork piece for us on the last day of our stay and it was such a lovely surprise to come into our room to see their creation that was made for us. Their thoughtfulness truly touched our hearts deeply. I will finish with one last thought. From what I observed about Taj Hospitality, especially at the Taj Falaknuma, the entire Taj Team truly lives up to their Motto of “Atithi Devo Bhava” (“Guest is God”). As a general observer of human interaction, I saw instances where the guests would treat a Taj Team Member in a discourteous manner, yet I always saw that same Taj Member would respond in a complete opposite manner – with respect and reverence, with a smile on their face. It often made me wonder at who truly is a “God” at the Taj Falaknuma. From my perspective, those who can put aside their own “ego” and treat others in an positive manner, no matter what negativity is cast upon them, they are, in fact, Gods on Earth. They are the Taj Team.

All the staff are very courteous and helpful. The restoration of property is really world class. The staff is knowledgeable about the Palace, its history and transition and eager to help. Amongst the best in its class of heritage properties