White Mughal tour of Romance & Betrayal

Rs3500/person onwards

Private car 8 Hours Guided tour

Intruiging story of love & betrayal

This half day Hyderabad tour is set in the 18th century and is about the love story of an Englishman and a Hyderabadi noblewoman. The romance between James Achilles Kirkpatrick a high ranking official of the East India Company and Khair-un-Nissa a noblewoman provides the backdrop as we walk past remarkable monuments that provide a context for life in Hyderabad 200 years ago. The White Mughal tour includes a visit to the magnificent British Residency building, Bank street, the 3 strategic gates of Empress, Robert & Landsdowne, Rangin Mahal, British cemetery, a stepwell and a dog memorial!

Romance

The famous story of James Kirkpatrick and Khair-un-Nissa was not just about romance but also about culture, politics and history of the time. The story begins in 1797 when Col James Kirkpatrick becomes the British Resident to the Kingdom of Hyderabad. He was an ambitious man and was looking to make a mark by subjugating Hyderabad and strengthening the authority of East India Company. However, things took a different turn when he fell in love with Khair un-Nissa a Hyderabadi noblewoman. In 1800, Kirkpatrick married her as per Muslim law, converted to Islam and adopted the lifestyle of Mughals. Eventually he became a double agent working for Hyderabad against the interests of the Company!

British Residency

The British Residency is an imposing building and architectural marvel. It was built after the Nizams and the British signed a treaty in 1798 to allow the British to settle down in Hyderabad. The mansion was a symbol of British authority in the deccan region. The Durbar Hall is the highlight of the British Residency. It looks regal with Burma Teakwood flooring and Belgian mirrors and French chandeliers.

Residency Bazaar

The surrounding area came to be known as Residency Bazaar and emerged as the financial center of Hyderabad in the mid-nineteenth century. After the 1857 Sepoy Mutiny against the British East India Company, the British Residency was fortified with high walls and bastions. The mansion was converted into Osmania Women’s College in 1947 after India gained her independence.

A replica

The reason behind building a replica of the British Residency is very romantic! Khair un-Nissa, being a Muslim lady, was in purdah and hence was not allowed to see her husband’s mansion. Therefore James went ahead and built a smaller replica of his mansion for his wife to enjoy!

Historic Gates

Walk past arches at Empress, Robert and Lansdowne Gates, 3 historic gates and continue with this intriguing story set in the 18th century.

Rang Mahal

James also built a lavish palace for his Begum within the residency. Rang Mahal or Palace of colours was where Khair un-Nissa gave birth to their daughter Sahib Begum. It is unfortunately in ruins today.

Landmarks

The story of this forbidden cross-cultural love continues at a cemetery and a stepwell and ends at a resident’s dog memorial.

Guided Tour

White Mughal is a guided tour where a cultural evangelist will provide the cultural context during our visit. Our cultural evangelists unpack authentic India for better comprehension and appreciation of the cultural and heritage of India.

Private Tour

A private tour ensures that we are able to focus all our attention on you and adjust the pace of the tour according to your interests. Pick and drop from your hotel in an airconditioned vehicle is included in the White Mughal tour.

Strenghening local community

Our company is helping the local community by training & employing local guides. This initiative is to ensure travel dollars stay where they are spent.