I have known Alok Singh for a very long time. An outstanding cricketer Alok represented India as an 18 year old but chose tourism over pursuing what could have been a prestigious sporting career. His brilliance and expertise was called on once again to arrange our India journey to culminate with a stay at the opulent Taj Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad.
A desire to stay at the Nizam’s palace was piqued when I discovered the residence, abandoned for over fifty years had been acquired by the Taj Group and the mammoth restoration project to turn an abandoned palace into a boutique palace hotel took just over seven years. Back in the 1980’s the 7th Nizam of Hyderabad was living in Perth, Western Australia, with his second wife and I was intrigued why someone born into an Indian ruling family of enormous wealth, educated at Eton would choose to live in my home town. As the most isolated city in the world, Perth in the 80’s was not very cosmopolitan and in my opinion as a university student, not at all sophisticated. Eventually the Nizam quietly departed Perth and moved to Turkey but my fascination with the last Nizam of Hyderabad endured. I loved this Perth connection and our stay at Taj Falaknuma Palace would a fitting finale to a fabulous holiday travelling through South India.
I knew Falaknuma would be over the top. From our arrival by horse and carriage to the imposing Neo Classical entrance while being showered in rose petals as we made our way up the white marble stairs this place was going to something really really special.
For our final night we booked to dine in Adaa only to arrive and be informed our table would be ready for us in thirty minutes. We had received exceptional service throughout our stay so was for a moment taken aback by this request. Instead of waiting we ambled through the manicured gardens and noticed several staff setting up a table on one of the terraces.
“How romantic” my travelling companion remarked, “wouldn’t it be amazing to experience a private dinner?”
Back to the restaurant and this time it was to a very warm welcome. Perhaps the back of house issues we presumed were the cause of the delay has been resolved? Maybe not, as our waiter escorted us back down the path we had just come from. To squeals of delight, we were guided to the Jade Terrace where we had noticed the staff so busily engaged. Masses and masses of iridescent orange marigolds strung from the trees were parted to reveal a lavishly decorated table surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of tea lights just as the lights of the city of Hyderabad below us started to sparkle.
It was the waft of men’s cologne more pungent than the garlands of marigolds that hit. Before I had a chance to recognise the aftershave out from behind a marble pillar leapt the ever smiling Alok. It turned out Alok had spent months arranging our surprise dinner and had flown from Delhi to personally share this magical experience. Over eight courses of the finest Hyderabadi cuisine we laughed, talked and reflected on our wonderful holiday. Eventually it was time to leave this magical scented garden amazed by our friend and his unceasing ability to surprise.
