Falaknuma Palace : The Falaknuma (Star of Heaven) palace is one of the most magnificent of its kind in the country. Built by Nawab vikar-ul-Umra Bahadur, the fifth Ameer of the Paigah in the nineteenth century, it is located atop a 650 meter high hill, about 5KM from Charminar. Designed by an Italian architect and built in marble, the Falaknuma was purchased by Seventh Nizam , Mir Osman ali Khan, who used it as royal guest house. The dignitaries who visited the palace includes King George V. The state reception room, whose ceiling is decorated with frescoes and gilded relief's , the spacious ball room and the dining room with the long table for 100 persons is indeed a splendorous sight. The palace houses the oriental and European treasures including a large collection of manuscripts and books.