Public gardens, Secunderabad - Ancient Photos

Photograph taken from the entrance of the gardens at Secunderabad (now in Andhra Pradesh), taken by Lala Deen Dayal, c. 1890. In the 19th century era of pioneering photography mostly dominated by Europeans in India, Deen Dayal earned renown as a hugely successful Indian photographer. Born to a Jaina family in Sardhana near Meerut, he studied photography while an engineering student, and took it up professionally encouraged by mentors such as Sir Henry Daly. His technical excellence and attention to detail made him much in demand and he took official photographs of colonial events and administrators, including Lord Dufferin, Viceroy 1884-88. In 1884 he was appointed court photographer to the Nizam of Hyderabad and founded a studio in Secunderabad which is still run by his descendents today. He specialised in portraiture and Indian views. 

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Tombs at Golconda, Hyderabad - Ancient Photos

Photograph of Muhammad Qutb Shah's tomb, Golconda, taken by Deen Dayal in the 1880s, from the Curzon Collection: 'Views of HH the Nizam's Dominions, Hyderabad, Deccan, 1892'. Golconda was capital of the Qutb Shah dynasty, founded in 1512 by Quli Shah. Nearly all the members of the dynasty were buried in the complex of royal tombs at Golconda. Each of the tombs in this dynastic necropolis are built in the same tradition as those in Bidar. All the tombs have a square base surmounted by an onion shaped domed and surrounding by an arcade, with rich ornamental details. The tomb of Muhammad Qutb Shah (r.1612-1626) contains the remains of Chand Bibi, daughter of Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur, and other descendants of the royal house. 

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Husain Sagar Tank, Secunderabad, 1902-03

A Panoramic view in two parts of the Husain Sagar tank in Secunderabad, from the Macnabb Collection (Col James Henry Erskine Reid): Album of Indian views, taken in c.1902-03. Husain Sagar is an artificial lake which divides the twin cities of Secunderabad and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh. The lake was created in the 16th century by Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah (r.1550-80) and named after Husain Shah Wali, who had helped the sultan recover from illness. It was created by enlarging an existing small stone dam across the valley. The lake supplied the townspeople with water as well as irrigating the surrounding land. 

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The Residency House, Bolarum - Secunderabad - Ancient Photos

View of the Residency House, Bolarum, Andra Pradesh, photographed by Deen Dayal in the 1880s. This photograph is from the Curzon Collection: 'Views of HH the Nizam's Dominions, Hyderabad, Deccan, 1892'. This was the country house of the former British Resident at Bolarum, near Secunderabad, constructed in 1860. It is a single storyed building set in 90 acres of grounds. It is now known as the Rastrapati Nilayam and is the official residence of the President of India. 

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