British Residency
British Residency
4
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.0
18 reviews
Excellent
7
Very good
7
Average
2
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Frances W
Geneva, Switzerland341 contributions
Aug 2019
You almost certainly need to join a tour or recruit a guide to get you into this grand building which is being restored and is not officially open to the public. We had a guide and were also asked afterwards to tip the janitor who rather grudgingly let us in (though this may have been an act).
The residency was built at the beginning of the 19th century in the Palladian style by James Achilles Kirkpatrick, the representative of the East India Company, whose story is told by William Dalrymple in White Mughals. That book, and Dalrymple's description of the dilapidation into which the residency had fallen, was apparently the spark that led to funds being made available for restoration - though these seem likely to take many years. One problem has been (as it was in Kirkpatrick's day) finding people with the requisite skills. When we were there work was underway on restoring the elaborate ceiling decorations of the ballroom - an enormous undertaking in itself.
The residency was built at the beginning of the 19th century in the Palladian style by James Achilles Kirkpatrick, the representative of the East India Company, whose story is told by William Dalrymple in White Mughals. That book, and Dalrymple's description of the dilapidation into which the residency had fallen, was apparently the spark that led to funds being made available for restoration - though these seem likely to take many years. One problem has been (as it was in Kirkpatrick's day) finding people with the requisite skills. When we were there work was underway on restoring the elaborate ceiling decorations of the ballroom - an enormous undertaking in itself.
Written 1 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R0b48
Newcastle, Australia108 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
The rather sad remains of the former British Residency in Hyderabad are now part of the Osmania University Women's College. Luckily the plans for restoration are underway. Don't be put off by the derelict appearance - if you knock on the left hand side door at the front of the building the caretaker will show you through. There's a small museum area with photos of its past glory and history of the building and former occupants. The small derelict cemetery a short walk away gives a glimpse of the short lives of the time, and is reminiscent of the European cemetery in Kolkata, although on a much smaller scale. Overall, worth the visit, although only for true history buffs!
Written 12 March 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MarthaF
New York City, NY65 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
For the serious history buffs and readers of William Dalrymple's White Mughals who are fascinated with the story of James Achilles Kirkpatrick in residence in the late 18th Century. An important historical building, constructed at the the time of The White House, in Washington DC. Interiors are currently undergoing major repairs so don't expect to see finished period rooms. But the architectural details make it very much worthwhile and hauntingly evocative of the East India Company era.
Written 24 January 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
koteswararao
Hyderabad, India81 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
British name home in Hyderabad is good to see on the main road
and center of city attraction and many colleges
and center of city attraction and many colleges
Written 20 November 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Praveen K
Hyderabad, India344 contributions
Apr 2017
one majestic heritage building. the building is old but still strong. has a large lawn and gardens in the busy koti center.
Written 30 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colibrí Viajero
San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico982 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
It took me around an hour to get to the British Residency, understanding that the traffic in Hyderabad is very heavy. It was hard to find and the locals didn't even know what it was. Finally, we arrived to the location and the place is in ruins. One cannot even go in.
I wouldn't recommend it, unless you can really appreciate the architecture from outside.
I wouldn't recommend it, unless you can really appreciate the architecture from outside.
Written 17 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Battuta2014
Dubai, United Arab Emirates22 contributions
Jan 2019
it is presently being restored carefully.
There is a very good guidebook on Hyderabad published by the Deccan Heritage Foundation on Hyderabad where this monument is discussed and was authored by Marika Sardar.
There is a very good guidebook on Hyderabad published by the Deccan Heritage Foundation on Hyderabad where this monument is discussed and was authored by Marika Sardar.
Written 16 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Shailendra
Hyderabad, India484 contributions
Oct 2017 • Friends
British residency is a rare monument of British architecture in Hyderabad built by James Achilles Kirkpatrick, a British national who is said to have fallen in love with Khair un Nissa who was from Nizam royal family.
It is now part of Koti womens college.
The marvellous architecture structure is in total ruins at present due to neglect on preservation. Now some renovation effor ts are in place to put into its erstwhile glory.
It is now part of Koti womens college.
The marvellous architecture structure is in total ruins at present due to neglect on preservation. Now some renovation effor ts are in place to put into its erstwhile glory.
Written 22 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anoop Ratnaker R
Hyderabad, India170 contributions
Jan 2016 • Friends
Known popularly as Women's College for half a century, this hidden gem used to house the British Residency in the past. This fact is unknown to many Hyderabadis as well. If you are a history buff, this is one of the sites you must set aside time to explore! Amongst the sprawling campus, the highlights are a splendid palace and it's little replica which has the most enchanting love story attached to it.
Written 5 July 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
occlusion_vikas
Panjim, India158 contributions
Nov 2015
Koti Residency or British Residency or "Hyderabad Residency" is an opulent mansion built by James Achilles Kirkpatrick who was British Resident of Hyderabad state between 1798–1805. It is a minor tourist attraction located in the suburb of Koti, Hyderabad.
The villa is in the palladian style and similar in design to its near-contemporary in the United States, the White House. It features in the 2002 William Dalrymple book White Mughals. The house was designed by Lieutenant Samuel Russell of the Madras Engineers and construction began in 1803.
Kirkpatrick built the mansion for himself and his Indian wife Khair un Nissa, who bore him two surviving children who were sent to England by the age of five and never saw them again due to the early deaths of their parents.
Koti, meaning a mansion, is a huge mansion built in Palladian Georgian style. The building was at once the embassy of the East India Company to the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the residence of James Kirkpatrick, the British Resident, as well as his successors. Within its compound there were several quarters, including a zenana (women's quarters) where Khair un Nissa lived. Within the compound was a miniature of the building- legend has it that this was so Kirkpatrick's wife, who remained in purdah, could see the entire mansion, including the front. This scale model is now in ruins.
In 1949 it was converted into a women's college, Osmania University College for Women.
After a court directive to the Archaeological Survey of India, it is now a protected monument. However, the building has suffered much damage and part of the ceiling has collapsed.[1]
The villa is in the palladian style and similar in design to its near-contemporary in the United States, the White House. It features in the 2002 William Dalrymple book White Mughals. The house was designed by Lieutenant Samuel Russell of the Madras Engineers and construction began in 1803.
Kirkpatrick built the mansion for himself and his Indian wife Khair un Nissa, who bore him two surviving children who were sent to England by the age of five and never saw them again due to the early deaths of their parents.
Koti, meaning a mansion, is a huge mansion built in Palladian Georgian style. The building was at once the embassy of the East India Company to the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the residence of James Kirkpatrick, the British Resident, as well as his successors. Within its compound there were several quarters, including a zenana (women's quarters) where Khair un Nissa lived. Within the compound was a miniature of the building- legend has it that this was so Kirkpatrick's wife, who remained in purdah, could see the entire mansion, including the front. This scale model is now in ruins.
In 1949 it was converted into a women's college, Osmania University College for Women.
After a court directive to the Archaeological Survey of India, it is now a protected monument. However, the building has suffered much damage and part of the ceiling has collapsed.[1]
Written 19 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it open to visitors? Are there any prior permissions required
Written 8 September 2019
You can visit the grounds but the interior is still being restored so I doubt you will be able.
You will have to wait till the end of 2020
Written 8 September 2019
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