Recently, a group of 36 alumni from the H.P.S. school paid a visit to H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan’s H.I.G.H. (Highest In Greater Hyderabad), a man-made hill that stands taller than the city’s ancient Naubat Pahad. This marvel is situated on eight acres of a vast, private 80-acre estate on Road number 25 in Jubilee Hills. The guests, primarily from outside Hyderabad, were astounded to discover such a nature-friendly real estate in the heart of India’s expensive IT capital.
Kiran Kumar Reddy, former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, expressed his surprise, stating, “I live close to this place. I knew it, but never knew that it is so big.” He visited Nb Raunaq to explore this largely unexplored landmark of Hyderabad. This visit was part of the 100-year celebration of “Hyderabad Public School” at a High tea hosted by Nb. Raunaq for a large group of HPS alumni and their spouses.
H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan, a distinguished 60-year-old citizen of Hyderabad, is the creator of this hill. He was recently crowned the 9th Nizam of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty by his vast royal family. Currently, he owns a film set facility located on an 80-acre plot at Road No. 25, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. The man-made hill, situated on 8 acres, is a unique feature, unparalleled in any urban area of the world. It is larger than all film facilities within the city combined.
Nizam Prince Raunaq Yar Khan is known for his magnificent family buildings, and this man-made hill is famously known as H.I.G.H. (Highest in Greater Hyderabad Hill). Film industry professionals often refer to it as “Bhoot Bungala.” Several mega-budget films have been shot here, including ‘Rangasthalam’. The hill, already on an elevated plateau, stands taller than Naubat Pahad. This place is currently the talk of the town and is marked as “Raunaq’s H.I.G.H. Man Made Hill” on Google map.
“It took me ten years to create this hill on an existing tall plateau. I used moram (a sticky type of soil) to hold the embedded rocks. I had to put this place to use to protect it from land sharks,” Raunaq said, referring to those who would stop at nothing to claim or grab the land.
Coincidentally, the venue for the party, Raunaq’s Hill, was frequented by Raunaq’s ancestor SultanUlMulk, who built some accommodation within existing air-raid shelters before World War 2. Sultan-Ul-Mulk was the son of Sir Viqar (who built Falaknuma) & Lady Viqar/Jahandar-Un-Nisa, sister of Nizam 6th. She gifted more than 100 acres to the original “Jagirdars College,” presently Hyderabad Public School, from her private estate.
The tea party was organized to celebrate Christmas & New Year. H.E. Nawab Raunq Yar Khan has personally hosted exclusive celebrations of many religious festivals, other than his own, for decades. He is a firm believer in the role of inter-religious harmony in a peaceful society and has been recognized and honored for his work with a conferred doctorate.
The entire group, including members of the 1975 batch, enjoyed the evening. Dilip Chenoy, Former Secretary General of FICCI and a member of the batch, was a guest and coordinated with the group who came from all parts of India and the world.
