A group of 36 alumni from H.P.S. school recently paid a visit to H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan’s H.I.G.H. (Highest In Greater Hyderabad), a man-made hill that surpasses the city’s tallest ancient Naubat Pahad. The hill is situated on eight acres of a vast 80-acre private land estate on Road number 25 in Jubilee Hills. The large group of guests, primarily from outside Hyderabad, were astonished to discover such a nature-friendly real estate gem in the heart of this expensive IT capital of India.
Kiran Kumar Reddy, former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh and a resident of the area, expressed his amazement, stating, “I live close to this place. I knew it, but never knew that it is so big.” His visit was part of the 100-year celebration of “Hyderabad Public School” during a High tea hosted by H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan for a large group of HPS alumni and their spouses.
H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan, a 60-year-old distinguished personality and well-known citizen of Hyderabad, is the creator of this hill. He is the recent recipient of the title of the 9th Nizam of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty, bestowed upon him by his extensive royal family. He currently owns an 80-acre film set facility located on Road No. 25 in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, which includes the unique man-made hill, a one-of-a-kind feature in any urban area worldwide.
Known for his remarkable family buildings, H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan’s man-made hill is famously referred to as H.I.G.H. (Highest in Greater Hyderabad Hill). The film fraternity often calls it the “Bhoot Bungala.” Numerous mega-budget films, including ‘Rangasthalam,’ have been shot at this location. Already situated on an elevated plateau, the hill towers above Naubat Pahad, making it a popular topic of conversation in the city. On Google map, it is identified as “Raunaq’s H.I.G.H. Man Made Hill.”
H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan revealed, “It took me ten years to create this hill on an existing tall plateau. I used moram (a sticky type of soil) to secure the embedded rocks. I had to put this place to use to protect it from land sharks who would stop at nothing to claim or grab it.”
Coincidentally, the party venue, Raunaq’s Hill, was frequented by H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan’s ancestor, SultanUlMulk, who built accommodations within existing air-raid shelters before World War 2. Sultan-Ul-Mulk was the son of Sir Viqar (who built Falaknuma) and Lady Viqar/Jahandar-Un-Nisa, sister of Nizam 6th, who gifted more than 100 acres to the original “Jagirdars College,” presently known as Hyderabad Public School, from her private estate.
The tea party was organized to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. H.E. Nawab Raunaq Yar Khan has personally hosted numerous exclusive celebrations of various religious festivals, including Diwali and Sankranti, 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 efforts 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.
