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Nizam's sprawling palace in Hyderabad to be venue of Miss World pageant

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* 
Hyderabad: With just few weeks remaining until the grand opening ceremony of the 72nd Miss World competition, preparations are in full swing in Hyderabad.
The beauty pageant is scheduled from May 7 to 31, 2025, marking the beginning of a month-long celebration of beauty and culture in the city.
The venue for the competition is the historic Chowmahalla Palace, a private property of the Nizams of Hyderabad.
Currently, Chowmahalla Palace is owned by the ninth titular Nizam, Mir Mohammed Azmet Jah, son of Mir Barkat Ali Khan, also known as Mukarram Jah. The palace is now open to the public as a museum and is a popular tourist destination.
Over 120 contestants from across the globe will arrive in Hyderabad. They will be staying at the Falaknuma Palace, a heritage hotel managed by the Taj Group, which was leased for 99 years by the 8th Nizam.
A memorable experience has been curated for the participants. It will begin with a heritage walk at the historic Charminar, followed by a grand gala dinner hosted at Chowmahalla Palace on May 7, 2025.
Recently, a joint inspection team comprising officials from Tourism, GHMC, the Heritage Department, and the police visited Chowmahalla Palace to ensure the seamless execution of the Miss World events.
Ms. Smita Sabharwal, the IAS officer overseeing the Miss World competition, also visited the venue along with the joint inspection team.
“The initiative aims to position Telangana as a premier tourism destination through this international platform. The Miss World event is expected to significantly enhance the state’s global visibility and attract future tourism opportunities,” she told the media.
The IAS officer added, “With meticulous planning, Hyderabad is poised to host a world-class event that blends tradition with contemporary glamour.”
Six women from India have won the Miss World competition: Reita Faria Powell (1966), Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999), Priyanka Chopra (2000), and Manushi Chhillar (2017).
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Journalist who began his career as a cub reporter in Hyderabad in 1995

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