Hyderabad's 150-Year-Old Nizam Hand-Lift Still Operates Without Electricity!

Hyderabad
N
News18•11-01-2026, 13:23
Hyderabad's 150-Year-Old Nizam Hand-Lift Still Operates Without Electricity!
- •Hyderabad boasts a 150-year-old hand-lift, a marvel of engineering from the era of the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan.
- •This historic lift, located in an old princely building, was used by the Nizam for changing royal attire between the ground and first floors.
- •Its unique mechanism relies entirely on ropes and a heavy gear system, capable of lifting eight people with just two individuals pulling.
- •The lift's operation involves pulling ropes to ascend and loosening them to descend, showcasing ingenious non-electric technology.
- •Even after 150 years, the hand-lift remains functional and was recently used by family members during the enthronement rituals of the eighth Nizam's son, Mukarram Jah Bahadur.
Why It Matters: Hyderabad's 150-year-old hand-lift exemplifies durable, electricity-free engineering from the Nizam era.
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