Hyderabad: Six iconic heritage buildings win INTACH Awards-2026
Hyderabad: Six centuries-old iconic heritage buildings in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad have received INTACH Heritage Awards-2026, securing recognition as landmarks located across different areas. Among the awardees is the CSI Wesley Church near the clock tower in Secunderabad. Built in the neo-Gothic architectural style in 1916, the church received the INTACH Heritage […]
Hyderabad: Six centuries-old iconic heritage buildings in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad have received INTACH Heritage Awards-2026, securing recognition as landmarks located across different areas.
Among the awardees is the CSI Wesley Church near the clock tower in Secunderabad. Built in the neo-Gothic architectural style in 1916, the church received the INTACH Heritage Award for its building and was cited as a testament to 110 years of historic existence. The church occupies a historically significant plot acquired from the British Government and the Nizam by the pioneering missionary.
The Chemistry building at Osmania University was also recognised. The Department of Chemistry, described as one of the oldest and largest departments, traces its history to a Royal Chapter in 1917 under Nawab Osman Ali Khan, the 7 th Nizam of Hyderabad, and has a legacy spanning over 100 years.
The Navigation Training School in Begumpet received the award for its heritage value as a Premier Institution of Military Aviation training in India. It was established in 1946 at Royal Indian Air Force Station, Tambaram, later merged to form the Navigation and Signals School, and shifted in 1967 to the Air Force Station, Begumpet building.
Sri Puri Jagannath Temple in General Bazar, Secunderabad, was honoured for its architectural character. Built by philanthropist Ramgopal Malani, who built the Ramgopalpet Police Station building, the temple’s structure was noted as a synthesis of Rajasthani influence and local heritage, featuring intricate nakashi embossments on walls and pillars, cusped arches, and decorative medallions.
The Institute of Engineers (India) Telangana State Centre in Khairatabad was recognised as part of the awards. Established in 1938 to address the need for a society for the advancement of engineering science India, it received support through Dewan Bahadur Aravamuddu Iyengar, Minister for Water Works and Public Health, who donated about one acre of land for construction. The foundation stone was laid in 1945 and the building was occupied in 1947.
College of Defence Management (CDM) House in Secunderabad Cantonment, built in 1885, also received the INTACH Heritage Award. The building serves as the residence of the Commandant of College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, and was cited for an architectural approach suited to the Deccan Region, alongside its association with knowledge and skill development for the Defence Forces.
“Since 1996, the INTACH, Hyderabad Chapter has been presenting awards. The recognition applies to a set of structures regarded as historic and iconic within the city, placing them under the heritage listing associated with the Indian National Trust for Art & Culture Heritage, Hyderabad Chapter,” Anuradha Reddy, convenor of INTACH, Hyderabad Chapter, told Telangana Today.
CDM House, Secunderabad
The CDM House is characterized by deep verandas, projecting gazebos, shielding the interior from the intense heat while inviting the surrounding landscape into the living experience.
The Institute of Engineers (India), Khairatabad:
Erric Marretti, Chief Architect of Hyderabad State, was the designer of this building. It features modernist & art deco influence, massing with bold, functional, geometric volumes and clean horizontal lines. The Institution building was named Visvesvaraya Bhavan in honour of the legendary engineer-statesman Bharat Ratna Dr Sir M Visvesvaraya.
CSI Wesley Church:
The church featured a robust structure of granite and limestone. Its building aesthetic was defined by an impressive use of teak and rosewood, complemented by elegant stained glass and a framework of solid wooden beams and rafters.
Chemistry Building, O U
The building follows the Osmanian architectural style, and it features a grand, elevated entrance characterized by a large pointed arch & intricate decorative stone carvings above the doorway. The building’s double-height central hall is showcased with a blend of Jaina, Buddhist and Hindu elements.
