During his years as prime minister, he made valuable contributions in the field of education. The education department, the engineering school, the law classes, the legislative Council and the Asafia Library were opened under his prime-ministership. He was the fifth Amir of a noble family, the Paigahs, and was the maternal grandson of Asaf Jah III. Sir Muhammad Fazl ud-din built the magnificent palace like Falaknuma Palace as his residence, which took 9 years to build and was completed in 1893. He also built the magnificent Paigah Palace in the European style of architecture, after he gave the Falaknuma palace to Mahbub Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VI, where he spent his life. He built Vikhar Manzil, near Hussain Sagar lake.
Architecture
Viqar-ul-Umra commissioned the Spanish Mosque at Begumpet, Hyderabad in 1887. He started its construction after getting inspired by Spanish architecture during one of his trips to Spain. It is built in the Moorish architecture style and has calligraphy, horseshoe arches and influences of Roman architecture. Viqar-ul-Umra constructed the Falaknuma Palace in 1893. Later Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan bought this palace. This palace was built with a blend of Italian and Tudor architecture and the ceiling is adorned with frescos. It also has the world's largest dining wall in which chairs made of rosewood are present. Currently, it is a hotel, leased to Taj Hotels. Notable dignitaries to stay in this palace include Czar Nicholas II, George V, Queen Mary, Narendra Modi and Ivanka Trump. After Nizam bought the Falaknuma Palace, Viqar-ul-Umra built the Paigah Palace for himself. The Zenana Mahal in it was built with a blend of Neo Gothic, Indo-Saracenic and Mughal architecture. A part of the palace houses the U.S. consulate and a part of it is inhabited by his descendants. By, he built scores of monuments, public buildings, Dams, water reservoirs, artificial lakes, and about 21 palaces and mansions in the state of Hyderabad including the palace of Paigah Palaces of Begumpet also known as Aiwan-e-Begumpet. Viqar-ul-Umra founded the city of Vikarabad in present-day Telangana state, India. This town is named after him. In this beautiful town with a mini hill station of Ananthgiri hills, he constructed the Sultan Manzil for his son Nawab Sultan-Ul-Mulk, post-office, police station, Hospital, Sanitarium, Vikarabad Bazar, Kotpally dam, Vikarabad lake and a hunting lodges imported from London in 1882.
Personal life
In, Viqar-ul-Umra married Jahanderunnisa Begum. She was the fourth daughter of H.H. Nizam Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V Tahniyath Ali Khan and a sister of H.H. Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan. After Nawab Viqar-ul-Umra Bahadur was knighted, she took the title Lady Viqar-ul-Umra. Their son Mukhtaruddin Khan was born on 3 November 1875. He later became the Amir-i-Paigah-Viqar-ul-Umra. They also had a daughter – Liaqatunnisa Begum. In 1878, Viqar-ul-Umra married Munirunnisa Begum, the daughter of Nawab Hamza Ali Khan Bahadur. Their son Waliuddin Khan was born on 13 March 1880. He later served as the Prime Minister of Hyderabad. They also had a daughter – Taharaqunnisa Begum. Although Viqar-ul-Umra's previous marriages were arranged, he fell in love with Dr. Gulbai Viccajee, a Hyderabadi physician. They first met at Mumbai. In 1900, they married. As she was a Zoroastrian by faith, she converted to Islam to marry him. She took the name Nur Jahan Begum. After marriage, she left her medical profession and lived in purdah at Vikhar Manzil. Viqar-ul-Umra died while hunting at Yalghadap - Khanapur on 15 February 1902. He is buried at the Paigah Tombs.
Polo
Viqar-ul-Umra was an avid player of polo. He discovered the sport during a tour to Europe and later brought it to Hyderabad. He went on to popularise the sport amongst the nobles of the state. He also constructed polo grounds in the state and organized polo tournaments for the royal families.
