Miss World finalists dazzled by royal welcome at Hyderabad’s Chowmahalla Palace
Hyderabad: Royal throne, vintage weaponry, Hyderabadi spices in the air, and lights throwing golden halos off marble floors—Miss World finalists got a taste of old-world royalty Tuesday night at the Chowmahalla Palace.
The Telangana government pulled out all stops. A state banquet, full palace tour, traditional music, dance, and a high-profile guest list—roughly 300 invitees from across industries joined the evening hosted in honour of the 72nd Miss World contestants.
The finalists—led by reigning Miss World Karolina Bielawska and CEO Julia Morley—gathered at the palace as dusk fell. Shehnai music welcomed them. Women in traditional garb danced them in, echoing the culture of the Old City.
Among the highlights: the Nizam’s royal throne, age-old kitchenware, military gear from the past. Many of the contestants were visibly awed. They also watched a special film presentation on Hyderabad’s heritage buildings and the Chowmahalla Palace’s architectural legacy, curated by Telangana tourism officials.
The food? Pure Hyderabad. Slow-cooked, richly spiced, a curated spread that had contestants singing praises. “The dishes were amazing. Unforgettable experience,” several of them reportedly told hosts.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy showed up with his wife Geetha and daughter Naimisha. Miss India Nandini Gupta was seen greeting him with folded hands.
Foreign envoys from South Africa, Guyana, Seychelles, Peru, Venezuela, Panama, Nepal, Indonesia, Guinea, Cameroon—alongside Telangana ministers Uttam Kumar Reddy, Sridhar Babu, Jupally Krishna Rao, and others—joined the festivities. Industrialists, bureaucrats, and film stars including Nagarjuna, Allu Aravind, and Suresh Babu made appearances too.
Contestants thanked the Telangana government for its elaborate arrangements, calling the hospitality overwhelming.
Next up on the schedule—historic Warangal. Two groups of contestants will leave on Wednesday morning. One headed to Warangal city to explore the fort and the Thousand Pillar Temple; the other bound for Ramappa Temple in Mulugu.