Goshamahal Baradari

Goshamahal Baradari (Freemasons' Hall) is a building constructed in 1682 located in Goshamahal, a suburb of Hyderabad, India.^[2] It is a well-preserved baradari that originally served as a palace during the Qutb Shahi dynasty.^[3][1] It was donated for use as a Masonic hall in 1872 by the Nizam of Hyderabad, and has held the distinction of the oldest structure serving as an active masonic lodge in India since 1933.^[4]

Goshamahal Baradari (Freemasons' Hall)
గోషామహల్ బారాదరి
Goshamal Baradari, in 1920s
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General information
Status	Completed
Type	Baradari
Architectural style	Qutb Shahi
Address	5-3-590 Goshamahal Road, Goshamahal, Nampally
Town or city	Hyderabad, Telangana
Country	India
Coordinates	17.3823°N 78.4703°E / 17.3823; 78.4703
Completed	1682 (343 years ago) (1682)
Technical details
Size	14,800 sq ft (1,370 m2)
Lifts/elevators	1[1]

The Goshamahal Baradari is considered by the Freemasons as a precious monument with its massive, majestic balustrades, walls adorned by portraits and photographs of Freemasons in their regalia and an equally lavish banquet hall, all being awe-inspiring sights. Now the oldest Masonic temple in the country, the Baradari has nine Masonic lodges and chapters meeting inside its imposing interiors.^[5] It is primary meeting place of freemasonry in Hyderabad alongside The St. John's (Secunderabad).

Freemasonry, said to be among the "world's oldest secular fraternal societies," is based on the "principles of fatherhood of God and the brotherhood of man" and has a member list that boasts of names like Justice Devender Gupta, several nawabs of the Nizam's era, Nawab Salar Jung Bahadur, Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad, Raja Bahadur Venkatarama Reddy and several others. The walls of this building are adorned with portraits of many freemasons including the 7th Nizam - Mir Osman Ali Khan.^[6]

In 2015, an elevator was added to the structure's east wing.^[1]

References

1. Nanisetti, Serish (9 January 2016). "350 years old and highly adaptive!". The Hindu. Chennai. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
2. "Nothing secretive about us: Freemasons". The Hindu. 17 March 2013. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021.
3. "Masonic Lodge and Picquet Tank, Secunderabad". The British Library. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
4. "Objects of Rotary". Lodge Eagle No. 334. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
5. "The world of freemasons". The Hindu. 7 November 2002. Archived from the original on 8 May 2003. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
6. "Yeh Humara Shehar: Goshamahal". The Hans India. 10 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 July 2022.