Wonderful Hotel Libraries

With nearly 6,000 books in glass-fronted cabinets and a
coffered, monogrammed, teak-and-rosewood ceiling, this historic room closely
echoes the British royal library in Windsor Castle—but it’s half a world away,
in Hyderabad’s Taj Falaknuma Palace. Opened as a hotel in 2010, this
19th-century landmark was the seat of the region’s Nizams. You can explore
their collection of books on art, history and religion in English as well as
Persian and Urdu. Should intrigue arise, retire to the “ladies’ gossip room”
next door. tajhotels.com