Polo in Nizam's Hyderabad

By Seven Oaks -

Polo in Hyderabad has a surprisingly deep history, and for a period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Hyderabad was one of the important polo centres of princely India.

How polo came to Hyderabad

Polo itself originated in ancient Central Asia and Persia, though the modern game played today was standardized in British India after British officers encountered polo in Manipur during the 19th century. (Wikipedia)

In Hyderabad, polo arrived through two channels:

  1. The Hyderabad State cavalry and aristocracy, who already had a strong horse-riding tradition.

  2. British military officers stationed in Secunderabad Cantonment, where equestrian sports were popular. (Wikipedia)

Because Hyderabad was one of the richest princely states in India and maintained its own army, cavalry, horse-breeding facilities, and noble estates, polo found fertile ground.

The primary patrons

The Nizams

The biggest patrons were the Asaf Jahi rulers themselves.

Particularly:

  • Mahbub Ali Khan (6th Nizam)

  • Mir Osman Ali Khan (7th Nizam)

They funded clubs, horse stables, riding schools, and sporting facilities. Their court culture valued horsemanship, which naturally supported polo. (Telangana Today)

Prince Azam Jah

The most famous polo enthusiast in the Nizam family was:

Azam Jah

The eldest son of the 7th Nizam.

Contemporary accounts describe him as an accomplished polo player who helped popularize the sport throughout Hyderabad State. (Telangana Today)

The Paigah Nobility

After the Nizams themselves, the strongest patrons were the Paigahs.

The Paigahs were:

  • the highest-ranking nobles of Hyderabad State

  • commanders of cavalry

  • owners of enormous horse stables

Families such as:

  • Asman Jah Paigah

  • Khurshid Jah Paigah

  • Viqar-ul-Umra Paigah

maintained riding establishments and supplied many of the best horsemen in the state.

In many ways, Hyderabad polo was as much a Paigah sport as a Nizam sport.

Where were the polo grounds?

1. Bolarum

The most important polo area was around:

Bolarum

This was where:

  • Hyderabad State cavalry units were stationed

  • horse breeding and riding facilities existed

  • British officers frequently played

Many early matches were held in and around Bolarum military grounds. (Wikipedia)

2. Secunderabad Cantonment

The British cantonment maintained large open parade grounds suitable for polo.

Many matches involved:

  • British Army teams

  • Hyderabad State teams

  • mixed civilian teams

Secunderabad was effectively the centre of organized polo competition in Hyderabad State. (Wikipedia)

3. Hyderabad Polo Club

Sources indicate the first polo club in Hyderabad was established around 1884, and later evolved into what became known as the Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club. (Telangana Today)

The institution survives today as the modern Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club, although it is not on the original grounds. (Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club)

What teams played?

Unlike today's franchise sports, polo teams were usually based on:

Hyderabad State teams

Representing:

  • Nizam's State Forces

  • Hyderabad cavalry units

  • Hyderabad aristocracy

British military teams

Representing:

  • Secunderabad garrison

  • cavalry regiments

  • artillery regiments

Princely state teams

Visiting teams often came from:

  • Jodhpur

  • Jaipur

  • Patiala

  • Bhopal

These states were major polo powers in India.

What matches were played?

The most common competitions were:

Hyderabad vs British Regimental Teams

These were prestige matches.

The Hyderabad nobles and cavalry officers often played against:

  • British cavalry regiments

  • lancer regiments

  • dragoon units

Such matches were important social events attended by nobility and senior officers.

Inter-Princely Competitions

Hyderabad teams also travelled to:

  • Calcutta

  • Delhi

  • Jaipur

  • Jodhpur

where some of India's most important polo tournaments were held. (Wikipedia)

Why was Hyderabad good at polo?

Three reasons:

1. Wealth

The Nizam's government could afford:

  • horse imports

  • breeding programs

  • stables

  • grounds

2. Cavalry Tradition

Hyderabad State maintained one of the largest military establishments among princely states.

Good cavalrymen often became good polo players.

3. Aristocratic Culture

Among Hyderabad's elite:

  • riding was expected

  • horse ownership was prestigious

  • polo became a social marker

This mirrored polo culture in Jodhpur and Patiala.

Decline after 1948

After the integration of Hyderabad into India:

  • aristocratic estates shrank

  • cavalry disappeared

  • princely patronage ended

Polo declined sharply.

For decades it survived mainly through:

  • the Indian Army

  • a few aristocratic families

  • riding clubs

before experiencing a modest revival in recent years. (Wikipedia)

A little-known fact

During the first half of the 20th century, Hyderabad was one of only a handful of Indian princely states regularly mentioned alongside Jodhpur, Jaipur, Patiala, Bhopal, and Kashmir in discussions of elite polo. The sport was closely associated with the Nizam's court, the Paigahs, and the cavalry culture of Secunderabad and Bolarum. While Hyderabad never became as dominant as Jodhpur, it was unquestionably one of the significant polo centres of princely India. (Telangana Today)

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