# A Century-Old Hospital Built by Hyderabad's Last Nizam Still Practices Traditional Unani Medicine

> The Government Nizamia General Hospital near Charminar, popularly called the Charminar Dawakhana, is nearly 100 years old and still keeps Hyderabad's traditional Unani medicine practice alive.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Culture · **Published:** 2026-08-05 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/culture/mir-osman-ali-khan-ke-daura-ki-yaha-imarata-aba-bhi-de-rahi-yunani-ilaja-hyderabad-ke-davakhane-ki-sadi-purani-kahani-13778 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Charminar Dawakhana, Unani Medicine, Hyderabad Heritage, Nizamia Hospital, Mir Osman Ali Khan, Indo-Saracenic Architecture

Just a few steps from Hyderabad's iconic Charminar stands a building that thousands of tourists and shoppers walk past every single day, yet very few of them realise that its walls hold nearly a century of medical service and history. That building is the Government Nizamia General Hospital, popularly known among the locals as the Charminar Dawakhana. Even in today's era dominated by modern medicine, this hospital continues to stand as a strong and living pillar of Hyderabad's traditional Unani system of treatment.

## Founded in the Nizam's Era
The dawakhana was established in 1926, making its history nearly a century old today. It was built during the reign of Hyderabad's seventh and last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, whose rule is remembered for a string of public welfare initiatives and landmark constructions across the city. Mir Osman Ali Khan was known for exactly this kind of work, and the Charminar Dawakhana stands as one of the clearest results of that same forward looking vision.

## A Showcase of Indo-Saracenic Architecture
The Charminar Dawakhana is known not only for the medical care it provides but equally for the way it has been built. The structure stands as an outstanding example of Indo-Saracenic architecture, and its features are hard to miss even from a distance. High ceilings, tall and grand arches, and finely carved stone pillars give the dawakhana its distinct character, and these are exactly the details that place it among the most beautiful heritage buildings in Hyderabad.

## Unani Treatment Is Still Very Much Alive
While more and more people are turning towards allopathy for quick relief, the tradition of Unani treatment at this dawakhana has never faded and remains fully alive even today. Hundreds of patients continue to place their faith in this dawakhana every single day, coming here specifically for the treatment of old, chronic and complicated ailments that they feel are best handled the traditional way. It is precisely this continuing trust from ordinary patients that has kept the hospital relevant decades after it first opened its doors.

## A Major Centre for Unani Teaching and Training
The Charminar Dawakhana has never been just a treatment facility, it has also functioned as a major centre for the teaching and training of Unani Tib. For decades, the ulema and hakims associated with this dawakhana have carefully preserved the knowledge of Unani medicine, refusing to let it fade even as newer systems of treatment took over elsewhere. Just as importantly, they have passed this knowledge down to new generations of practitioners, and in doing so have kept this particular Hyderabad tradition alive and thriving rather than letting it become a thing of the past.

## A Living Heritage Still Standing Through Time
Nearly a hundred years after it first opened, the Charminar Dawakhana still stands exactly where it always has, carrying forward its old traditions and its enduring spirit of public service. The building remains one of the most beautiful and, more importantly, one of the most living examples of Hyderabad's history, a place that continues to serve ordinary patients today with the same purpose it was built for a century ago.

## What this means for you
This story is not tied to any price change or new rule, but it does highlight where people can still turn for trusted, government-run traditional treatment.

- **Across India:** It shows how a traditional system like Unani medicine continues to survive and function through a government institution, offering patients an alternative to allopathy.
- **In Hyderabad:** For local residents and visitors, the Charminar Dawakhana remains a trusted option for the treatment of old and complicated ailments.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. What is the Charminar Dawakhana?
It is the popular name of the Government Nizamia General Hospital, located near Charminar and known for Unani medical treatment.

### 2. When was this hospital established?
It was established in 1926.

### 3. Who built the Charminar Dawakhana?
It was built during the reign of Hyderabad's seventh and last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan.

### 4. What architectural style is the building in?
It is built in the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, featuring high ceilings, grand arches and carved stone pillars.

### 5. Is Unani treatment still practiced there today?
Yes, hundreds of patients visit every day for Unani treatment of old and complicated ailments.

### 6. Is the hospital known only for treatment?
No, it has also served as a major centre for the teaching and training of Unani Tib, where ulema and hakims have passed the knowledge to new generations.

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