Hyderabad by Walk - Raymond's Tomb

Vardha and I decided it was too long to walk to Raymond's tomb at Malakpet and took my car and went in search. It was on top of a hillock, what they call Tirumala hills.The gates were firmly shut and I wondered if we had to come back again some other time. Vardha was made of more adventurous stuff and he headed out to the gate, summoned the watchman who opened the gate without a fuss and led us inside. It was quite well maintained thanks to some recent restoration work - but needs better upkeep.

Entrance

Smaller tomb and obelisk for dear ones

Vardha checking out the first tomb

To the right was a pavilion - a small tomb - with the name of a woman and that of an infant. Perhaps Monsieur Raymond's wife or daughter we presumed. The watchman said the pavilion was for his horse - we did not get more of of it. 

Steps leading to Raymond's tomb

The obelisk

Initials  JR - Joachim Raymond

Then we walked on higher to the main tomb which had a huge obelisk and a pavilion. Monsieur Raymond was a much loved, popular French General in the employ of the 2nd Nizam and was known to the Muslims as Musa Rahim and to the Hindus as Musa Ram. There is an area named after him called the Musaram bagh. People still go to pray at his tomb. For someone who died in 1798, it is something to be remembered even now  - we saw some candles at his tomb even when we went.

The pavilion constructed by the Nizam

Remnants of candles

Michel Joachim Marie Raymond, son of a shop keeper, left France at the age of 20 in 1775 with his younger brother with the idea of opening a shop in Pondicherry. When the British took over Madras he moved to Mysore and joined the army of Hyder Ali. After serving there for a period he joined the 2nd Nizam's army in Hyderabad state as a soldier and soon grew up the ranks, starting with 200 soldiers under him and then more. This was the time when the Hyderabad state also entered into the Subsidiary Alliance with the British which gave the British rights to protect the state.

  

Dramatic view of the pavilion against the sunrise

As Amin Junsi or Comptroller of Ordnance he was responsible for establishing factories producing cannonballs and cannons, guns, ammunition and such. The Gunfoundry at Abids was one such factory he established. When he died in 1798 he was commanding the French Troops, numbering 14000 and it was a sight to see in the annual langar processions apparently.  His death remains a mystery they say. Not surprisingly the French Troops were disbanded the same year.

 

Another view

And another

Being a kind, brave man he was much loved by the common public. The Nizam built the pavilion in his honour and on his anniversary people would flock to pay respects. On his anniversary the Nizams would send a bottle of beer and a box of cheroots which one can presume he enjoyed.

What one cannot get over is the love and faith he commands from the common public. We could see the candles at the tomb stones which meant that people still prayed. While walking around the tomb area we also found some beer bottles which some unsuspecting soul must have consumed little knowing the Monsieur Raymond would have approved.

There are nice walkways around the tomb area where people can sit and watch nice views of the city. The garden is not very well kept. There are houses abutting the area so there are people throwing garbage into this area. Overall the design and restoration was done well and if maintained well, can really attract more people.