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The Magnificent Chowmahalla Palace In Hyderabad

Read on to know about the Chowmahalla Palace in hyderabad, which is worth a visit.

By Pranav Eb

Once considered the centre point of Hyderabad, the magnificent Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, where the Nizams entertained their offical guests and royal visitors.

It is renowned for its unqiue style and elegance. A fusion of many architectural styles and influences, this palace complex which was built over 200 years ago has been carefully restored to its full grandeur.

Also Read : 5 Beautiful Palaces In Hyderabad

The highlight of the palace is the Grand Khilwat or the Durbar Hall. The magnificence of this place is breathtaking. As the guests of the Nizams entered the courtyard, their eyes were drawn to the Khilwat, the grand Durbar Hall as it lit up in its ever changing milieu of colours.

chowmahalla palace in hyderabad

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The literal meaning of the palace is 'Four Palaces' with 'Chow' meaning four and 'Mahalat' which is the plural of Mahal, meaning palaces. The Chowmahalla palace is believed to have resemblances to the Shah Palace of Tehran in Iran.

Getting Here...

The palace is located in the city of Hyderabad, with a close proximity to the famous Charminar. The palace attracts tourists from across the country.

Hyderabad is well connected by air, rail and by roads; hence, reaching the destination will not be a major task for anyone travelling to Hyderabad from across any part of the country.

chowmahalla palace in hyderabad

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Best Time To Visit

The palace can be visited anytime during the year. A point to be noted is that the palace is closed on Fridays and National holidays for visitors.

More About The Place...

The construction of this palace was completed between 1857 and 1869 during the rule of the fifth Nizam, Afzar-ud-Daulah, Asaf Jav V. However, the building is mostly credited to Nizam Salabat Jang who started it in 1790.

Weekend Trip From Hyderabad To GoaWeekend Trip From Hyderabad To Goa

The palace originally was built on 45 acres which extended from the Laad Bazaar on the north to Aspan Chowk Road on the South. Now, the palace stands on an area spanning close to 12 acres.

chowmahalla palace in hyderabad

PC: wikimedia.org

It consists of two courtyards which were divided into the northen courtyard and the southern courtyard. The southern courtyard has four palaces which are Afzal Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal, Mahtab Mahal and Aftab Mahal.

The Aftab Mahal is a two-storeyed structure and is the biggest amongst the four. The northern courtyard which is open to the public houses Bara Imam, which is a long corridor with many rooms on the eastern side and once functioned as the administrative wing. A beautiful feature of this courtyard is the Shishe Alat which was used to receive guests and important people.

The palace has a clock tower, a council hall and a bungalow inside its premises. The Roshan Bungalow is named after Roshan Begum who was the mother of the sixth Nizam.

chowmahalla palace in hyderabad

PC: wikimedia.org

Khiwat Clock which is still ticking since its establishment during the construction of the palace can be seen on the clock tower. The council hall has various manuscrips and rare books which were the personal collections of the Nizams and have been exhibited here.

It is said that the palace used to have around 7000 attendants on any given day. For its grandeur and charm, it is very often compared to the beautiful gardens of the Arabian Nights.

chowmahalla palace in hyderabad

PC: wikimedia.org

Sights Not To Be Missed

The beautiful spread of lawn with its green landscape which sets out as a contrast against the yellow and white pattern of the palace presents a spellbinding sight.

The huge water fountain at the front of the palace, which has artistically carved pillars is one of the best examples which gives you a peep into the architectural marvel of the palace.

The delicate carvings on the walls and ceilings of the palace along with the glass chandeliers with different designs in each mahal is something not to be missed.

The various galleries at the palace which house interesting display of crockery, clothes, furniture, coins and currency notes along with pictures from the era of the Nizams is worth seeing.

A section is dedicated to the Qurans which are of various kinds and which have been restored. One can find a hand-written Quran and miniature Qurans engraved in metal, gold and many more.

The vintage car and buggy display is one of the major attractions here. A fish motif on a pole which was gifted by the Mughals is also something not to be missed.

Entry Rates And Timings

The entry rates are Rs 80 for adults, Rs 20 for children below 12 and Rs 200 for foreign nationals.

The Palace is open from Saturday to Thursday from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

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