Magical Chowmahallah!

Since my childhood I used to question what lies at the back of those massive walls and a mammoth wooden gate. Chowmohala Palace was lock up for the longest time and somewhere down there I knew I will fall in love with this place once I see it.

And it happened in 2006. I was spellbound by its beauty. Enthralled by the huge courtyard. Dumbfounded by its construction. And I surely was in love. The palace is smartly filled with photographs of Nizam and his families (some very personal and rare pictures of him with his wives and childrens) including weapons they owned/used, books, kitchen ware, letters, coins, manuscripts, slothes, furniture and vehicles.

Chowmahalla Palace or Chowmahallat (4 Palaces), was a palace belonging to the Nizams of Hyderabad state. It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was the official residence of the Nizam.

Northern courtyard

This part has Bara Imam, A long corridor of rooms on the east side face the central fountain and pool that, once housed the administrative wing. and Shishe-Alat meaning mirror image.

It has Mughal domes and arches and many Persian elements like the ornate stucco work that adorn the Khilwat Mubarak. These were characteristic of buildings built in Hyderabad at the time.

Opposite to the Bara Imam is a building that is its shishe or mirror image. The rooms were once the used as guest rooms for officials accompanying visiting dignitaries.

Khilwat Mubarak

This is heart of Chowmahalla Palace. It is held in high esteem by the people of Hyderabad, as it was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The grand pillared Durbar Hall has a pure marble platform on which the Takht-e-Nishan or the royal seat was laid. Here the Nizams held their durbar and other religious and symbolic ceremonies. The 19 spectacular Chandeliers of Belgian crystal recently reinstalled to recreate the lost splendor of this regal hall.

Clock Tower

The clock above the main gate to Chowmahalla Palace is affectionately called as Khilwat Clock. It has been ticking away for around 250 years. An expert family of clock repairers winds the mechanical clock every week.

Council Hall

This building housed a rare collection of manuscripts and priceless books.The Nizam often met important officials and dignitaries here.Today it is venue for temporary exhibitions from the treasures of the Chowmahalla Palace Collection that of a bygone era.

Roshan Bangla

The sixth Nizam is believed to have lived here and the building was named after his mother Roshan Begum.

The present Nizam (Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, Pretender) and his family decided to restore the Chowmahalla Palace and open it to the public in January 2005. It took over 5 years to document and restore the palaces of the first courtyard to its former glory.

I robustly suggest people visiting Hyderabad to pay a visit to this magic called, Chowmahalla Palace.

Regular Palace Timings for viewing: 10am -5pm

(Closed on Fridays and National Holidays)

Tickets: Indian Visitor - Rs. 30 and / International Visitor - Rs. 150