Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace, at Motigalli in Khilwat, in the old city of Hyderabad in Telangana, was the official palace of the Asaf Jahi Nizams and the setting for state ceremonies and receptions. Construction began in 1857 and the complex is arranged around two courtyards, a southern one with the main palaces and a northern one with the older residential buildings. Visitors first pass through the gate and the courtyard fountain before reaching the Khilwat Mubarak, the grand durbar hall, where the Nizam sat on a marble throne beneath glittering Belgian crystal chandeliers. Other galleries display period furniture, clothing, manuscripts, silver, weapons and photographs of the dynasty. A separate hall holds a vintage car collection with Rolls-Royce and Packard vehicles once used by the ruling family, and a clock tower stands over the entrance. The palace was restored over more than a decade and received a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage award for conservation. The best photographs are taken across the long reflecting pool in the southern courtyard, from the colonnaded verandas of the Aftab Mahal, and inside the durbar hall, though flash and tripods may be restricted. A visit takes about one and a half to two hours. Mornings soon after opening are the quietest, while weekends and school holidays bring larger groups. Admission is INR 80 for Indian nationals and INR 200 for foreign visitors, with children under 12 free, and the palace is closed on Fridays and some holidays. The site is a ten-minute walk from Charminar, and an auto from Nampally costs about INR 100. Many visitors combine the palace with Laad Bazaar, which runs between the two, and with Mecca Masjid and Charminar for a full old-city day. Audio guides and local guides can add historical context, and comfortable walking shoes are helpful on the stone courtyards.