Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace, on Motigalli in Khilwat in the Old City of Hyderabad, Telangana, India, was the ceremonial seat of the Asaf Jahi Nizams. Construction began around 1750 under Nizam Salabat Jung and continued through several reigns until about 1869, when the complex reached its present form under Afzal-ud-Daula, the fifth Nizam. Its name is usually explained as meaning four palaces, and the layout follows a plan of two large courtyards, the southern and the northern, flanked by ceremonial and residential halls. The southern courtyard contains four palaces in neoclassical style, while the northern courtyard holds the Bara Imam and Shishe Alat, long corridors of rooms used for administration and reception. The palace mixes Persian, Indo-Saracenic, Rajasthani and European elements. Its most famous space is the Khilwat Mubarak, the durbar hall where the Nizams held formal court, lit by Belgian crystal chandeliers and centred on a marble platform holding the royal throne, the Takht-e-Nishad. The Clock Tower at the entrance, added later, still keeps time, and formal gardens and fountains fill the courtyards. Beyond ceremony, the palace was the setting for coronations and state receptions for much of the 19th century, before the Nizams moved to newer palaces at Falaknuma and King Kothi. Decline followed the merger of Hyderabad State with India in 1948, and by the late 20th century parts were dilapidated. A restoration programme led by the Nizam's descendants, with the Archaeological Survey of India and heritage architects, repaired roofs, plasterwork and gardens, and won recognition from UNESCO Asia-Pacific heritage awards. Today the palace is presented as a museum with rooms of costumes, arms, manuscripts and vintage cars, with a mostly chronological and immersive display. Visitors follow set routes through the courtyards, and audio guides and guided tours can be arranged at the ticket counter. Allow two to three hours for a full visit.