This Palace In Hyderabad Is Over 200 Years Old—And It Even Has A Museum For Vintage Cars!

Chowmahalla Palace | Think of Hyderabad and images of the Charminar, the Golconda Fort, the Falaknuma Palace, the Ramoji Film City and more such iconic places will probably come to mind (not to mention its eponymous biryani). Many of these sites were built by rulers who commanded the city during their time, such as the Kakatiya dynasty (12^th-14^th centuries), the Qutb Shahi dynasty (16^th-17^th centuries) and the Asaf Jahi dynasty (18^th-20^th centuries).

The latter ruled as the Nizams of Hyderabad for over 200 years and were known for being great patrons of the arts, literature, architecture and science. In addition to the sprawling elegance of the Falaknuma Palace, they built the Chowmahalla Palace, a grand structure in the neo-classical tradition that has now been converted into a museum.

Architecture Of The Chowmahalla Palace

The name Chowmahalla refers to four palaces, which began construction in 1750 by Nizam Salabhat Jung. However, it was Nizam Afzar-ud-Dawla Bahadur who oversaw the completion of the project between 1857 and 1869. The palace covered 45 acres from Laad Bazaar in the north to Aspan Chowk Road on the south.

The complex was modelled on the Sa'dabad Complex (Shah’s Palace) in Tehran, Iran. The southern courtyard is the oldest part of the complex and comprises four graceful palaces arranged around a central fountain and pool: the Tahniyat Mahal, the Mahtab Mahal, the Afzal Mahal and the Aftab Mahal. All four have double-height verandahs or façades lined with European-style columns: the columns in the Aftab Mahal and Mehtab Mahal are of Ionic order, whereas the Afzal Mahal and Tehniyat Mahal have Corinthian columns.

The northern courtyard features the Bara Imam, a long corridor of rooms on the east side facing the central fountain and pool that once housed the administrative wing; and the Shishe-Alat, a building which is its “mirror image.” This area has Mughal domes and arches and many Persian elements such as the ornate stucco works that were characteristic of buildings built in Hyderabad at the time.

The heart of the Chowmahalla Palace is the Khilwat Mubarak. It is particularly famous for the ornate work on its walls and ceilings, a mechanical clock that has been functioning for over 250 years, 19 chandeliers of Belgian crystal in the Durbar Hall, and the marble platform on which the Takht-e-Nishan (royal seat) was placed. It was in the Durbar Hall that the Nizams held their durbar (court) and other religious and symbolic ceremonies.

Restoration Of The Chowmahalla Palace

The erstwhile home of the Nizams of Hyderabad underwent restoration and repair work from 2000 onwards to make it more engaging for public viewing. Before the commencement of the works, the place had fallen into disuse for a prolonged period and had deteriorated over time.

The first phase in restoring the palace involved a detailed mapping, fabric survey and the preparation of conservation reports for both the restoration of the buildings and potential reuse patterns that could help review the usefulness of these historic structures. The second phase involved stabilising the buildings under threat of collapse and carrying out other emergency repairs such as waterproofing and propping to check further deterioration. The final phase involved the actual restoration of the complex and the introduction of amenities to facilitate reuse of these structures.

The restoration of these buildings was carried out using traditional craftsmen and techniques, and a range of elements in the buildings were conserved in order to maintain the integrity of these historic structures.  Besides structural repairs and stabilisation, the restoration of several architectural features such as granite arches, decorative work in lime plaster and terracotta balusters were some of the tasks carried out for the restoration project. 

The project was awarded the UNESCO Asia Pacific Merit award for cultural heritage conservation in 2010.

As It Stands Today

The Council Hall was where the Nizam often met important officials and dignitaries. Today, it has been converted into a museum with a rare collection of manuscripts and priceless books on display. Temporary exhibitions of the treasures of the Chowmahalla Palace collection are held regularly, along with the display of paintings, photographs, textiles, books, religious objects, maps and arms. The Buggie Khaana houses the collection of the Nizams’ vintage cars and is also open to the public.

The palace continues to be owned by the heirs of the Nizams, and is currently the property of Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah.

Nearby Attractions

Hyderabad's iconic Charminar is located less than a kilometre away. The Gulzar Houz, a popular square with an ornate, Nizam-era fountain, is also nearby. Club your visit to Chowmahalla Palace with a stop at Malwala Palace, a Mughal and Rajasthani style palace built in 1845. The palace is located roughly one km away, along the road leading towards east from Charminar.