Even though I was born and bought up in Hyderabad, I never visited this
palace before. I am very happy that I came to this with Vedhu and Vaishu.
Chowmahalla means - Chow
means four, and mahal means palace. The Chowmahalla palace is a complex of four
palaces with a central pond.
Nizam Salabat Jung started the construction of the
palace in 1750. But it was completed only between 1857 and 1869 under Nizam
Afzar-ud-Daula Bahadur (as per guide)
The Palaces
are set on beautifully groomed gardens, with water features, ducks and
fountains.
The Drawing
Room is the most impressive room, located in the centre building. It's hanging
chandeliers, and the balcony level all the way around three sides of the room,
is so beautiful.
Walking into this building there are two rooms which start the journey of history of the region, and the Nizams. Once you find the staircase, you can wander upstairs to the level overlooking the Drawing Room, and explore the personal items of the families that lived here.
On first floor you can find rooms of clothes and furniture, jewels and weaponry, kitchen bits and pieces, as well as dinner sets of all colours, shapes and patterns. You can also see the main hall (Raj Darbar) from the first floor with full view.
Walking into this building there are two rooms which start the journey of history of the region, and the Nizams. Once you find the staircase, you can wander upstairs to the level overlooking the Drawing Room, and explore the personal items of the families that lived here.
On first floor you can find rooms of clothes and furniture, jewels and weaponry, kitchen bits and pieces, as well as dinner sets of all colours, shapes and patterns. You can also see the main hall (Raj Darbar) from the first floor with full view.
Chowmahalla palace got restored in
2005 by Princess Esra, the first wife of the present Nizam, anxious to preserve
what remained of the Nizams' legacy for her children to some semblance of its
former glory.
During the day, the Chowmahalla Palace
is a museum that gives us a glimpse into the splendour of a bygone era. At
night, it is gorgeously lit up as it turns into a venue for cultural
programmes, concerts, and sometimes private functions and conferences.
We walked inside both the palaces and
found all the weapons used by Nizams and their arm guards. Once you walk out of
the palace and on way out, there is a photo studio where you can get a photo
dressed as King/Queen.
It will take atleast 3-4 hours to
explore the whole palace.
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