Shekhar's Travel Blog: Chowmahal, Hyderabad

There are several places to see in Hyderabad one of them is Chowmahal. The "Chow" means "Four" and "Mahal" means Palace, therefor it means Four Palaces. The Chowmahalla complex which is a replica of the Shah’s Palace in Teheran, Iran today consists of two courtyards with elegant palaces, the grand Khilwat (the Durbar Hall), fountains and gardens.

Its just 15min walk from "Charminar". I visited this palace the same day when I visited "Charminar" (see my previous blog entry). From Charminar you have Mecca Masjid, just after the Masjid is a path on the right hand side, just follow it, that will lead to this palace on your left side. I should have covered this palace first then the Minar as closing time of this palace is 5.00 pm IST and there are plenty of things to see inside.The entry fee is Rs 25 per person and they charge Rs 50 for camera (well I don't go any where without my camera so if it was Rs 100 I would have paid it.).

Bara Imam - a long corridor of rooms on the east side that once housed the administrative wing. And the Shishe-Alat or quite literally, the shishe or mirror image which was once used as guest rooms for officials accompanying visiting dignitaries, in the same line we have canteen where you can purchase some snacks/water bottle. Continuing to this path will lead to Durbar Hall. Shown next

This is outer part of Durbar Hall (Conference Room). Its worth seeing and is splendid. The only regret (big) I had is I didn't carried camera Tripod.

The grand pillared Durbar Hall has a pure marble platform on which the Takht-e-Nishan or the royal seat was laid.

The 19 recently reinstalled chandeliers made of spectacular Belgian crystal recreate the lost splendor of this regal hall. Chowmahalla, which in its heydays had more than 7000 attendants, has been compared to the ‘Enchanted Gardens of the Arabian Nights’. Chowmahalla, where the Nizams held their durbar and other religious and symbolic ceremonies also hosted popular banquets in honour of their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales in February 1906." These chandeliers are worth seeing. unfortunately its closed for public after 5 pm and thus won't be able to see it lit. Few more pics again wished I could have tripod to shoot it clear :-(

This building is multistory (both the pics were shot from first floor). The upper floor has room to showcase few furniture's used by Nizams and some clothes. One must see the decorations done on ceilings and walls (though I missed to shoot it)

All the four mahals are placed one after another.

Crossing this Durbar Hall is another mahal "Afzal Mahal" (pic on right). Here one can see the acutal furnitures used by Nizams at that time. In front of this mahal is the fountain (not shown in pic). The opening in the left side of this building leads to "Gadi Khana Mubarak" (Royal Vintage Cars). This I have missed due to closing time.

Inside this mahal, we were not allowed to step inside and see the furniture's closely but got a glimse of the same not from far.This is actually being called "Crown of the Palace", since it was hand held shot it's little blured. (Lesson learned, one must have Tripod).

This is back side of Durbar Hall, splendid view, the only thing missing in the pic is myself :-) Its past 5.00 pm now and all security mens are hurrying us to outside, I though wasn't able to see much but then took snaps while running, guess what I was the last person and behind me were the 3-4 security men to escort me out (they are making sure no one left behind as they closes each gates which separates these four mahals).

Last but not the least Durbar Hall