View from Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad across the fountains towards Mecca Masjid - dark stone coloured building in bakground
Once regarded as the center of Hyderabad, the magnificent Chowmahalla Palace was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizams entertained their official guests and royal visitors. Built over 200 years ago, Chowmahalla is a mix of many architectural styles and is located near the Charminar and the Mecca Masjid. While Nizam Salabhat Jung is credited with initiating the construction of the palace complex in 1750, it was Nizam Afzar-ud-Dawla Bahadur who ensured that it was completed between 1857 and 1869. Extending from the Laad Bazaar on the north to the Aspan Chowk Road on the south, the palace originally covered 45 acres but only 14 acres remain. The complex today consists of two courtyards with elegant palaces, the grand Khilwat (the Durbar Hall), fountains and gardens. The highlights of the Northern Courtyard are the Bara Imam - a long corridor of rooms on the east side that once housed the administrative wing and the Shishe-Alat (its mirror image) which was once used as guest rooms for officials accompanying visiting dignitaries. The Southern Courtyard is the oldest part of the complex and comprises of the four palaces Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Aftab Mahal arranged around a central pool. The Clock Tower houses the Khilwat Clock. The heart of the Chowmahalla Palace is called Khilwat Mubarak, and houses the Clock Tower, Council Hall and Roshan Bungalow. Roshan Bungalow was named after the sixth Nizam’s mother, Roshan Begum. The centerpiece is the Khilwat, or 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 are made of Belgian crystal.
Size: 5184px × 3456px
Location: Chowmahalla Palace Hyderabad India
Photo credit: © Hugh Williamson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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