The Chowmahalla Palace

The Chowmahalla Palace 

I've been to this place twice till date. Each time I'm here, I think of telling the world how beautiful a place this is. :) Yet, always, there's something more I need to capture, something more I need to spend time with. And then, I tell myself that I need to gear up for another visit to do justice to it. I'd love to go back one day, to spend a complete day, from the time they open to the time they shoo me off :p. Nevertheless, here's a story on what all I could capture in the two short visits I could pull off.

Chowmahalla, for all its grandeur and oppulence was the residence of the erstwhile Nizams of Hyderabad. Also, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Chowmahalla literally means Chow + Mahal = 4 palaces, namely - Afzal Mahal, Aftab Mahal, Mahtab Mahal and Tahniyat Mahal. It is claimed that the design and style of the palace was modeled after the palace of the Shah of Iran.

As we enter the palace, what we notice to our right and left are a series of rooms connected with long corridors. The left wing was used for administrative purposes and the right wing served as the royal guest house for important nobles who came to meet the Nizam.

The Khilwath (Grand Durbar Hall), where the Nizam held Durbar, is an important part of the Palace, so important that the road which leads to Chowmahalla was named after it.
Address - Chowmahalla Palace, Khilwath Road, Khilwat, Hyderabad.

Chandeliers - I just can't get enough of them. The 19 chandeliers hung in the Khilwath are made of spectacular Belgium crystals. They seem to bring back the lost splendour of the regal hall. When the Chowmahalla Palace was fully functional, the palace had 38 employees to dust chandeliers alone. Also, the palace has 6000 employees on whole, which consisted of 3000 Arab bodyguards, and several others specifically to grind the Nizam's walnuts.

 Intricate stucco work.

The English Bracket Clock is said to have been manufactured in England in the late 18th century. The clock is enriched with lots of brass metallic mounds and has five dials i.e., day, date , month, chime on 8 bells and cambridge chime. This mechanic clock is one of the most unique objects of the palace. It has more than 500 parts and 20 functions.

                         Painting of the Nizam.

Rooms of the Khilwath are now home to exhibits of several artifacts used by the Nizam. Then there's a hall upstairs filled with exquisite imports from Europe and China. 

Also, a side hall is home to several hand painted versions of the holy Quran. The books are painted with real gold, beat that! Surely a must visit place in the Palace. Unfortunately photography is not allowed in this chamber.

Next stop is Afzal Mahal,  where we get to see the wardrobe of the richest man of the world, during his times. I'll not talk, I'll not show. You should check them out yourselves. :)

Afzal Mahal

I'll talk about one outfit, just one, coz I just can't afford to not talk about it.
The first time I heard what it's called, I knew I'm going to like it however it is. :D
It's Khada dupatta, six and a half metres in length, usually embroidered or woven silk,  paired with a sleeveless kurti with a distinctive keyhole neckline. Under the kurti was worn a sleeved choli or blouse of coordinated fabric. Bottom was stitched from a rich brocaded silk of contrasting texture and colour.

Next we head to Aftab Mahal, the grandest mahal of the four, with lots of European influence. 

The ceilings clad in intricate stucco work.

Next stop is my favouritest.
Vintage Cars. :D

Back then, Nizam's garage was home to 60 cars. Out of which the 'Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Throne Car' of Nizam was made to order in the year 1911 with many special features.The original body was painted in rich canary yellow with gold mountings later re-bodied to reflect a 1930's style. All the body hardware, lights and roof dome with its fleur-de-lis pattern were finished in silver.
This car was sparingly used just for ceremonial occasions and in the last 100years it has done just 356 miles. It is a priceless car and represents the very important part of the Indian Automotive Heritage. Okay, I'll stop. :p

Clock Tower
This is the clock tower which houses the Khilwath clock. The clock has been ticking away ever since the palace was built. It is said that the people of the locality wait for its chimes and correct their own watches by the accuracy of this clock's timing.

A lantern in the Bara Imam.

Corridor view of Shishe-Alat.