Amidst the lush gardens and white palace called “ The Chowmahalla Palace” also known as Khilwat Palace, Is located in the Centre of Telangana capital Hyderabad. It was a seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty and was an official residence of Nizam Of Hyderabad while they were the ruling kings of the state. Later the palace remains the property of Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah, heir of Nizams standing as a glory of their past.
The History:
Mr.Salabat Jung initiated its construction in 1750 and it was completed by the period of Afzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V between 1857 and 1869. The palace is unique for its style and elegance. A blend of Indo-Saracenic, Mughal, Persian, European and Rajasthani styles influenced the palace’s construction during the late 18th century. The palace consists of two main courtyards and a grand Khilwat also known as the Darbar hall, fountains and gardens and many more as such.
The palace originally covered 45 acres but only 12 acres remain today. The palace was restored between 2005-2010 under the patronage of Princess Esra.
Northern courtyard of Chowmahalla Palace :
BARA IMAM:
Bara Imam consists of a long corridor of rooms facing east to the central fountain and the pool that once served as housing to the administrative wing and Shishe-Alat (Mirror image) i.e. the opposite building. The style replicates the Mughal domes and arches and many Persian elements like the ornate stucco work that adorns Khilwat Mubarak.
Khilwat Mubarak:
The heart of Chowmahalla Palace is right in the center which is the seat of the rulers of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. It has a huge Darbar hall with impressive pillars.All the festive, religious, ceremonies were performed here. The aesthetics here play a major part in the palace. The marble flooring and the main throne of Nizam are marked as the center of attraction in the hall. And especially the grandeur chandeliers made of Belgian crystal which were actually reinstalled during the renovation to recreate its glory.
Khilwat Mubarak purely emphasizes the beauty of Persian and Mughal architecture: The interiors of this space i.e. the domes and arches replicates the Mughal era and the ornate stucco of Persian beauty. At present, the hall leads to a small photo gallery of the house’s pictures of all the nizams of the palace.
Clock Tower :
The clock tower is also called as Khilwat clock, an astonishing aspect of this clock tower is that it has been ticking for 250 years, the musing part of the Chowmahalla Palace where local people still trust their legacy and heritage of it so blindly they believe and correct their watch time with the accuracy of this clock time.
Southern garden of Chowmahalla palace :
Coming to this side of the palace, one can witness the style is neo-classical and designed of four palaces called Aftab Mahal, Afzal Mahal,Tahniyat Mahal and Mahtab Mahal.
These palaces are now restored and showcasing the prestige of artifacts, furniture, accessories, outfits, mirrors, chandeliers, books and kitchenware of the royal families over the decades.
The Bugge Khana :
Chowmahalla Palace from then to now :
The conservation of Chowmahalla Palace by Princess Esra by the year of 2005 stands as a landmark of the Nizam dynasty which was once on the verge of shattering! It is nothing less than incredible. Now, Chowmahalla Palace is known all over the world and it is named the “ Palace of Royalty”. The nizams and their obsession with living life in keenly detailed palaces showcase the interest they pour into architecture and its importance.
Citations :
- https://www.scribd.com/document/507412012/Chowmahalla-Palace
- https://singhruby.com/2017/11/06/regal-chowmahalla-palace/
- https://discoverindiasite.wordpress.com/2016/03/02/chowmahalla-palace-hyderabad/
