About Chowmahalla Palace

Chowmahalla Palace was the main royal palace and seat of the Nizams of Hyderabad. It stands in the Khilwat area of the old city, a short walk from Charminar and Laad Bazaar. With its grand halls, crystal chandeliers, courtyards and royal collections, it gives visitors a real feel of court life in the days of the Nizams.

History

Work on the palace began in the mid-18th century, and it grew over more than 100 years. Much of what we see today was completed under Afzal ud-Daulah, the fifth Nizam, between 1857 and 1869. The name comes from the words for "four palaces", after the four palaces in its southern courtyard. The Nizams used Chowmahalla for royal ceremonies, coronations and receiving official guests. Restoration work was led by Princess Esra, wife of Mukarram Jah, the eighth titular Nizam. The palace opened to the public in 2005, and in 2010 the restoration won a UNESCO Asia-Pacific award for heritage conservation.

What to see and do

• Enter the Khilwat Mubarak, the great durbar hall, with its marble platform for the royal seat and its 19 Belgian crystal chandeliers.
• Walk through the southern courtyard to see the four palaces: Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Aftab Mahal.
• Look at the clock above the main gateway, which has been ticking for more than 250 years and is still wound by hand.
• See the vintage car collection, which includes a Rolls-Royce used by the Nizams.
• Explore galleries of royal clothes, weapons, crockery, photographs and old documents.
• Take photos by the long pool and fountains in the courtyard.

Best time to visit

October to February is the best season to walk around the palace and the old city. Visit in the morning, soon after opening, to enjoy the halls before the crowds. The courtyards are open to the sky, so summer afternoons can be hot. The palace is closed on Fridays, so plan your old-city trip for another day.

How to reach

The palace is about 1 km from Charminar, a walk of about 15 minutes through the old-city lanes. Nampally (Hyderabad) railway station is about 5 km away, and Secunderabad railway station is about 10 km away. Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) is about 3 km away. Autos and cabs are the easiest way to come, and city buses to Charminar also bring you close.

Tips for visitors

• Plan one and a half to two hours to see all the halls and galleries.
• Mobile photography needs a separate ticket. Tripods and video shoots are not allowed.
• Photography is not allowed in some sections.
• Wear comfortable shoes, as there is a lot of walking between the courtyards.
• Combine your visit with Charminar, Mecca Masjid and Laad Bazaar, which are all close by.

Chowmahalla Palace is one of the royal highlights on our Hyderabad tourist places page. It is a short walk from Charminar and Laad Bazaar. To see it with other famous sights in one day, look at our One Day Hyderabad City Tour.