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| Chowmahalla Palace | |
|---|---|
 Afzal Mahal, Chowmahalla Palace | |
  Chowmahalla Palace Location in Hyderabad, Telangana | |
| General information | |
| Type | Royal palace |
| Location | Hyderabad,Telangana,India |
| Coordinates | 17°21′30″N78°28′18″E / 17.358247°N 78.471701°E /17.358247; 78.471701 |
| Construction started | 1750 |
| Completed | 1880s |
| Awards and prizes | National Tourism Award (Best Maintained and Differently abled Friendly Monument), 2017 |
| Original use | Seat of theNizam of Hyderabad |
| Restored | 2005–2010 |
| Restored by | Princess Esra |
| Owner | Azmet Jah |
Chowmahalla Palace orChowmahallat is the palace of theNizams ofHyderabad State located inHyderabad,Telangana,India.[1] It was the seat of power of theAsaf Jahi dynasty (1720-1948) and was the official residence of the Nizams during their reign. The palace has been converted into a museum and the ownership still lies with the family.[2][3]
The palace was constructed at the location of an earlier palace of theQutb Shahi dynasty and Asaf Jahi dynasty[3] close to theCharminar. Construction of the palace, as it stands today, was started byNizam Ali Khan Asaf Jah II[4] in 1769. He ordered the building of four palaces from which the nomenclature of Chau Mahalla is derived.[5] The wordchār orchahār, and its variationchow, means "four" and the wordmahal means "palace" inUrdu,Hindi andPersian.[6]
WhileSalabat Jung initiated its construction in 1750, the palace was completed by the period ofAfzal ad-Dawlah, Asaf Jah V between 1857 and 1869.[7][8]
The palace is unique for its style and elegance. Construction began in the late 18th century and over the decades a synthesis of many architectural styles and influences emerged. The palace consists of twocourtyards as well as the grand Khilwat (the Darbar Hall),fountains andgardens.[9] The palace originally covered 45 acres (180,000 m2), but only 12 acres (49,000 m2) remain today.[10]
This is the oldest part of the palace, consisting of four palaces: Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Aftab Maha, built symmetrically opposite each other inNeoclassical style. The forecourt between the palaces is adorned with a pond and a garden.[2][3]
The neoclassical palaces have double-height verandahs or façades lined with European style columns. The columns in the Aftab Mahal and Mehtab Mahal are ofIonic order whereas the Afzal Mahal and Tehniyat Mahal haveCorinthian columns.[3]
This part hasBara Imam, a long corridor of rooms on the east side facing the central fountain and pool that once housed the administrative wing; andShishe-Alat, meaning mirror image.
It hasMughal domes and arches and manyPersian elements such as the ornatestucco works that adorn the Khilwat Mubarak. These were characteristic of buildings built in Hyderabad at the time.
Opposite the Bara Imam is a building that is its shishe or mirror image. The rooms were once used as guest rooms for officials accompanying visiting dignitaries.
This is the heart of Chowmahalla Palace. It is held in high esteem by the people of Hyderabad, as it was the seat of theAsaf Jahi dynasty. The grand pillared Durbar Hall has a pure marble platform on which the Takht-e-Nishan or the royal seat was laid. Here the Nizams held their durbar and other religious and symbolic ceremonies.[11] The 19 spectacularChandeliers ofBelgian crystal were recently reinstalled to recreate the lost splendour of this regal hall.[2]
The main gateway to the Chowmahalla Palace on the western hand has a clock tower also known as a Khilafat clock. The tower is three storeys high and consists of balconies and jharokha of Mughal style same as the style of half domes.[11] It has been ticking since 1750. An expert family ofhorologists winds the mechanical clock every week.[12]
This building housed a rare collection of manuscripts and priceless books. The Nizam often met important officials and dignitaries here. Today it is a venue for temporary exhibitions from the treasures of the Chowmahalla Palace Collection of the bygone era.[citation needed]
The Sixth Nizam,Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, is believed to have lived here and the building was named after his mother Roshan Begum.
The former Nizam (Barkat Ali Khan Mukarram Jah) and his family decided to restore the Chowmahalla Palace and open it to the public in January 2005. It took over five years to document and restore the palaces of the firstcourtyard to its former glory. The palace also has a collection of vintage cars, including theRolls-Royce, which the Nizam kings used.[2]
The displays in the museum depict the origin and evolution of Hyderabad, achievements and valuable contribution of the Nizams towards the development ofthe state, and the social lifestyle of the royal family.
The museum is divided into parts arranged around two quadrangle courtyards in North and South.[citation needed]
Conservation works were initiated in Chowmahalla Palace from 2000, where several conservation architects and experts were involved in more than a decade long journey.[13] The initiative was undertaken byPrincess Esra Birgen. Before commencement of the works, the place had fallen into disuse for a prolonged period and had deteriorated over the time. The vision for the restoration project was to rescue the exemplary palatial complex and to establish a contemporary civic use as a museum showcasing the splendour and valour of the erstwhile Nizams.[14]
The restoration process was divided into three stages, first stage involved thorough mapping, a fabric survey, and the development of conservation plans for the buildings' restoration as well as alternative re-use scenarios that might help assess the practicality of these historic buildings. In the second stage, structures that were in danger of collapsing had to be stabilised, and other urgent repairs like waterproofing and propping had to be made to prevent further damage. The complex's physical restoration as well as the addition of amenities to encourage the reuse of these structures were part of the final phase.[15]
In order to preserve the integrity of these ancient structures, their conservation was carried out using traditional craftsmen and techniques, and several building components were saved from demolition. Many architectural features, including granite arches, elaborate lime plaster work, and terracotta balusters, were restored carefully in their original design in addition to structural repairs and stabilisation.[15] Apart from bringing back the past glory of the palace complex and reviving traditional materials and craftsmanship, the project also created a cultural oasis in the heart of the city.[14]
The project was awarded theUNESCO Asia Pacific Merit award for cultural heritage conservation on 15 March 2010.[2][14] UNESCO representative Takahiko Makino formally handed over the plaque and certificate to Princess Esra, former wife andGPA holder of Prince Mukarram Jah Bahadur.[16][17]
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