Dress Like Royalty, Pose Against A 1912 Rolls Royce & Gawk At The Nizam's Official Residence

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What Makes It Awesome

If you are in the Charminar neighbourhood, don’t forget to check out the grandeur of Chowmahalla Palace, the official residence of the Nizams during their rule. It's also one of the must-visit places if you're traveling to Hyderabad. Inspired by the Shah of Iran’s palace in Tehran, Chowmahalla (which means four palaces) is said to have assimilated the architectural styles of Persia, Rajasthan, Europe, and Indo-Saracenic. Although all the four palaces aren’t open for public viewing, we went walking along courtyards flanked by lush greenery and ornate fountains and the official darbar that holds many iconic stories.

Situated in the Old City of Hyderabad, Chowmahalla is thronged by hundreds of visitors every day. The sprawling gardens are filled with curious visitors exploring the charm of the palace in bits. The four palaces — Tahniyat Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Aftab Mahal, and Afzal Mahal are architected in different colour patterns and significance. It’s rather unfortunate that they’re not open for visitors, but if you’re the curious kind, we recommend you peep in through the grills for a quick glimpse. The pristine corridors of the palace lead you to halls and museums that are dotted with paintings, royal portraits, pictures in sepia and black and white. The museums full of artefacts, weapons, outfits, crockery, and photographs are usually open for visitors. 

We urge you to check the Khilwat Clock, a clock tower that is over 100 years old. While you’re at it, we suggest you visit the garage in the premises to see the 1912 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost (owned by the royal family) which apparently remains as shiny and glossy and in great shape as it was when it was brought in. 

Pro-Tip

The palace can also make your childhood dreams come — if you’ve ever dreamt of wearing the royal outfits, you can make it happen. At Chowmahalla, you can dress up in the outfits of the erstwhile Nizam and get portraits taken by the palace’s resident photographer.

End your exploration at the palace’s canteen to devour the famous onion samosa at INR 15 a plate.