The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Chowmahalla set to regain grandeur

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Thursday, Nov 01, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Chowmahalla set to regain grandeur

J.S. Ifthekhar

Effort to recapture the ambience of the palace which was venue for official banquets of the Nizams

- Photo: K. Ramesh Babu

Architectural marvel: A view of Chowmahalla palace.

HYDERABAD: Breathtaking and awe-inspiring. That about forms a word picture of the famed Chowmahalla palace. But the renovated palace is even more enticing. With the restoration of Afzal Mahal, the grandest of the four palaces, nearing completion, Chowmahalla is all set to regain its past grandeur.

Conservation architects Rahul Mehrotra and Raja Martand Singh are doing a meticulous job to recapture the ambience of the palace which served as a venue for official banquets and receptions of the Nizams. By November-end Afzal Mahal is expected to be thrown open for visitors.

Massive repairs

Thanks to the personal interest being taken by Esra Jah, the GPA of the seventh Nizam’s grandson, Mukkaram Jah Bahadur, the till now neglected Chowmahalla palace is in for massive repairs and renovation. A whopping Rs. 10 crore is being spent to recreate the past glory, it is said.

Once out of bounds for commoners, now one can walk through Aftab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal, Mehtab Mahal and the picturesque Darbar Hall. The architects have done a splendid job of renovating and restoring the interiors to their original splendour. The eye-catching French furnishings, rich tapestry and elaborate drapes are back. So are the Turkish and Venetian chandeliers.

Visitors can now see the ‘Silsila-e-Asafia’ (the legacy of Asafia). The pictorial display takes one down memory lane. Familiar landmarks adorn the walls. One gallery showcases the costumes and jewellery of the zenana and rare photographs. The ‘Seilesh khana’ (weapons gallery) has an intriguing array of decorated swords, shields, arrows and guns. For researchers, the Tahniyat Mahal offers a rich collection of past records and manuscripts while the Aftab Mahal gives a peek into Hyderabad’s finest textiles and embroideries. There are also attractive tableau showing the lifestyle of the zenana.

Vintage beauties

Now an added attraction will be the vintage cars of the Nizam. Five ravishing beauties currently stashed away in a run down garage in the Chiran palace at Jubilee Hills are being shifted to Chowmahalla palace. They include the first Rolls Royce, the Fiat with the Nizam’s ‘dastar’ on the bonnet, a green Buick, a jeep and a black Ford with ‘King Koti’ plaque.

Also, an interesting cultural programme is on the anvil. From November to June next every weekend there will a ghazal, qawwali or mushaira on the palace lawns. “Entry will be by invitation only,” says G. Kishan Rao, director, Chowmahalla palace.

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