Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Hyderabadi Heritage




I promised that I will write about the Chowmahalla Palace.So,keeping my promise here is what I could gather about the Palace.

Chowmahalla Palace

Chow means four and Mahalla means Palace Chowmahlla=four palaces.Nizam Salabhat Jung in 1750 was the person behind giving shape to this construction and Nizam Afzar-ud-Dawla Bahadur was the key person to ensure the construction was completed during 1857 and 1869.The palace is on 45 acres.However the sad truth is that only 11 or 12 acres remain untouched.It has Laad or the Chudi bazaar next to it.It is very close to the Shalibanda cross roads.We got confused getting there as it was a jam packed traffic night at Charminar.

This was built as a replica of the Shah's Palace in Teheran.Only one part of the Palace is open to public now and it sure my breath away.There is a clock on one of the towers here and It was prompt and kept ticking away ever hour.It has been working since the day the palace was built.
The Council Hall which housed a rare collection of manuscripts and priceless books is where the Nizam often met important officials. Roshan Bangla is another garden which got the name after the sixth Nizams mother.

The best part is the centerpiece which is so exquisite.It was the seat of Asaf Jahi dynasty.You have to take a look at it and it takes your breath,heart everything away for few minutes.It is mind blowing.Chowmahalla, apparently had more then 7000 attendants and has been compared to the ‘Enchanted Gardens of the Arabian Nights’.(Now that is for records)

If and when you in Hyderabad or the city of pearls take time out to visit this magnificent structure.It has to be on your list of places to see before I Die list.

Out of my experience I have to tell you it was hypnotising to be there.I was looking up while I was in the concert to see if there are any Princely Ghosts around to tell me the history of the palace

11 comments:

  1. thats informative.. seems very nice place..

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  2. beautiful.. i dont remember visiting it during my trip there. I think its time for another visit to hyderabad..However.. that concert you attended with ustad amjad ali khan.. I bet that was something..

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  3. thanx for sharing the information about hyderabad

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  4. I'm thrilled to read it.. haven't been to hyd .. don't know when I'll be able to .. but I can't miss that site. Will keep that in mind .. and I could so relate to you @ princely ghosts .. when I visit such places I take a plunge too.. tryng to imagine .. how life would have been in those times.

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  5. My repertoire of must visit places just keeps growing!

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  6. hye Deepthi!Great information, thanks for providing this brief peek into the Chowmahalla's history. Awesome pictures, btw: whts your camera ?Vamsi

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  7. @sujit- thnx hoping people will try and get out and visit hyd after reading this lol..thnx for blogin here@aditi - hope u feelin better.it was a great exp aditi.I am waiting to attend more and more concerts like this one.@ashish - my pleasure@aria - it is a must visit aria.hope u get to see it.and i can hear what u say on the princely thingy.It is rather strange to imagine what life would havebeen like then?@supernova - ha ha..so get onto a list for every year.@vamsi - ths pics are on this one are google gift lol

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  8. your account is so vivid and almost hypnotic.good job.The photographs weere also good.

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  9. woww!! soo amazing pics. there... didnt know hyderabad have this beautiful place to visit (amazing India)i shud learn more na ^_^ and thanx for the info... will surely add this on my list!... thanx for droppin' by and commentin' on my blog last time. u have nice blog here dear (lots of good posts) ^_~ will read more next time...see ya around!cheers**

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  10. @gran - glad u liked the writin.the photos were from every so trusty google....@Kath - yeah I am discovering hyd myself.it is quite intresting...

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  11. Its beautiful girl. WOnder how I missed seeing ur blog.Thank you.

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