Chowmahalla Palace stands in Hyderabad, Telangana, near the Charminar. It was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, which ruled from 1720 to 1948, and the official residence of the Nizams. It once covered about 45 acres, and about 12 acres remain. Salabat Jung began it in 1750, and Afzal ad-Dawlah completed it between 1857 and 1869.
The complex has two courtyards. The Khilwat Mubarak, or Darbar Hall, has a marble platform for the royal seat and 19 Belgian crystal chandeliers. Four palaces stand symmetrically in Neoclassical style, with Ionic and Corinthian columns. The three-storey clock tower at the gateway has reportedly run since 1750.
Conservation began in 2000 and reopened the palace to the public in 2005. UNESCO gave the project an Asia Pacific Merit award on March 15, 2010. It is now a museum, and the Nizams' family still owns it.
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