Quick answer: Chowmahalla Palace is the former seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, the Nizams of Hyderabad, in the Old City, less than 1 km from Charminar. Its name means “four palaces”, and the restored complex now shows the Nizams’ durbar hall, royal rooms, photographs and vintage cars, including a famous Rolls-Royce. As of October 2026, the palace’s website lists timings of 10 am to 5 pm from Saturday to Thursday (closed on Fridays) and entry fees of ₹150 for Indian adults and ₹500 for foreign visitors.
Chowmahalla Palace at a glance
| Detail | What we verified (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Location | 20-4-236, Motigalli, Khilwat, Hyderabad 500002; less than 1 km from Charminar |
| Timings | Saturday to Thursday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm; ticket counter closes at 5 pm, visitors leave by 5:30 pm |
| Closed on | Fridays |
| Entry fee: Indian adults | ₹150 |
| Entry fee: children below 10 | ₹50 |
| Entry fee: foreign visitors (passport) | ₹500 |
| Photography | ₹50, mobile phones only; photoshoots and filming are not allowed |
| Time needed | About one and a half to two hours |
The figures above are from the palace’s visitor page (chowmahalla.in). They change from time to time, so check before you visit. An earlier version of this article gave no timings or fees.
History of Chowmahalla Palace
Chowmahalla was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty, whose rule over Hyderabad began in 1724 with Nizam-ul-Mulk, Asaf Jah I. The Nizams used the palace for official functions, ceremonies and receptions for visiting dignitaries.
The palace grew over more than a century. Its website gives 1751 as the foundation date, and work is usually said to have begun under Salabat Jung around 1750. Much of the complex as it stands today was completed between 1857 and 1869, during the reign of the fifth Nizam, Afzal ud-Daulah.
The complex once covered about 45 acres, reaching towards Charminar and Laad Bazaar. Only about 12 acres remain today. (An earlier version of this article gave inconsistent figures of 40 and 45 acres for the original area and 12 and 14 acres for what remains.)
Restoration and the UNESCO award
The palace is still owned by the Nizam’s family. Conservation work began in 2000 under Princess Esra, and the family opened the palace to the public in 2005. The restoration received a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award of Merit for cultural heritage conservation in March 2010.
Architecture: what “Chowmahalla” means
“Chow” comes from the Persian chahar (four) and “mahalat” is the plural of mahal (palace), so Chowmahalla means “four palaces”. The palace is built around two courtyards.
- The southern courtyard is the oldest part. It holds the four palaces that give the complex its name: Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Aftab Mahal, built in a Neoclassical style with Ionic and Corinthian columns.
- The northern courtyard leads to the Khilwat Mubarak, the grand durbar hall, with Mughal domes and arches and Persian-style plasterwork.
The overall style blends Persian, Mughal and European influences, which is typical of Hyderabad’s royal buildings of the period.
What to see at Chowmahalla Palace
Khilwat Mubarak (the Durbar Hall)
The Khilwat Mubarak is the heart of the palace and the seat of the Asaf Jahi rulers. Its pillared Durbar Hall has a marble platform on which the royal seat was placed. The hall’s Belgian crystal chandeliers, 19 of them, have been put back in place as part of the restoration. Rooms around it display photographs, arms, armour and clothing from the Nizams’ time.
The four mahals and their exhibitions
The restored mahals now work as galleries. Visitors can see rooms recreated with period furniture, exhibitions on life in the palace, including the zenana (women’s quarters), and collections of crockery, clothes, coins and currency, carriages and other objects from the Nizams’ household. Look out for the chandeliers, each different, and the carved walls and ceilings.
The Khilwat clock
Above the main western gateway is a three-storey clock tower. Its clock, known as the Khilwat clock, has been running since the mid-18th century, according to most accounts, and a family of clock-makers winds it every week.
The Rolls-Royce and vintage cars
The palace’s vintage car collection includes a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost that, according to Deccan Herald, was ordered in 1911 by the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, and delivered after his death. Its body was built by Barkers, originally in a yellow finish with gold mountings. The car was used mostly for ceremonies, which is why, according to the same report, it had covered only 356 miles in about a hundred years. It won “Best of Class” in the Rolls-Royce category at a concours d’elegance in Delhi.
Roshan Bangla, gardens and fountains
Roshan Bangla is believed to have been the residence of the sixth Nizam and is named after his mother. The courtyards have lawns, a large fountain in front of the main palace and yellow-and-white façades that make good photographs.
How to reach Chowmahalla Palace
- Location: the palace is in Motigalli, Khilwat, south-east of Laad Bazaar and less than 1 km from Charminar.
- By metro: the nearest metro access to the Old City is MGBS station on the Hyderabad Metro Green Line; from there take an auto-rickshaw, cab or city bus.
- By road: auto-rickshaws and app cabs come here from all parts of the city. The Old City’s lanes are narrow and busy, so allow extra time, especially in the evening.
An earlier version of this article listed taxi fares, bus fares and journey times from Koti, Secunderabad, Kukatpally and Gachibowli. Those figures were out of date and have been removed.
Tips for visiting
- Do not plan your visit for a Friday, when the palace is closed.
- Only mobile phone photography is allowed, for a fee. Professional photoshoots, filming and videography are not permitted.
- Alcohol, cigarettes and other tobacco products are banned. The palace asks visitors to carry reusable water bottles and take their food wrappers back with them.
- Wear comfortable shoes. The grounds mix marble, grass and gravel.
- There is a souvenir shop inside. If you want bangles or other crafts, Laad Bazaar is a short walk away and has a much wider choice.
An earlier version of this article recommended named eateries near the palace. We have removed them because we could not confirm their current details, but the streets around Charminar and Mecca Masjid are full of places to eat, especially during Ramzan.
Places to visit near Chowmahalla Palace
Chowmahalla is in the heart of the Old City, so you can combine it with Charminar, Mecca Masjid and Laad Bazaar on foot. The Salar Jung Museum, which holds the Salar Jung family’s huge art collection, is a short ride north on the banks of the Musi; like Chowmahalla, it is closed on Fridays. To see where the Qutb Shahi dynasty ruled before Hyderabad was founded, head west to Golconda Fort.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chowmahalla Palace open on Fridays?
No. According to the palace’s website, it is open from Saturday to Thursday, 10 am to 5 pm, and closed on Fridays.
What is the Chowmahalla Palace entry fee?
As of October 2026, the palace lists ₹150 for Indian adults, ₹50 for children below 10, ₹500 for foreign visitors and ₹50 for mobile phone photography.
Who built Chowmahalla Palace?
The Nizams of Hyderabad. Work began in the mid-18th century, and most of the present complex was completed between 1857 and 1869 under the fifth Nizam, Afzal ud-Daulah.
Can I take photographs inside Chowmahalla Palace?
Yes, with a mobile phone, after paying the photography fee. Professional photoshoots and videography are not allowed.
How far is Chowmahalla Palace from Charminar?
Less than 1 km. You can walk between them through the lanes near Laad Bazaar.
Details checked in October 2026 against the palace’s official visitor information, the record of its UNESCO Asia-Pacific conservation award, and reporting by Deccan Herald. Timings and fees can change, so check before you visit.
