The Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad extends from the Laad Bazaar in the north to the Aspan Chowk road in the south. Formerly, this palace covered 45 acres out of which only 12 are extant.

Chow means four and mahal means palace thus Chowmahalla means four palaces. In 1750, the construction of this palace was started by Nizam Salabhat Jung however the final completion occurred only during 1857 to 1869 under Nizam Afzar-ud-Dawla Bahadur.

This palace complex is a copy of the Shah’s palace in Teheran in Iran. Currently this palace consists of two courtyards with elegant palaces, gardens, fountains and the grand Khilwat or the Durbar Hall.

Four palaces the Aftab Mahal, the Tahniyat Mahal, the Mahtab Mahal and the Afzal Mahal. Out of these, the grandest is the Aftab Mahal which is a two storied building that has a European front portion of Corinthian columns. Chowmahalla Palace is near the Charminar. It comprises of four palaces. The Asif Jahi dynasty made this palace as their seat. The official guests as well as royal visitors were entertained here. The heart of the Chowmahalla Palace is called Khilwat Mubarak, and houses the Clock Tower, Council Hall and Roshan Bungalow. Roshan Bungalow was named after the sixth Nizam’s mother, Roshan Begum.

The palace was restored and opened to public in January 2005. After five years of documentation and restoration work, the first courtyard regained its former glory