Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Naya Qila (new fort) is home to a magnificent 400-year-old
baobab tree
(
hatiyan ka jhad
: elephant tree), with a circumference of 27m, said to have been brought from Abyssinia
by Arab traders. The crumbling rampart here has great views of the fort and tombs.
Guides
charge a whopping ?600 per 90-minute tour. Small guidebooks to the fort are also
available. A
sound-and-light show
is held nightly.
Mornings are best for peace and quiet. The fort is about 12km from Abids; take bus 119
from Nampally station, or 66G or Setwin bus 66 from Charminar (one hour). Autorick-
shaw drivers charge ?400 return, including waiting.
MUSEUM
Chowmahalla Palace
(
www.chowmahalla.com
;
Indian/foreigner ?40/150, camera ?50; 10am-5pm Sat-Thu)
In their latest act of
architectural showmanship, the nizam family has restored this dazzling palace - or, tech-
nically, four
(char)
palaces
(mahalla)
. Begun in 1750, it was expanded over the next 100
years, absorbing Persian, Indo-Saracenic, Rajasthani and European styles. The southern
courtyard has one
mahal
with period rooms containing the nizams' over-the-top furniture;
another
mahal
with an exhibit on life in the
zenana
(women's quarters) that includes be-
jewelled clothes, carpets and a bride palanquin; antique cars (one nizam allegedly used a
Rolls Royce as a garbage can); and curiosities like elephant seats.
In the northern courtyard is the
Khilwat Mubarak
, a magnificent durbar hall where nizams
held ceremonies under 19 enormous chandeliers of Belgian crystal. Today the hall houses
exhibitions of photos, arms and clothing. Hung with curtains, the balcony over the main
hall once served as seating for the women of the family, who attended all durbars in
purdah.
Stop by the
Royal Photo Studio
on your way out to dress up like royalty and have your
sepia-tone photo taken (?100).
Qutb Shahi Tombs
(adult/child ?10/5, camera/video ?20/100; 9.30am-5.30pm)
These graceful domed tombs sit serenely
in landscaped gardens about 1.5km northwest of the Golconda Fort entrance. Seven of the
nine Qutb Shahi rulers were buried here, as well as members of the royal family and re-
spected citizens, from entertainers to doctors. You could easily spend half a day here tak-
ing photos and wandering in and out of the mausoleums. The upper level of Mohammed
Quli's tomb, reached via a narrow staircase, has good views of the area. The Qutb Shahi
Tombs
booklet
(?20) is available at the ticket counter.
HISTORIC SITE
