The states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have a fair share of palaces that stand out for their elegance and grandeur. Some of the palaces that you should not miss out when travelling to these states are:

Falaknuma Palace:

A prominent attraction of Hyderabad, the Falaknuma Palace is around four kilometres from Charminar. Meaning ‘Mirror of the Sky’ in Urdu, the palace is set 2000 feet high on a hill in Falaknuma. It was Built by NawabVikar-ul-Umra and designed by an Italian architect in a mix of Italian and Tudor style. The pristine white marble on the exterior, the lavish interiors and the stained glass windows lighting up the rooms with a rainbow of colours are a testimony to the glory of the Nawabs. The palace that is on a massive 32 acre area is built in the shape of a scorpion with its two stings spread out northwards. The central part has the main building with Gol Bangla, ZenanaMahal and the royal kitchen and the south has the harem quarters. A library with a carved walnut roof that replicates the library of Windsor Castle has an impressive collection of the Holy Quran.

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Chowmohalla Palace:

Literally meaning four palaces, the Chowmohalla Palace is found in the old city of Hyderabad to the southwest of Charminar. This group of four palaces named Khilwat, Tahniyat Mahal, Aftab Mahal and Durbar Hall were built by the Asaf Jahis. The monument shows influences of the Shah’s Palace in Tehran. Built in Neo-classical style, the palace awes with its Mughal domes, arches and ornate stucco work. 

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Asman Garh Palace:

Influenced by the castles of Europe, the AsmanGarh Palace was built by Sir AsmanJah of the Paigah clan in Hyderabad. ‘Asman Garh’ means sky home and this palace actually appears to stand in the sky as it is located high up on a hill. The structure has granite turrets and arched windows and offers magnificent views of the surrounding forest which was the hunting ground of the Nizams. The palace was later leased to the Birlas who used it as an Archaeological Museum. It is currently occupied by a public school on lease.

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Chandragiri Palace:

Located 11 kilometres from Tirupati, the Chandragiri Fort and Palace is in Chandragiri which was the fourth capital of the Vijayanagarakingdom. The Raja Mahal Palace inside the fort is a fine example of the Indo-Sarcen architecture of the Vijayanagara Empire and was built using brick, stones and lime mortar. It now stands as an Archaeological Museum.

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