Purani Haveli also known as Masarrat Mahal palace is a palace located in

Hyderabad Hyderabad ( ; , ) is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Telangana and the ''de jure'' capital of Andhra Pradesh. It occupies on the Deccan Plateau along the banks of the Musi River, in the northern part of Southern India. ...

Telangana Telangana (; , ) is a state in India situated on the south-central stretch of the Indian peninsula on the high Deccan Plateau. It is the eleventh-largest state and the twelfth-most populated state in India with a geographical area of and 35 ...

, India. It was the official residence of the Nizam. It was also known as ''Haveli Khadeem'', which means old mansion, was constructed for Sikander Jah, Asaf Jah III (1803–1829) by his father Ali Khan Bahadur, Asaf Jah II.

History

The second Nizam of Hyderabad, Mir Nizam Ali Khan had taken over this from Rukunudhaulah of the Momin dynasty, in 1717. The main building is a symbol of 18th-century European architecture. His successor Sikander Jah lived here for some time and later shifted to Chowmahalla Palace. Due to this, these buildings are called Purani Haveli. In this building complex, ''Ayina Khaana'' (Mirror House) and ''Chini Khaana'' (Chinese Glass House) were constructed. The sixth and seventh Nizams were born at this palace, and did spend a part of their life at this palace. Now the South Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police (Hyderabad) and South Zone Task Force Police Addl DCP offices are being functioned here.

The Palace

The

Haveli A ''haveli'' is a traditional townhouse, mansion, manor house, in the Indian subcontinent, usually one with historical and architectural significance, and located in a town or city. The word ''haveli'' is derived from Arabic ''hawali'', m ...

is "U" in shape, with two

oblong An oblong is a non-square rectangle. Oblong may also refer to: Places * Oblong, Illinois, a village in the United States * Oblong Township, Crawford County, Illinois, United States * A strip of land on the New York-Connecticut border in the Un ...

wings running parallel to each other and the residential palace located perpendicularly in the middle. The main building resembles 18th-century European palaces. A unique feature of this palace is the world's longest

wardrobe A wardrobe or armoire or almirah is a standing closet used for storing clothes. The earliest wardrobe was a chest, and it was not until some degree of luxury was attained in regal palaces and the castles of powerful nobles that separate accomm ...

, built in two levels with a hand-cranked wooden lift(elevator) in place. This occupies the entire length of one wing of the palace.

The Museum

The palace also houses the

Nizam's museum Nizam's Museum or H.E.H Nizam's Museum is a museum located in Hyderabad at Purani Haveli, a palace of the erstwhile Nizams. This museum showcases the gifts that the last Nizam of Hyderabad State, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII received on his silve ...

, which is dedicated to the last Nizam of Hyderabad state. Currently the palace is being used as a school and as an Industrial training institute.

References

External links

The state government's page about the Nizam's palacesExterior view of Purani Haveli Palace on Youtube

{{coord, 17.365507, 78.482675, type:landmark_region:IN, display=title Hyderabad State Royal residences in India Havelis Palaces in Hyderabad, India Tourist attractions in Hyderabad, India Heritage structures in Hyderabad, India Palaces of Nizams of Hyderabad

History

The Palace

The Museum

See also

References

External links