King Kothi Palace
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| King Kothi Palace | |
| Information | |
|---|---|
| Status | Owned by Nizam of Hyderabad |
| Opening | 1911 |
| Companies | |
| Architect | Kamal Khan |
| Owner | Nizam of Hyderabad |
King Kothi Palace was the palace where the erstwhile ruler, the Seventh Nizam, Osman Ali Khan, Asaf Jah VII, of Hyderabad state lived here.
Contents |
[edit] History
The palace was purchased for the young Osman Ali Khan from a nobleman Kamal Khan, and the young Nizam moved in when he was only 13. After his accession to the throne in 1911, he continued to stay at the palace and did not move to Chowmahalla Palace where his father lived.
In his sprawling King Kothi palace, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls and lesser gems were stored in a $3 steel trunks fastened with English-made padlocks[1].
The Palace has three main buildings, divided into two groups.
[edit] The Eastern half
The eastern half, now occupied by a state government hospital, was used by the Nizam for official and ceremonial purposes.
[edit] The Western half
The western half which is now walled, has the main residential buildings known as Nazri Bagh or Mubarak Mansion and is still belongs to the Nizam’s private estate.
The main entrance to Nazri Bagh always had a curtain draped across it, so it has come to be known as the purdah gate. When Nizam went out of the Palace, the purdah was lifted up which indicated the king was not home.
The gate was guarded by Maisaram Regiment, police and Sarf-e- Khas Army with lances in their hands.[2].
[edit] Present Status
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It has been suggested that Judi Mosque be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
Of the three principal buildings of the King Kothi Complex, the main building, now houses a hospital, and the Mubarak Mansion (Nazri Bagh) accommodating the offices of the Nizam’s Private Estates (Sarf E Khas) only survive.
The third building, Usman Mansion, was demolished in the early eighties and in its place a new hospital building is constructed by the State Government. Originally built by an architect Kamal Khan, the complex was acquired by the Nizam VII. Both the surviving buildings in King Kothi are in European style[3].Nizam VII, the last ruling Nizam (1911-1948) lived here and passed away in this building on February 24th, 1967.
The VI Nizam, Osman Ali Khan had willed that he be buried in the Judi Mosque that faced his fabulous residence, as his final resting place.
To the east of Mubarak Mansion, stands the Ghadial Gate - the gate with a clock.
The King Kothi complex has various European styles. The canopies over windows, the intricate woodwork, the sloping tiled roofs in octagonal pyramid shapes of the Ghadial Gate complex, and the classical semicircular arches are among the characteristic features of King Kothi.
[edit] Notes
- ^ The treasure at King Kothi Palace
- ^ The King Kothi Palace
- ^ Present status of the King Kothi Palace
