The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Renovated Afzal Mahal basks in glory

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Thursday, Oct 30, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Renovated Afzal Mahal basks in glory

J.S. Ifthekhar

Conservation architects do a splendid job

Have a dekko of the elegant and graceful ‘buggies’, royal crockery and the dining room
Also on display are vintage cars of the Nizam and old bikes like Harley Davidsons

-Photo: Mohd. Yousuf

Regal splendour: The renovated Afzal Mahal in Chowmahalla Palace.

Hyderabad: It is even more beguiling inside. Eye-catching French furnishings, rich tapestry, elaborate drapes, Turkish chandeliers. The renovated Afzal Mahal in Chowmahalla Palace is simply breathtaking. A job well done. That’s the feeling one gets after a visit to the place where the Nizam entertained his guests.

Restoration of heritage structures is no child’s play. Working with traditional material, not currently in use, presents its own problems. But conservation architects, Rahul Mehrotra and Raja Martand Singh, have done a splendid job. They have paid meticulous attention to details to recapture the past ambience. Afzal Mahal now revels in its pristine glory.

There are more surprises in store for visitors. They can now set eyes on things hitherto hidden from public gaze. A wonder clock – like the one in Salarjung Museum, has been repaired and refurbished. So is the grand piano. It is now back to its symphonic best. Perhaps it now awaits an Adnan Sami to cast a spell.

The piano dated 1859 has the words ‘Strinmay and Sons, New York’ embossed on it. Like the clock, it too lay neglected over the years. The services of an expert repairer, Mukhtar of Chennai, were requisitioned to bring it back to life. Just a feathery touch and the ebony and ivory keys produce divine notes. “It is ecstasy beyond bliss,” says G. Kishan Rao, director, Chowmahalla Palace.

Together, the clock and piano, make world of difference to Chowmahalla. Not just this. One can have a dekko of the elegant and graceful ‘buggies’, royal crockery and the dining room where once royalty breakfasted. Also on display are vintage cars of the Nizam. See the 1912 model Rolls Royce, the first one to come to India, a 1904 Napier, Fiat, green Buick, black Ford, Packard. Also old bikes like Harley Davidsons, Red Indian Chiefs are showcased.

An unforgettable experience. That’s what Chowmahalla now offers.

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