Curated royal dining experience at The Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad

When the 19 Belgian Crystal chandeliers, of the 300-year-old Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad’s Old City are lit, the moment feels almost theatrical. I have visited the palace several times — as a tourist, a reporter and a wedding guest — and each experience has felt distinct. But seeing Chowmahalla after sunset reveals a version of the palace that few ever encounter.

Usually open only during the day, the palace has now begun hosting The Chowmahalla Experiences (TCE): private, guided evening tours followed by a musical programme and a royal dinner. The initiative reflects a growing interest in experiential heritage hospitality, where monuments are not merely preserved but thoughtfully activated to engage contemporary audiences.

Launched in November, TCE is a premium offering inspired by the popularity of supper clubs, curated dinners and private heritage walks. “The idea was not just to promote the palace, but the culture of the city around it,” says Aamir Tameen, curator of The Chowmahalla Experiences.

The Belgian Crystal Crystal chandeliers at the Durbar Hall
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

Guests arrive after public hours, in limited numbers, and begin with a guided heritage walk through the palace. “The experience goes beyond a conventional dinner,” Aamir explains. “It starts with a detailed walkthrough of key halls and courtyards, designed to contextualise the architecture, royal customs and lesser-known stories of the Nizami era. The walk unfolds as an immersive narrative rather than a standard museum tour.”

For the ones who are not aware of this palace in Hyderabad, Chowmahalla’s construction began around 1751 AD during the reign of Nawab Salabat Jung, the third son of Asaf Jah I. When Nizam Ali Khan Asaf Jah II shifted the capital from Aurangabad to Hyderabad, he added several mahals during his reign, shaping the complex into the ceremonial heart of the Nizams.

Aamir(standing) with the guests seated for a royal dining experience at the Chowmahalla palace
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

Even during the guided walk, the palace’s collections remain a highlight: the Nizam’s private Quran collection; the fleet of vintage cars — including a 1912 Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost, a 1934 Ford Tourer, a 1953 Packard, two 1906 Napiers and a Buick convertible; royal garments and textiles; and, of course, the chandeliers imported from Turkey, Belgium and Venice.

The food

For visitors, no royal experience in Hyderabad would be complete without Nizami cuisine. The food and beverage programme is carefully considered. A six-course, sit-down menu — available in vegetarian and non-vegetarian options — draws on traditional Nizami recipes. The courses are divided into shorba, gazak, dastarkhwan, akhri and khilwat meetha. In the menu, Marag with sheermaal is a constant along with Shikampur and Patthar ka gosht. Some of the dishes to look forward to are Zafrani biryani, Nizami handi, dahi ke kebab, double or qubani ka meetha.

The Chowmahalla at night
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

Behind the elegance lies meticulous planning. “Operationally, hosting an evening event within a protected heritage monument requires extensive preparation,” says Aamir. This includes securing special permissions, coordinating security, designing heritage-safe lighting, setting up controlled electrical systems, planning acoustics for live classical or ghazal music, training staff in palace etiquette and adhering to strict preservation protocols to ensure zero impact on the artefacts and architecture.

The curated event is ticketed, price depends on the events and menu. To book this experience, keep a watch on their Instagram page @thechowmahalla_experience.