Naukhanda Palace
The Naukhanda Palace was built by Malik Ambar in 1616 upon the summit of a
rising ground at Aurangabad, India. The massive portal gateway leading to
this, over which the Naubatkhana sounded, was called Barkal. According to
one account a noble of Aurangzeb’s court named Alam Khan, made additions to
this Palace; and further additions were subsequently made by Asaf Jah I. An
adjoining block of buildings was screened off by a partition wall for Nasir
Jang. The Naukonda palace was also occupied by Nizam Ali Khan, when he was
at Aurangabad.
The palace had nine apartments, the interior buildings consisted of five
zananas, a Divan i Aam, a Divan i Khas, a masjid and a kacheri, each
provided with a garden and a cistern.
The walls of the central part of the Devankhana, and a hamam or hot bath
attached to the building, are in a fair state of preservation. However, the
wood-work and the stucco plaster are all gone. The Divan i Aam is a large
quadrangular structure much in ruins. The Kacheri close by contains a gadi
of the Nizam. In the throne room are placed the original paraphernalia.
The Diwan e Aam was demolished when the present Medical collage of
Aurangabad was constructed. The palace now houses The Aurangabad College for
women. In the olden days Nawab Salar Jang's palace and Govind Baksh's mahal
were between the Paitan and Jafar gates.
Presently owned by Prince Mukarram Jah Bahadur.
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