New Palace or Shree Chhatrapati Shahu Museum kolhapur india

The New Palace is on the Bavada road near the Residency. The Palace is designed with an exquisite grace of outline which characterises the mixed Hindu style of architecture and is ornamented with a profusion of elaborate detail which presents itself to the utmost advantage. It designed by Charles Mant in 1881 and has an impressive marquee with filigree work in stone. A royal palace partly converted into an unforgettable museum. The building faces south and has an octagonal tower in the centre, commonly known as the clock tower. The main building is two-storeyed with a terraced roof and numerous turrets and domes. The end rooms of the Palace are octagonal in shape both in front and at back, and it has a grand Darbar hall and billiard room on one side and two reception rooms on the other. At the back is an open chauck (square) with a fountain at the centre and an enclosed verandah arcade and rooms on all sides of the chauck. The Darbar Hall is particularly grand. It has very beautiful stained windows depicting various episodes in the life of Shivaji the Great, which is the work of an Italian artist. It houses rare paintings and artifacts owned by the royal family. Other displays are weapons, swords and guns, including a sword belonging to Aurangzeb, jewellery, embroidery and clothes. The museum houses rare paintings, artifacts used by the royal family, variety of daggers, swords, pistols and Dan Patta, a type of sword. Among curious artifacts on display are sundry stuffed creatures like Leopards.