Chand Bibi Palace

Essentially the palace is the tomb of one of the famous ministers of Murtaza Nazam Shah I, Salabat Khan. It being known as the palace of Chand Bibi is still a mystery. The hill of Chand Bibi Palace is located about 3080 feet above sea level.

Situated on top of a hill, it has a view of the city lights at night. The structure is very strong. It is believed that the structure was planned to be seven-storey high, but could be built only till three-storeys.It is visible from almost anywhere in Ahmednagar City.

History

Mistaken many a times as the Palace of Chand Bibi by the locals, the structure marks a respect to the statesman, who was appointed minister in 1579, after the half-mad Murtaza put to death his regent, Changiz Khan, in a fit of suspicion and rage. Salabat Khan was respected and loved by the people of Ahmednagar.

Architecture

On the left of the Ahmednagar-Shevgaon road is the tomb of the Salabat Khan II, the Nizamshahi Minister, which is commonly (and mistakenly), called Chand Bibi's Mahal. This dome is octagonal shaped and surrounded by a verandah three stories high. The surrounding countryside can be viewed from the summit. The building is plain and octagonal shaped having eight sided platforms. By the simple contrivance of a stone terrace built about twelve feet high and 100 yards broad the tomb seems to rise with considerable dignity from the centre of the octagon. The tomb has angular holes so placed that the rising and setting sunlight falls on it. Sunlight plays on the tomb throughout the day, streaming through slanted apertures in the vault.

Best time to Visit

The Chand Bibi Palace can be visited anytime during the day or night. There are sparsely any inhabitants in the vicinity. During the day, one gets to see the whole city of Ahmednagar from atop the hill. The lights illuminating the city during night present a picturesque view to the visitors.

Visitor Information

Chand Bibi Palace is a three-storey structure that is one of the best attractions in Ahmednagar. It is made of solid stone and houses the Salabat Khan Tomb. This palace is located at a distance of about 13 km from the main city of Ahmednagar.
The three-storey structure is made of solid stone and is octagonal in shape.

How to Reach

One of the medieval cities in the state of Maharashtra, Ahmednagar has recently come up with the proposal to develop its vicinity by the year 2031.

Air

Aurangabad is the nearest airport which is situated at a distance of about 110 km. This airport connects the city of Ahmednagar to several other cities of the country. Private taxis and buses are available from Aurangabad to Ahmednagar.

Rail

Train to Dadar (DR), Mumbai and then take train to Daund Junction (DD), then train to Ahmednagar (ANG).

Road

It has a prominent road juncture that connects Ahmednagar to Mumbai by Maharashtra State Highway 60 followed by State Highway 10 that connects to Mumbai Pune Expressway en route Mahalunge Hospital. Drive onto the Sion-Panvel Expressway till you pass by Shree Jagruteshwar Temple followed by Vashi Bridge and thereafter continue onto Yaswanth Rao Chavan Marg that connects to Link Road. The approximate drive of 253kms from Ahmednagar to Mumbai will take you approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes.

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