New Palace, Kolhapur

The New Palace in Kolhapur was built between 1877 and 1884 at a cost of about seven lakh rupees. It is made of polished black stone on an eight-sided plan, with a central tower ringed by smaller ones; the 85 ft clock tower, dated 1877, holds one of the largest mechanical clocks in India, made in England. The palace is still the home of the Chhatrapati family of Kolhapur, descendants of Shivaji Maharaj.

The ground floor holds the Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum, with the royal family's weapons, costumes, embroidery, jewellery and silver elephant saddles, a photo gallery and a letter from the British Viceroy. The Darbar Hall has stained-glass windows showing episodes from Shivaji's life, carved columns with temple-style brackets and a raised throne. A sound-and-light show retells Shivaji's story.