Located in the historic city of Kolhapur in the Indian state of Maharashtra, the New Palace is an ancient building, which is presently being used by Chhatrapati Sahu for residential purposes. He is the direct descendent of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of Maratha Empire. The construction of the palace was started in 1877 and took about 7 years to complete and in 1884, the construction of the New Palace was completed.

Architecture of New Palace
The architect of the New Palace was British royal engineer, Major Charles Mant, who had designed several buildings in Kolhapur in the Indo- Saracenic architectural style which was a fusion of Victorian Gothic architecture with Indian elements. The New Palace was built in a similar pattern but in black polished stone and is eight angled. The Palace has extensive premises with a garden, fountain, a mini zoo and wrestling ground.

With a blend of features, the palace complex has contrasting basalt and sandstone. Architectural diversity is witnessed, like the Neo- Mughal lobed arches beneath the double- storied range with temple-like columns and brackets above. This scheme is interrupted by trefoil arches capped with curving cornices and small domes. The same elements cap the octagonal corner towers. There is also a pronounce curved cornice in the central porch, to whose one side there is a 45m tall clock tower that was fixed in 1877 capped with an octagonal domed pavilion.

The interior of the New Palace is equally lavish and the ground floor of the complex accommodates the Shahaji Chhatrapati Museum. This museum is dedicated to a collection of things like weapons, costumes, jewellery and embroidery which was owned by Chhatarapati of Kolhapur. Taxidermy animals like tigers, wild dogs, sloth bear, and Black Panther, lion and Himalayan black bear are present and placed in one section of the museum. The sidewall of the Darbar Hall is filled with strained glasses which illustrates scenes from the life of Shivaji. There is also a raised throne at the end of the Hall.

Visiting Information on New Palace
The nearest railway station to the New Palace is about 2.4 km away and the Kolhapur Airport is the closest at a distance of about 11 km.