The very name Hyderabad mirrors a kind of inimitable blend of the north Indian and South Indian culture that co-exists and inspires the various metropolises of India of secular unity. It is also called as the “City of Nizams” since it was for a long period of time ruled by the Nizams. Located in the state of Andhra Pradesh, it is a burgeoning hub of information technology industry and poses a cut-throat competition to its counterpart Bangalore. The cityscape is also popular for lots of other attractions such as Birla Mandir, Hussain Sagar, Qutb Shahi Tombs and Charminar. Just be certain that you have ample time in hand to explore this vibrant city since it has much more to offer than you might expect during your trip to Hyderabad.
Air : Hyderabad is connected with all the major cities of India. Flights link Hyderabad with Delhi, Port Blair, Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, etc.
Rail : Hyderabad is linked with the metropolitan cities by train. One can also get off at Secunderabad, which is very close Hyderabad. .
Bus : Hyderabad and its sister city Secunderabad are situated on the junction of two important National Highways: NH 7 (Varanasi-Nagpur-Hyderabad- Kanyakumari) and NH 9 (Bombay/Mumbau-Shlapur-Vijayawada).
Charminar : The Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris. Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, built Charminar in 1591 at the centre of the original city layout. It was said to be built as a charm to ward off a deadly epidemic raging at that time. Four graceful minarets soar to a height of 48.7m. above the ground. Charminar has 45 prayer spaces and a mosque in it. Visitors can view the architectural splendour inside the Charminar. The monument is illuminated in the evenings and a pedestrianisation project around the monument is under implementation.
Golconda Fort : Golconda is one of the famous forts of India. The name originates from the Telugu words “Golla Konda” meaning “Shepherd’s Hill”. The origins of the fort can be traced back to the Yadava dynasty of Deogiri and the Kakatiyas of Warangal. Golconda was originally a mud fort, which passed to the Bahmani dynasty and later to the Qutb Shahis, who held it from 1518 to 1687 A.D. The first three Qutb Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a span of 62 years. The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben gun, one of the cannons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell.
Qutb Shahi Tombs : The tombs of the legendary Qutb Shahi kings lie about a kilometre away from Banjara Darwaza of the Golconda Fort. Planned and built by the Qutb Shahis themselves, these tombs are said to be the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. They form a large group and stand on a raised platform. The tombs are built in Persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles using grey granite, with stucco ornamentation, the only one of its kind in the world where an entire dynasty has been buried at one place.
Taramati Baradaru : Taramati Baradari is an amalgation of the romance and the grace of the middle ages. The 7th Sultan of Golconda Abdullah Qutub Shah ode to his favorite courtesan Taramati through the Baradari the open pavilion with 12 doorways. The Taramati Baradari is a popular tourists attraction. It also houses hotel and an ultra modern convention and culture complex. The wide range of services at Taramati Baradari include Air Cooled Theatre with capacity of 500 people, Open Air Auditorium with capacity of 1600 people capacity, Banquet Hall with capacity of 250 people, Accommodation Unit, Board Rooms, Multi-Cuisine Restaurant, Bar, Swimming Pool / Billiards / Fitness Center, Two Green Rooms, and Food Courts.
Mecca Masjid : A two hundred yards southwest of the Charminar is the Mecca Masjid, so named because the bricks were brought from Mecca to build the central arch. The Qutb Shahis never finished the building of the mosque, which was completed by Aurangzeb in 1694. Mecca Masjid is poetry in stone, with a hall measuring 67m and soaring to a height of 54m. Fifteen graceful arches - five to each of the three sides, support the roof. Towards the southern end of the mosque lie the marble graves of members of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.
Salar Jung Museum : This museum houses one of the biggest one-man collections of antiques of the world by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III. The objects d’art include Persian carpets, Moghal miniatures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquerware, famous statues including the Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles, a superb collection of jade, daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jahan and the Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb’s sword and many other fabulous items.
Andhra Pradesh State Archaeological Museum : A visit to the Andhra Pradesh State Archaeological Museum is a delight for art lovers. Located in the picturesque Public Gardens, the museum boasts of one of the richest repositories of antiques and art objects in the country. Built in 1920 by the Nizam VII, the museum building itself is a fine example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The museum contains a Buddhist gallery, Brahmanical & Jain gallery, Bronze gallery, Arms & Armour gallery, Numismatics gallery, Ajanta gallery and more. Adjacent to the State Museum is the Contemporary Art Museum.
Birla Planetarium/Birla Science Museum : Birla Planetarium is India’s most modern planetarium and first of its kind in the country. It is equipped with advanced technology from Japan and is built on Naubat Pahad adjacent to Kala Pahad. And the Science Museum stands tribute to the advancement achieved by Science and Technology.
Nehru Zoological Park : Spanning 300 lush green acres, the Nehru Zoological Park is a must for nature lovers. It has over 250 species of animals and birds, most of which are kept in conditions as close to their natural habitats as possible. This is the first zoo to create moated enclosures for animals. The Lion Safari Park, Natural History Museum and Children’s Train are the added attractions. APTDC runs an ice-cream parlour and restaurant here.
Shilparamam - The Arts & Crafts village : Another attraction at Madhapur beyond Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad is the 30-acre village, which showcases arts and crafts of the country. India is an ocean of various arts and crafts but the talent of most of the artisans and artists goes unrecognized. To encourage them and give the necessary boost to their art, the crafts village hosts annual bazaars, where artists and artisans from all over the country exhibit their talent.
Ramoji Film City : A dream world created for the celluloid on a sprawling 1000 acres, with every imaginable set and location, Ramoji Film City on the outskirts of Hyderabad offers facilities to produce any kind of movie. Apart from sets, there are hotels where artistes and technicians can stay. Visitors too can go round in conducted tours that the management organises.
Lumbini Park : This beautiful entertainment park is situated on the shore of Hussainsagar lake. The landscaping here is a visual treat. A musically synchronized water fountain and a floral clock are major attractions here. Lumbini Park jetty is a major point for pleasure boating of AP Tourism.
Hussainsagar Lake : Excavated in 1562 A.D. by Hussain Shah Wali during the time of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah, the lake has a promenade that is a busy thoroughfare today. Boating and water sports are a regular feature in the Hussainsagar. One of the World’s tallest monolithic statues of the Buddha stands on the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’, in the middle of the lake. Added to all these, AP Tourism has additional boating facilities like speed boats, motor boats, 48 seater launch etc. Starlit dinner on-board and private parties also can be arranged on the Launch.
If you are game for shopping, Hyderabad will not let you down. Here you can shop for world famous pearls, jewellery, bangles, traditional arts & crafts, handicrafts, sarees, clothes from reputed international brands, what name you! The main shopping areas comprise Basheerbagh, Abids and Nampally.
Other favorite haunts are Begum Bazaar (for brassware), Laad Bazaar (for diamonds, pearls, bangles and precious metals), Sultan Bazar and Mahatma Gandhi Road. Begum Bazar is the largest market in the city.
If these are not enough, you can also rummage through Ameerpet, Himayatnagar, Begumpet, Somajiguda and Punjagutta. Besides, for the benefit of toursists, Andhra Pradesh Tourism has opened souvenir and handicraft shops christened 'Gnapika'.
Some of the items to look for while you are shopping in Hyderabad include Kalamkari, Himroo, Handloom Fabrics, Hyderabadi Lacquered Bangle, Lambadi Mirror-work and exquisite jewelery. You can also look out for Kondapalli toys bidri metal craft (silver inlaid on metal-copper and zinc), gun metal craft, stone carvings, wood carvings, brassware, Pembarthi sheet metal art besides Nirmal art and Kalamkari art.
Besides, there are plenty of sarees to cater to different tastes and choices. One of the specialties of Hyderabad is zardozi embroidery work. Some of the main shopping areas in Hyderabad are Charminar, Koti--Sultan Bazaar, Narayanguda—Chikkadpally and Monda Market. Besides, nowadays many new shopping malls have come up.
Eating out in Hyderabad is something that people look forward to. The place is famous for its Biryani, which is delicious. You will keep asking for more once you have it. The question of what to eat in Hyderabad is not that difficult and needs absolutely no pondering. Almost every road in Hyderabad has one eating joint. You can hop into any of these restaurants in Hyderabad and have a sumptuous meal to your heart's content.
In addition to the traditional Hyderabad food and dishes, there are many fast food joints offering fast food and Chinese delicacies. Some of the noted fast food joints in Hyderabad are Domino's, Pizza Hut, Pizza Corner, and McDonald's. Bedsides these food joints, many other restaurants and hotels also provide good quality fast food to satisfy your taste buds.
The city of Hyderabad wont cease to keep you entertained throughout your trip. There are a variety of entertainment options to choose from while touring Hyderabad. You will never be faced with the problem of how to enjoy in Hyderabad. Read on to know more about Hyderabad entertainment.
The city of Hyderabad has a variety of amusement parks that live upto their names and keep you actually amused! You will be surprised at the number of joy ride options that they have to offer. They are sure to give you the adrenalin rush of your life. Apart from these parks, you will find a number of pubs, discotheques, clubs, snooker joints, bowling alleys and go-karting racetracks to keep you entertained. The entertainment options in the city are at par with top-class world standards and are sure to be a memorable experience on your trip to Hyderabad.
You can catch a movie at the most the happening multiplexes around the city. Go to the first multiplex to be set up in Hyderabad, the famous PVR, which has 5 screens screening different movies to suit your tastes. Apart from movies, one can visit the various art galleries in the city that offer a superior quality visual treat and an enriching experience. Visit the various dance and music academies if you want to get a feel of the melodious South-Indian music that is sure to be a rejuvenating experience. You shall get details about the various parks and entertainment zones in our related sections.