A city of contrasts, Hyderabad exudes an old-world charm of its own with the Old City (Charminar side), Hitech City (Cyberabad) and the other areas lying between the old and the new. The capital and the largest city of Telanaga, Hyderabad is home to stately mosques and noisy bazaars lined parallelly alongside swanky new office buildings and malls, and it is these very contrasts – these glimpses into the city’s rich past with inherent promises of an even better future –that make Hyderabad a city worth visiting. Maybe even more than once.
The city of pearls and biryani, Hyderabad is home to one of the most iconic landmarks – the Charminar. Translating to ‘four minarets’, the grand edifice is built entirely out of limestone and granite, with four minarets on four sides, each of them facing a different street. The Charminar stands in a labyrinth of lanes crammed with shops, markets, stalls and shoppers – one of the best places to shop for the authentic pearls and relish the tasty biryanis, skewer kebabs and haleem (the smorgasbord of food that Hyderabad is known for).
The other side of Hyderabad – HiTech City or Cyberabad – is a stark contrast to the Old City. The area teems with grand malls, pulsating clubs, sleek restaurants and hi-rise buildings of the every-growing multinationals. Between the old and new lie the popular city areas of Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills flanked on the northeast by Secunderabad. Hyderabad and Secunderabad together are still referred to as the “twin cities”, though they are practically one now.
Hyderabad pulsates with a spectacular mix of people and traditions. Make a journey through this mind-stirring metropolis and be ready to be amazed, frustrated, confounded and thrilled, all at once!
Places to Visit
Charminar
An identifying feature of the city, Charminar is the most prominent landmark located right in the heart of Hyderabad. The monument was erected by Quli Qutub Shah to signify the founding of Hyderabad. As is evident from the structure, it was so named as it consists of four minarets. Although it lies right in the centre of the city with traffic and crowds milling all about it, Charminar certainly manages to hold the gaze. It is also famous for the market that sprawls around it and is called ‘Laad’ or ‘Chudi’ Bazaar.
Since the construction of the monument in 1591, Charminar has been synonymous with the culture of Hyderabad standing tall as a reminder of the glorious days of the past era. It is a massive structure which has four minarets which many believe stand for the first four ‘khalifas’ (Prophets) of Islam. Towards the north of the monument, there are four gateways known as Char Kaman which have been constructed in the cardinal directions. The structure was intended to serve as a Madrasa or a Mosque. In its present form, Charminar, along with Qutub Shahi Tombs and the Golconda Fort, has been added to the ‘tentative list’ of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Golconda Fort
Situated in the Western part of the beautiful city of Hyderabad at a distance of approximately 9 km from Hussain Sagar Lake, Golconda Fort is one of the region’s best-preserved monuments. The construction of this fort was completed in the 1600s and it is reputed for being the area where once, the mighty Koh-I-Noor diamond was stored. It is said that if you clap your hands at the bottom of the fort, the echoes of it can be heard right to the top! The architecture, the legends, the history, and the mystery of Golconda Fort add to its allure and make it one of the must-visit places in Hyderabad.
The mines here are known to produce some of the most coveted and popular gems ever known in the world such as Idol’s Eye, the Hope Diamond, Darya-i-noor and the famous Koo-i-noor.
In the evening, Golconda Fort comes to life with the light and sound show which showcases snippets from its regal past. The grandeur, the rise, and the fall of the fort are all spectacular in their own right. With its fascinating history, the place is definitely worth a visit.
Ramoji FilmCity
A place that is perfect for all the lovers of cinema and Bollywood! Set up by Ramoji Rao, the head of Ramoji group in 1991, Ramoji Film City is a spectacular getaway a little outside the city of Hyderabad. It is spread over 2500 acres and has been certified as the World’s largest Film Studio Complex by the Guinness Book of World Records. Ramoji Film City can accommodate 20 film units at one go and has various shooting locations including London Street, Hollywood signage, Japanese gardens, airport, hospital, landscapes and buildings as well as laboratories. Being one of the most popular places to visit in Hyderabad, one can reach Ramoji Film City through a number of packaged tours and buses that leave regularly from the city.
Ramoji Film City is a fun and diverse venue where you can indulge in a number of activities ranging from film city tours to adventure sports and toy train rides to a number of gardens. Smaller renditions of famous monuments in the country such as the Amer Palace are also present here. What’s more, you can also stroll through a number of other sets and settings such as royal courts and other locations that have drawn inspiration from different architectures throughout the world. If you decide to visit this destination, after all, be sure to keep aside an entire day for this fun-filled location!
Hussain Sagar Lake
Renowned as Asia’s largest artificial lake, Hussain Sagar Lake is one of the most popular tourist attractions located in Hyderabad. The lake itself was commissioned by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah in 1563 and is renowned for its monolith of Lord Buddha that stands right in its centre. Incidentally, this monolith structure is the tallest of its kind in the world! Hussain Sagar lake is also Called Tank Bund and lies on a tributary of River Musi. The attraction also has 3 km long dam wall and connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. It is bordered by Indira Park, Sanjeevaiah Park, and Lumbini Park on 3 sides and is truly a relaxing and calming getaway from the city.
Although the Hussain Sagar Lake is popular for activities such as fish culture, water sports and boat rides, the major attraction of the lake is a monolithic Buddha statue situated right at the heart of the lake. The statue of Buddha was installed in the year 1992 and was inaugurated by His Holiness Dalai Lama himself. Standing at the Tank Bund, you can see the whole lake shimmering around you as the lights sparkle on the shore. Thus, the road is also known as the ‘Necklace Road’. Owing to its unique heart-shaped outline, the Hussain Sagar Lake has been declared as the ‘Heart of the World’ by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
The Birla Mandir
The Birla Mandir in Hyderabad forms a pleasant serene atmosphere and is a perfect place for those who wish to get away from the city life and immerse themselves in prayer and meditation. Created in 1976 by Swami Renganathananda from Ramakrishna Ashram and constructed by the Birla Foundation, the Birla Mandir has been a safe haven for all those looking for a few hours of peace amongst the glorious landscape. The Mandir is dedicated to the Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala and is in fact modelled after and is the replica of the idol of Balaji of Tirupati.
The temple itself is located at the top of a 280 feet tall hill called the Naubat Pahad that overlooks both, Hyderabad and Secunderabad as well as the Hussain Sagar Lake and is one of the best viewpoints in the city, especially at night when the lights covering the Mandir illuminate the area and make it a beacon of hope that it is and has been since its creation. The Birla Mandir provides not only the view but also the unruffled tranquillity because the temple is entirely devoid of the sound of bells. This also makes it just the place to meditate or collect your thoughts. The main idol in the Birla Mandir is eleven feet tall and made entirely of white marble, approximately 2000 tonnes from Rajasthan making it a truly majestic sight to behold. The idol is also covered by a carved lotus canopy made of granite stone which vastly contrasts with the marble of the idol.
Chilkur Balaji Temple
Chilkur Balaji Temple is situated in the picturesque village of Chilkur, about 30 kilometres away from Hyderabad. It is also called the VISA Temple, and sits prettily on the banks of the Osman Sagar Lake, near the Vikarabad Road. It is believed that paying your obeisance to the presiding deity, Lord Balaji Venkateswara, along with Sridevi and Bhoodev can grant your wishes of gaining a USA Visa! The temple houses the Visa Balaji or the Visa God! The belief finds its roots in an incident when a few students who had their Visa applications rejected, came and prayed here only to have their applications accepted.
Chilkur Balaji Temple or Chilkoor Balaji Temple, as it is sometimes referred to, is also reputed for being the oldest one in Telangana and is believed to have been built half a millennium ago during the time of Madanna and Akkanna, the uncles of Bhakta Ramadas. Chilkur Balaji is also the only temple in India which has continued to stay out of government control and which does not accept any monetary donations from its devotees. The temple is so popular that around 75,000 to 1,00,000 devotees visit the temple every week.
Taj Falaknuma Palace
Taj Falaknuma Palace is perched around 2000 metres above the city of Hyderabad. Once the royal residence of Nizam- probably the richest man in the world, the palace has now been converted into a five star luxury heritage hotel. Reverberating with sheer opulence and elegance, the palace treats all its guests like royalty.
Nizam’s Museum
In close proximity to Charminar, this is a rather royal museum, situated in the heart of Purani Haveli housing the memorabilia and artifacts of the then Nizam of Hyderabad.
These include 1930 Rolls Royce, Mark V Jaguar and Packard. Among all these treasures and riches of royalty, also find the flattering gold-furnished throne, used during the celebrations, coffee cups made of silver and studded with diamonds, a gold tiffin box with diamonds and more.
Mecca Masjid
Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad is one of the oldest and largest mosques in the city. Commissioned in 1614, it was built through the efforts of by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, however, the construction saw completion only in the year 1694. Together with the Chowmahalla Palace, Laad Bazaar, and Charminar, the mosque forms the four very important heritage attractions in the city. Located near the famous monument – Charminar – it can be easily reached from any part of the city.
covering the Mandir illuminate the area and make it a beacon of hope that it is and has been since its creation. The Birla Mandir provides not only the view but also the unruffled tranquillity because the temple is entirely devoid of the sound of bells. This also makes it just the place to meditate or collect your thoughts. The main idol in the Birla Mandir is eleven feet tall and made entirely of white marble, approximately 2000 tonnes from Rajasthan making it a truly majestic sight to behold. The idol is also covered by a carved lotus canopy made of granite stone which vastly contrasts with the marble of the idol.
Statues of several other Hindu deities are also spread across the temple and given equal reverence. The temple of Buddha containing several paintings from his life and showing a vivid picture of his history and struggles is also a highlight of the Birla Mandir. Other important sites that should not be overlooked include the planetarium and the Birla Science Museum which are located at a walking distance from the Birla Mandir.
Salarjung Museum
A relic of history on the banks of the Musi River, Salar Jung Museum is located at Darushifa and is one of the crowning jewels of Hyderabad. It is one of the three national museums in the country and also among the largest at 10 Acres and 2 Floors. The most astounding part of going through Salar Jung Museum and its collection is realising that all of the artefacts inside belonged to and were collected by one man alone! The collection inside the museum is owned by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan who was also known as Salar Jung III. With over one million paintings, sculptures, carvings, manuscripts and artefacts, the museum is a repository of art collections a few of which date as far back as the first century. Some of the valuable and rare pieces in the museum are – A painting of Raja Ram Mohan Roy – the artist, Aurangzeb’s sword, daggers that belonged to Shah Jahan, Jehangir and a full wardrobe of Tipu Sultan. The museum also has a number of priceless sculptures such as Veiled Rebecca, Double Statue of Mephistopheles & Margaretta and many more. The biggest attraction at the museum is the musical clock that dates back to the 19th century and consists of more than 350 parts.
Salar Jung Museum is the third largest museum in India and is the biggest one-man collection of antiques on the planet. The collection inside the museum was sourced from the Salar Jung Family. The museum is a testament to the passion of Nawab Mir Yusuf Khan for arts and antiques. It also houses an excellent library with more than sixty thousand books and almost eight thousand rare manuscripts.
Must Try Food in Hyderabad
- Hyderabadi, Indian and Chinese Dishes at Bawarchi Restaurant
- Traditional Hyderabad Biryani and Haleem at Hotel Shadab
- Barbecue at Absolute Barbecue Jubilee Hills
- North Indian Food at Gufaa Ohri’s Cuisine Court
- Hyderabadi Cuisine at Shah Ghouse Cafe & Restaurant
- Mediterranean fare at Olive Bistro
- Seafood at The Fisherman’s Wharf
- South Indian Restaurant Chutneys
- South Indian Restaurant Tajmahal
- Pan Asian Restaurant Zega
How To Get There
By Air
Hyderabad is well connected to the rest of India via all mediums. It has its own airport with frequent flights coming from all major cities. The Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is located 22 km from the city and is one of the best aviation facilities in the country. There is direct flight connectivity from many countries. The domestic connectivity is also excellent with Indian airlines like Air India, IndiGo, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, etc operating from here. There are buses available at the airport to take you to the major points in the city. You can also hire metered air-conditioned radio cabs. Airfares peak during the summer holidays and Durga Puja.
By Road
Hyderabad is connected to all the major Metros by road. The government and private buses operate luxury and ordinary services from all the neighbouring States. The Jubilee Bus Station is located in Secunderabad and run direct bus services to and from Bangalore, Mumbai, and Chennai. MGBS operating in Hyderabad is the largest bus station in the world. It has a pickup and drop points from various parts of the city. NH 44 connects Hyderabad to a number of cities and towns in the state. Buses are available from all towns cities in Andhra and Telangana and major cities in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
By Train
Hyderabad is well connected by rail network to all parts of India. There are three major railway stations serving the city – Secunderabad, Hyderabad and Kachiguda railways stations. The trains bound for South and North India originate via Hyderabad and pass through Secunderabad.
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