Enjoying Hyderabad

Hyderabad - The name itself brings up vision of a vibrant city of minarets and modern high-rise buildings. A natural and sophisticated blend of old and new - an old royal culture with a new pro-active approach and hospitality. The Teeming bazaars of the old city, in the midst of which stands the 400-year-old Charminar, the modern shopping complexes and ultra-modern malls in the newer areas of the city add to the charm of Hyderabad. Pearls, bangles, silks, computer software, handicrafts and above all a delectable cuisine add to the splendor of this great city.

Places to Visit

Birla Mandir - This marble-structure is called the Birla Mandir (Temple), because, it has been built by the Birla Foundation. The temple was constructed with white marbles from Rajasthan. It overlooks the Tank Bund and makes an excellent spectacle when illuminated lavishly during the evenings.

Charminar - Any tourist who steps into this 400-year-old city eagerly awaits a glance of this monument, which is to Hyderabad what the Statue of Liberty is to the USA and the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. Built in 1591-92 by the Qutb Shahi king Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah, this magnificent edifice that epitomizes the pride of our city is a structure of char (four) huge minars (pillars).

Golconda Fort - Ever experienced any of the astounding marvels of acoustics? To have a first-hand experience, just stand at a particular point at the entrance of the Golconda Fort and clap. It reverberates and the sound can be heard clearly at the Bala Hissar, the highest point on the hill, which is almost a kilometer away. It is said that the Hope Diamond, the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, the Orloff Diamond, etc. originated from this place. The Golconda Fort, which was once famous for its trade in diamonds and precious stones, has a sound-and-light show organized by the AP Tourism Development Corporation every evening.

Hussain Sagar - The Tank Bund, the dam to the Hussain Sagar Lake and the link between the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, was built by Hazrat Hussain Shah, and has always been a major tourist attraction. Adding to its charm is the monolithic statue of the Buddha installed in the heart of the lake.

Lad Bazaar - One of the oldest shopping centers in the city, Lad Bazaar has some real good bangles made of glass, lac, metal, semi-precious stones and pearls. The place is also famous for its dress materials, bridal wear, henna, gold-coated articles, cosmetics, crockery, etc. Palaces like the Chowmahalla Palace built by the Nizams form a part of this neighborhood.

Salarjung Museum - One of the oldest museums in the twin cities, it is reputed to be the largest private collection in the world. The museum has various artifacts collected by Nawab Turab Ali Khan, popularly known as Salar Jung I, the diwan of the Hyderabad State, and his descendants. The popular ones among these rare pieces of art are The Veiled Rebecca (a statue bought in 1876 in Rome), Venice, a painting by Marc Aldine of 19th century Italy, Indian paintings, arms and attires of the Mughal emperors and some fabulous clocks.

Qutb Shahi Tombs - The tombs are a blend of large domes, minarets, terraces, arches, etc. Beautifully spread out carpet grass in the gardens around the different tombs welcomes the visitors. The hakims (royal physicians), the imams (religious leaders) and the favorite eunuchs of the royal household, apart from the rulers, were buried here. A crescent shaped structure atop the entrances of the tombs housing the burials of the royal kings marks the striking difference immediately.

Nehru Zoological Park - One of the largest and the best zoos in Asia, the Nehru Zoological Park has nearly 1,500 species of animals, birds and reptiles. The major attraction within the zoo is the Lion Safari. A van barbed with wrought iron takes you through the gates of the safari — opening one gate at a time — into a completely different world of wild animals where lions, tigers, rhinos, wild oxen, panthers, etc. are left freely in the wilderness of a simulated jungle. Apart from the animals, a nocturnal zoo, the pre-historic dinosaur park, a natural history museum, parks, a mini-train and animal rides make the place ideal for a picnic.

You could visit the official website of the State Tourism Department for details on other exotic places you could visit while at Hyderabad by clicking here.