Hyderabad Travel Guide

Hyderabad is the India’s 5th largest city with an ancient civilisation and culture. Hussain sagar Lake is the separation mark between the twin as Hyderabad and Secunderbad, which is a man made lake. With its union of cultures and traditions, the city is frequently described as a link between the north and the south, and a meeting place of the east and the west. Hyderabad city is nearly 400 years old and is famous for its natural beauty, mosques and minarets, bazaars and bridges, hills and lakes. Hyderabad is blend of Natural and sophisticated old and new, an old 'Nawabi' culture with a new positive approach and hospitality.

Crowded markets 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.

The Golconda Fort, capital of the kingdom by that name, is today very much part of the city, as is Cyberabad (means Cyber City), a new local area created to keep pace with the zooming Information Technology & Tourism sector. Pearls, bangles, silks, computer software, handicrafts and above all a mouth-watering cuisine add to the majesty of this great city.

General Information
Area: 259 sq. miles
Population: 38,41,396
Rain Fall: 95 cm
Climate: Max. Min.
Summer 400C 220C
Winter 220C 13.80C

Access
Air: Well connected with all major cities of India. Begumpet is the nearest airport which is situated on the main road between Begumpet and Parade grounds, Secunderabad,
Rail: Main railway stations are Begumpet Station, Hyderabad Station and Secunderabad Station.
Bus: AP State Road Transport Corporation, shas a busy district service that connects Hyderabad to every city, town and almost all villages.

Places of Interest
Birla Mandir
This sparkling unearthly temple of Lord Venkateshwara, made of with white marble, floats on the city skyline. The idol in the temple is a replica of the one at Tirupati.

Birla Planetarium
Birla Planetarium is India's most up-to-the-minute planetarium and first of its kind in the country. Equipped with advanced technology from Japan and is built on Naubat Pahad neighboring to Kala Pahad.

Charminar
Charminar mark of Hyderabad as Taj Mahal is of Agra or Eiffel Tower is of Paris. The founder of Hyderabad, Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, built Charminar in 1591 at the centre of the original city layout and it is believed to have been built as a charm to ward off a deadly epidemic raging at that time. Four graceful minarets soar to a height of 48.7m. Charminar has 45 prayer spaces and a mosque in it.

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, factories, 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.

Hyderabad Botanical Gardens
The first Botanical Gardens in Andhra Pradesh, spread over 120 acres when completed, will have 19 sections (Vanams). Already open to public is the first phase, with the completion of 5 sections. The sections include medicinal plants, timber trees, fruit trees, ornamental plants, aquatic plants, bamboos and so on. The Park has been designed to have large water bodies, rolling meadows, natural forests, rich grasslands and exquisite rock formations - all providing visitors an unforgettable experience.

Lumbini Park
This beautiful entertainment park is situated on the shores 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.

Mecca Masjid
A 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 & 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 graves in marble of Nizam Ali Khan & the families of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.

Nehru Zoological Park
Spanning 300 lush green acres, the Nehru Zoological Park is a must for nature lovers. The biggest Zoo in India, 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 its "Pongali" restaurant and an ice-cream parlour here.

Laad Bazaar
This is the famous, colourful shopping centre of the Old City. It is tucked away in one of the streets leading off from Charminar. Bridal wear, pearls & the traditional Hyderabadi glass & stone studded bangles are sold here.

Legislative Assembly
Built in 1913, the building was originally the Hyderabad State Town Hall. The architecture is a synthesis of Rajasthani and Persian styles, with an all white, aesthetic look. Located adjoining the picturesque Public Gardens, a massive statue of Mahatma Gandhi in a sitting posture is erected at the entrance park to the Assembly.

Osmania University
Established in 1918, it is one of the oldest universities in India. Named after Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, the university buildings are splendid, especially the Arts College building which is a perfect example of Indo - Saracenic architecture.

Qutb Shahi Tombs
The tombs of the legendary Qutb Shahi kings lie to the north of Golconda, 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.

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.

Salar Jung Museum
This museum houses one of the biggest one-man collections of antiques and artifacts in the world by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III. The objects d'art include Persian carpets, Moghal miniatures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquer ware, famous sculptures 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. APTDC has a "Pongali" snack bar here.