The city of Nawabs, Hyderabad is a true piece of art when it comes to acknowledging the architectural value of its historical monuments and museums. Not only is the Pearl city well known for its trading business of iridescent pearls and diamonds, but the mouth-watering dishes the streets are filled with makes it an absolute paradise for all the foodies. From appetizing well-layered biryani too ‘Ramzan special haleem’, the city offers many other delightful options- like the famous sheer korma and kaddu ki kheer are only some of the mentions out of many other tasty delights the city has to offer.
Hyderabad is one of the largest cities in the state of Telangana and also, its state capital.
The great street food options and an abundant number of shopping places such as the budget shops at sultan bazaar are what Hyderabad city is noted for, apart from the glorious Charminar. This city offers a unique cultural factor focusing on the deeply rooted Nizami culture. The traffic- fewer highways and grand malls of the new Hyderabad city, and numerous historical attractions mostly located in the old city of Hyderabad is what makes this place a major tourist spot for visitors of all age groups and ethnicity.
Some of the major tourist attractions and places worth visiting in Hyderabad are mentioned below-
- Charminar
One of the most recognized monuments in India, Charminar is a square-shaped mosque as well as a monument. It was constructed in the year 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah- the fifth sultan of the Shahi dynasty. This monument is situated in the old city of Hyderabad. The 56 m long Charminar has 4 towers located at all the 4 corners, with minarets on each side that has a total of 4 storeys in it. Each minaret has a height of 48.7 m. The top floor of Charminar is a mosque which is visited by fellow Muslims, especially on Friday where they all come together to pray. The monument bears aesthetically pleasing indo- Islamic and Islamic architectural style which is an exquisite example of the beauty of Islamic architecture.
- Ramoji Film City
Holding a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, the Ramoji Film City is one of the largest film cities in the world. It is spread over an area of 1,666 acres and was built by ‘Ramoji Rao’, the famous Telugu film producer, in the year 1996. The place also offers a film city tour to its visitors for an unforgettable experience of fine dining in the 5-star restaurants and various sets that are remarkably beautiful. It also hosts some celebrations and carnival festivals, making it a paradise for filmmakers and holiday enthusiasts.
- Golconda Fort
The Golconda Fort which was constructed by the Qutub Shahi dynasty in the fifteenth century. Famous for having diamond mines and secret vaults, this fort initially grew as a trade centre for diamond mining. The very famous kohl-I-noor wasknown to be stored in the Golconda fort’s vault. The Golconda fort is known to have four different forts within, that are all covered by a large outer wall of approximately 6.2 m height. Special features of the fort are the 8 large gateways, 3- 4 drawbridges and around 87 bastions. It is also famous for its water supply system and astonishing Islamic architecture. Visitors also attend the spectacular light and sound show of the Golconda Fort which is worth a watch.
- Hussain Sagar Lake
Known to be the largest artificially constructed lake in Asia, the Hussain Sagar Lake was built by Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah in 1562. it is a heart-shaped lake which consists of a grand statue of Lord Buddha made of granite, which stands 16 m high at the centre of the lake. It covers an area of 5.7 square Km and is situated near the river Musi. A number of water activities like boating by taking a ferry ride or a motorboat can be done to reach the statue.
- Chownmahalla Palace
The Chownmahalla Palace belongs to the Nizams of Hyderabad. Built by Nizam Salabat Jung in the seventeenth century, the palace is spread across an area of 12 acres. It is divided into two large courtyards- the northern and southern courtyards and a splendid dining hall which is known as the ‘khilafat’. The palace is magnificent as it has a unique charm of the Nawabi culture and beautiful architectural style. It also houses a council hall, clock tower and numerous other palaces within itself.
- Birla Mandir
A religious spot for all the spiritual people, the Birla temple was constructed by Swami Renganathananda in the year 1976 along with the Birla foundation, after which the temple bears its name. The temple is devoted to Lord Venkateshwara of Tirumala. It is situated at a hilltop of the Naubat mountain, rising up to an altitude of 280 feet. Some other Hindu gods and goddesses are also worshipped in the temple along with Lord Buddha. The charming beauty of the architectural style of Birla mandir is an artistic blend of the Nagara and South Indian styles of architecture.
- Laad Bazaar
Popularly known for its lac bangles, the Laad Bazaar is one of the most visited places in Hyderabad. It is located near Charminar, which is what makes it heavily crowded and filled with vibrant colours of bangles. Other than bangles, the Laad bazaar also offers a variety of fully embellished and elegant zari sarees and pearl jewellery. One of the hidden gems, that this market contains is ‘soorma’ which is a natural made kohl. From colourful dupattas to marvellous paintings the other artefacts, Laad bazaar is definitely a must-visit place in the city of Hyderabad.
- Lumbini Park
A small urban park that is located alongside the Hussain Sagar Lake, is spread over an area of 7.5 acres of land. It was constructed in the year 1994 and is now maintained by the Buddha Poornima Project Authority, which comes under the Government of Telangana state. The musical fountains and multimedia water shows are what makes the park famous among tourists.
- Salar Jung Museum
Situated on the southern bank of Musi river, the Salar Jung museum is one of the three national museums of India. The museum contains over 1 million objects that include paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, carpets and numerous other artefacts of rich cultural and historical heritage. All these objects were originally collected by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan- Salar Jung III. One of the many attractions of the museum’s artefacts is the musical clock containing over 350 parts, which is said to be made in the nineteenth century.
- Purani Haveli
Also known as the Massart Mahal, the Purani Haveli is a palace which was built by Asaf Jah II in the eighteenth century. The palace is of a U shaped construction with parallel wings across each side and at the middle resides, the presidential palace. Most of the exhibits of Purani Haveli were all gifts presented to Mir Osman Ali Khan who was the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad. The major attraction of this palace is the wardrobe, which is said to be one of the largest wardrobes in the world. It is 73.152 m long wooden chamber divided into two levels, connected by a hand-cranked elevator.
- NTR Garden
The NTR garden is a public park which is spread across a land of 36 acres. The garden is situated across the Hussain Sagar Lake and is beautifully decorated with lush green trees and small bushes of variety of plants. It is a treat to the eyes especially during the night when the pretty lamps lighten up the walkways with musical fountains making it a picturesque landscape,
- Shilparamam
Situated a few Km away from the heart of the city, Shilparamam is an arts and crafts village located in Madurai, Hyderabad. It was created in the year 1992, with the idea of preserving the traditional art and craftsmanship of the culture that the city held during that period. The village contains a photo gallery, a rock and rural museum that are the major tourist attractions. The classy ethnic architectural style and rich cultural ambience that this village is filled with, is an absolute delight for art enthusiasts.
- Necklace Road
The linking road of NTR garden and Sanjeevaiah park, the Necklace Road is a dreamy and enchanting boulevard. This is a famous tourist spot for it is situated alongside the Hussain Sagar Lake that provides a catchy view of the entire lake. The place is filled with amazing restaurants and cafes that provide a picturesque view of the lake, making it a perfect spot for visitors.
- Taj Falaknuma Palace
Constructed in 1894, the Taj Falaknuma Palace originally belonged to the Nizam of Hyderabad. In recent years, it has been transformed into a 5-star hotel and restaurant. From royal upgraded rooms to upscale restaurants, the palace is highly known for its royal service and hospitality and astounding sense of the cultural heritage of the Nizam dynasty.
- Sanghi Temple
Located 35 Km away from the city of Hyderabad, the Sanghi temple is situated in the district of Sandhi Nagar in the state of Telangana. A religious spot for all the Hindu devotees, this temple is situated at the hilltop of Paramanand Giri hill. It includes a tall and sacred gopuram inside which is well known for its aesthetically pleasing architecture. Considered to be a well-created replica of the original Tirumala temple, the Sanghi temple is managed by the Sanghi family.
- Mecca Masjid
One of the largest and oldest mosques in Hyderabad, the Mecca Masjid is a profound work of Indo– Islamic architecture, having a capacity to hold up to 20,000 deities at a given point of time. It was built in the year sixteenth century by Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah, made of the bricks that were imported from Mecca- the place considered to be the holiest place in the Islamic religion. Only the people who are followers of Islam are allowed to enter the mosque.
- Jala Vihar
Jala vihar is a family entertainment park, which is located at the necklace road alongside the Hussain Sagar lake. It is majorly a water amusement park that is suitable for people of all age groups. From river ride to the mushroom umbrella and mini aqua trailers, the place offers numerous water-related activities for family and kids as well. Apart from being a water park, Jala vihar also includes other recreational activities such as mini train rides in the park, and trampoline jumps for kids and adults.
- Birla Planetarium
Inaugurated by Sri S.T. Rama Rao, the Birla planetarium was built in 1985. With the technological support from Japan, it is one of the most modernized planetariums of the country as it is a museum full of scientific and technological approaches. The place offers visitors with different sky shows and models explaining the creation and other aspects of the existence of our universe.
- Taramati Baradari
Taramati baradari is situated outside the Golconda Fort and is another very popular monuments in Hyderabad. It was an auditorium earlier and is now a large music hall that has more than 10 entrance gates. It was constructed wisely, on the hilltop to avoid the inconvenience caused by music to the neighbouring residents. The semi arch structure of this place gradually opens up into an art gallery at the centre. It is a cultural complex for music and dance, that still carries the artistic heritage that the famous dancer Taramati has left behind.
- Gandipet Lake
Also known as Osman lake, the Gandipet lake was named so after the seventh Nizam of Hyderabad- Mir Osman Ali Khan as he was the one who had originally constructed a dam to protect the city from flooding, in the early nineteenth century. It is a water reservoir dam for two cities together, that is Secunderabad and Hyderabad. It is a beautiful tourist spot as it offers a great soothing view of a large area covered with clean water which makes it utterly mesmerizing during sunsets.
It is a waste of time and money if one does not visit these amazing places in Hyderabad. For a taste of Nawabi culture with a pinch of Islamic religion and aesthetic monuments which portrays the rich heritage value that the city beholds from its ancestors is what makes this city a true hidden gem of the Indian culture.
People Are Also Reading:-
