Lying 1700 ft above the sea level, Hyderabad, the most popular city in the South Indian state Telangana, is known for the population with a reasonable mix of all religions. The city is located on the banks of the Musi River in the Telangana plateau, a major upland region of the Deccan.
The multilingual culture both geographically and culturally makes Hyderabad a popular tourist destination and a city with great heritage and legacy. Hyderabad and its twin city Secunderabad have witnessed enormous growth in the recent year as an IT hub, generating huge employments. The city has number of forts, palaces and other heritage monuments kindling the interest of the visitors to explore more into the history of Hyderabad.
Hyderabad has a rich history and tradition influenced with the multitude of cultures, religions, cuisines and lifestyles. Hyderabad was under the reign of various Buddhist and Hindu Kingdoms. Out of all, the Chalukyas and the Kakatiyas were the most prominent.
Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara Kings and Bamani Sultanate ruled the region during the subsequent centuries. After several battles and disputes, the Qutb Shahi Dynasty took over the region. Founded in 1591 by the Qutb Shahi Dynasty, Hyderabad soon came under the influence of the Nizams in 1724.
Hyderabad emerged as the largest Princely state in the British India as a result of the ally between the British Raj and the Hyderabadi Nizams. The city saw a tremendous development in the field of education and arts. More number of architectures were built using the Indo – Persian and Indo-Islamic architectures. Those monuments are the major attractions for the tourists coming from all corners of the country and the globe.
Popular As : City of Nizams, City of Pearls
Prominent Places to Visit
Golconda Fort: An Archaeological treasure housing palaces, royal courts, apartments, temples, mosques, magazines and stables. The fort is built on a round shaped hill, and surprising the visitors with its architectural elegance.
Charminar: The eponymous pillars and the four grand arches give the name to this magnificent building Charminar, a 400 years old icon of Hyderabad. Charminar is surrounded by the Musi river, Laad Bazaar and the Mecca Masjid.
Laad Bazaar: Close to the tourist locations Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace and Mecca Masjid, the Laad Bazaar stretches as a 1km shopping strip, selling bangles, saris, imitation jewellery and wedding related items. The market is functional since the time of Qutub Shahi Dynasty.
Birla Mandir: An intricate architecture with a blend of the Dravidian, Rajasthani and Utkala architectures. The magnificent temple made in white marble attracts visitors across the corners of the country. The sub shrines and the sanctum are seen with splendid designs.
Ramoji Film City: The largest studio complex in the world, sprawling across 1700 acres, Ramoji Film City is a popular tourism and recreation centre. Besides the film shootings, the film city attracts around 1.5 million tourists every year with its sound stages and permanent sets.
Hussain Sagar Lake: The Lake separating Hyderabad from its twin city Secunderabad, is a popular tourist attraction. Recognized as the world’s largest heart shaped man-made lake, Hussain Sagar lake and the 18 feet tall monolithic Buddha statue are the highlights of this location.
Mecca Masjid: The centrepiece in the heart of the city is Mecca Masjid, one of the largest mosque in India, which can accommodate 20,000 people at any time. Built with the bricks and soil from the Holy Mecca, the 16th century mosque is an icon of Hyderabad.
Qutb Shahi Tombs: Built with a blend of Indian and Persian forms, the Qutub Shahi Tombs form a larger cluster
Salar Jung Museum: One of the largest museums in the world is Salar Jung Museum, housing the collections of the Salar Jung III, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad during the Nizam’s rule. The artifacts from across the world have been collected over a period of 35 years.
Best Time To Visit
Hyderabad is in its most ideal climatic conditions from September to February. Though the city can be visited throughout the year, the tropical climate may not be suitable sometimes.
Way to Reach
By Air - Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad connects the city with other parts of the country and the world.
By Rail - Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station in the city connects the major cities of the other country with Hyderabad.
By Road - The well laid network of roads connects Hyderabad with the other areas of the state and the country as well.