Hyderabad
is a vibrant city of minarets
and skyscrapers. It is one Indian
city where age-old traditions
have merged perfectly with the
contemporary. In the days of yore,
Hyderabad used to be the land
of "Nawabs". There is a whiff
of royalty in the air of Hyderabad
as far as the culture and tradition
of this stupendous city is concerned.
There is a fairy tale twist to
Hyderabad which is about a charming
young prince who fell in love
with a beautiful village lass
and thus the underpinning of a
city was laid.
The prince in question was none
other than Muhammad Quli who fell
in love with a gorgeous lady who
hailed from the village of Chichlam.
One had to cross a river in order
to get to Chichlam village and
the prince would often swim across
to the other shore just to have
a glimpse of his beloved. The
princes' father Ibrahim Quli seeing
his son's infatuation built a
bridge across the river so that
the his son would not have to
jeopardize his life. When Muhammad
Quli was crowned as the emperor,
he built a magnificent structure,
the awesome Charminar, at the
village of his beloved fiancée.
The initial name of the city was
Bhagnagar which is derived from
his beloved lady Bhagmati. Much
later the city was renamed as
Hyderabad..
Today the city of Hyderabad is
replete with colorful bazaars
particularly the old city where
the magnificent 400-year-old Charminar
is located. The city also has
a modern face to it and there
is an exclusive neighborhood called
the Hitec city where some of the
world's most renowned software
companies have set up shop. Hyderabad
today is replete with shopping
malls and fast food joints that
only adds to the allure of the
city.
Hyderabad is one of the most promising
cities of India and it is growing
at a frenetic pace thanks to the
Information Technology boom. In
the competitive global software
market, Hyderabad has indeed carved
a niche for itself as solutions
provider and all the big guns
like IBM, Infosys, Wipro, Seimens
Cognizant etc… have set up base
at this city. Hyderabad is well
connected by roadways, railways
and airways with the rest of India.
flights, frequent trains and the
excellent road network make Hyderabad
a great travel destination.
Hyderabad has numerous tourist
landmarks, which are well spread
out all over the city and its
suburbs. Some of the most enduring
tourist landmarks are compiled
below:
A.P. State
Museum Tours in Hyderabad India:
No visit to Hyderabad is ever
complete without a visit to the
fabulous Andhra Pradesh State
Museum. The museum is located
in one of Hyderabad's most scenic
locales - Public Gardens. The
museum showcases the very best
of antiques and objects of arts
not only of Andhra Pradesh but
India as a whole. This splendid
museum was set up in 1928 by the
seventh Nizam of Hyderabad and
the edifice that houses the museum
is one of the finest specimen
of the artistic Indo-Saracenic
style of architecture.
The museum is conspicuous by it
exclusive Buddhist gallery, Brahmanical
& Jain gallery, Arms & Armour
gallery, Bronze gallery, Ajanta
gallery, Numismatics gallery to
name just a few of the enclosures
that one will come across during
ones visit to the museum. Right
next to this Museum is the Contemporary
Art Museum which is well worth
a visit. The museum is open everyday
of the week except Fridays.
Aalankrita:
Aalankrita is an ethnic bastion
of Hyederabad and is well spread
out over a sprawling 10 acres
of landscaped vistas. This splendid
ethnic complex has all the amenities
of a contemporary luxury resort
as well as the traditional ethnicity
of the bygone era. Alankrita is
located at adistance of 19 Kms
away from Secunderabad and is
an oasis of bliss and tranquility.
The complex is replete with fabulous
amenities and services like a
spacious and centrally air-conditioned
Conference hall, high quality
multi-cuisine restaurant, an innovatively
designed Meditation Centre, a
sheltered swimming pool, cadaverous
dancing floor, ethnic cottages,
an old fashioned antique shop,
exhibition enclosure for trade
fairs, meandering sidewalks and
an expansive outdoor theatre venue
that has the capacity to accommodate
3000 plus guests at any point
of time.
Asman Garh
Palace:
The magnificent Asman Garh Palace
was built by the former Prime
Minister of Hyderabad Sir Osman
Jah and is conspicuous by its
exquisite granite towers and intricately
designed windows. The palace is
located on a scenic hilltop and
has been converted into a museum
with a rich collection of artifacts.
Bidri Craft:
Bidriware is the most well known
of Andhra Pradesh is best known
for its high quality handicrafts
which are popularly referred to
as the Bidri Craft. This craft
owes its name from a place called
'Bidar' where this exquisite craft
is said to have originated. Bidri
Craft requires a high degree of
craftsmanship and involves engraving
silver on black metal. This novel
craft came in to the country approximately
4000 years ago courtesy the highly
evolved Persians and Iranians
of that era.
If historical records are anything
to go by, than Bidri Craft is
said to have been patronized in
the court of the Mughals. The
craft reached its pinnacle in
the fortified town of Bidar, which
is presently a part of Karnataka.
Initially this craft was applied
on royal armories and much later
to household objects.
Archetypal Bidri products include
dishes, bowls, flower vases, trinket
boxes, ashtrays, huqqa bases,
jewellery etc. Womenfolk in this
part of the world simply vouch
for bangles designed by Bidri
craft.
Some of the most notable places
where one can find Bidri Craft
items in Hyderabad are Kalanjali
Arts & Crafts, Nampally, Hyderabad,
Sheela's Indian Handicrafts Specialists,
Al Bahadur Stadium, Hyderabad,
Mahboob Bidri Works, Masab Tank,
Opposite Diamond Sweet House Hyderabad,
Cauvery Karnataka State Arts &
Crafts Emporium, Seven Hills Plaza,
S.D. Road, Secunderabad, Central
Cottage Industries Emporium, Minerva
Complex, S.D. Road, Secunderabad
to name just a few authentic places
where one can go shopping for
Bidri Craft items.
Birla
Mandir
The Birla Mandir is located at
the Tank Bund and provides a stunning
sight in the evening when it is
illuminated with flood lights.
This outstanding temple has been
built of the finest cariety of
Rajasthani marble. The temple
is positioned on top of the Kala
Pahad. The Birla Mandir has been
constructed by the Birla Foundation
and is dedicated to Lord Venkatehwara.
The temple is an amalgamation
of the Southern and Northern Indian
style of temple architecture.
The gopurams or towers are quintessentially
South Indian in style and the
dome on top is typically Rajasthani
in style. The temple is replete
with exquisite marble engravings
that skillfully depicts verses
from the Hindu epic Ramayana.
The inner part of the temple is
very similar to the Venkateswara
temple located at Tirupati.
Botanical Gardens:
The Botanical Garden in Hyderabad
is the first ever Botanical Garden
in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
The garden is spread over a sprawling
120 acres of greenery. Although
the garden is not fully completed,
the first phase is open to visitors
and is replete with timber trees,
medicinal plants, ornamental plants,
fruit trees, bamboos, aquatic
plants and so on. There a re sparkling
water bodies, undulating meadows,
luxuriant forests, dense grasslands
and superb rocky promontories
all of which adds to the beauty
of the Botanical garden.
Charminar:
The Charminar is one of Hyderabad's
most enduring landmarks. It is
a wonderful square shaped edifice
made of the finest variety of
granite and the structure rests
upon four majestic arches facing
in all the directions. This arches,
which are spread over two floors,
consists of rooms and galleries.
At each corner of the square is
replete with a minaret that towers
to a height of 24 meters. The
name Charminar is derived from
these four minarets.
In the days of yore, the first
floor was used as a madarasa during
the Qutub Shahi period. The second
floor is conspicuous by a mosque
on the western side and the dome
is evident from the road. From
the roof of the Charminar one
can bask in breathtaking views
of the city. One has to obtain
permission from the Archaeological
Survey of India, Hyderabad Circle
to climb upstairs to the minarets.
There are clocks on top of each
of the four archways.
The peripheral areas of Charminar
is very colorful. To the Southeast
of the Charminar there is an impressive
building that houses the Nizamia
Unani Hospital. To the West, there
are a plethora of shops and the
parade ground. The Khilawat Complex
too is within close proximity.
In the Mahaboob Chowk there is
a white colored mosque that is
conspicuous by its 19th century
clock-tower.
Dhola-ri-Dhani
Dhola-ri-Dhani is a perfectly
recreated ethnic Rajasthani village.
It is located at Kompally on the
Medchal Road. The are a plethora
of Rajasthani style recreational
avenues like Camel rides, folk
dances, puppet shows as well as
lip smacking Rajasthani cuisine
all of which provides a fascinating
insight into the colorful Rajasthani
lifestyle. The premises is conspicuous
by a turquoise blue swimming pool
and there is a shimmering lake
where one can indulge in a stint
of boating. Most of the folk dance
and music performances are performed
at the amphitheatre.
Falaknuma Palace:
Falaknuma Palace is located at
a distance of 4 Kms south of Charminar.
The palace is built on top of
a hill from where one can bask
in the superb panoramic views
of the city. This palace was the
nerve center of Hyderabad during
the rule of the Nizams. In the
days of yore, Faluknuma was the
stately guest house of the Nizams
of Hyderabad. In the past dignitaries
of the stature of King George
and Queen Mary, King Edward-VIII,
the then Prince of Wales were
all distinguished guests of this
marvelous palace. The palace's
design was conceptualized by a
renowned Italian architect and
the finest quality of Italian
marble has been used in building
this magnificent palace.
Golconda Fort:
Golconda is one of India's most
impressive fort. The fort derives
its name from the Telugu words
"Golla Konda" which literally
means a Shepherd's village. The
fort is said to have existed during
the reign of the Kakatiyas. At
the inception, the fort was built
of mud. The fort was under the
control of the Bahmani dynasty
and later on was passed on to
the Qutb Shahis who had the fort
under their possession from 1518
to 1687 A.D. Historical records
suggest that the fort was rebuilt
by the first three rulers of the
Qutub Sahi dynasty.
The fort is conspicuous by its
acoustic system, regal palaces,
well laid out factories, innovative
water supply system and the legendary
Fateh Rahben gun, which happens
to be one of the cannons used
by Aurangzeb when he attacked
this fort. Every evening there
is a sound & light show at Golconda
Fort that provides fascinating
insight into its past.
Hitec City:
The Hitec city is the pride of
Hyderabad and it is the hub of
the burgeoning Information Technology.
It is here that all the big guns
of the global software industry
have set up their bases. Located
on the suburbs of the city, the
Hitec city is a must visit site
for all visitors to Hyderabad.
Hussain Sagar Lake:
This famous lake was unearthed
way back in 1562 A.D. by Hussain
Shah Wali. The lake side boulevard
is one of Hyderabad's busiest
traffic zone. Facilities for boating
and other aqua are available here.
The lake is conspicuous by a colossal
statue of Lord Buddha, which is
positioned at the middle of the
lake over the "Rock of Gibraltor.
This magnificent statue is among
the tallest Buddha statues of
the world. In order to lure tourists
to visit this fabulous lake Andhra
Pradesh Tourism offers an array
of facilities like boats, 48 seater
ferryboat with facilities of cruise
dinner on-board etc..
Legislative Assembly:
The Legislative Assembly was built
in 1913 and in the initial days
this edifice used to house the
Hyderabad State Town hall. The
edifice is a fine specimen of
Rajasthani and Persian architectural
styles and it is conspicuous by
its white color. The Legislative
Assembly is ideally located next
to the gorgeous Public Gardens.
At the entrance there is a huge
statue of the Father of the Nation
- Mahatma Gandhi.
The
Salar Jung Museum:
The Salar Jung Museum is a unique
museum in that it is one of the
largest collection of artifacts
and antiques by a single individual
and he is none other than Mir
Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III.
On display at the museum are exquisitely
designed Persian carpets, Moghal
miniature paintings, high quality
Chinese porcelain, regal Japanese
lacquerware, renowned sculptures
like the Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite
and Mephistopheles, a splendid
set of jade, daggers etc. belonging
to Queen Noor Jahan, Emperor Jahangir
and Shah Jahan to name just a
few. For light snacks and refreshments,
the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development
Corporation runs a restaurant
that serves delectable snacks
and munchies.
The
Nizam's Museum:
The Nizam's Museum is housed in
the Purani Haveli, which actually
is a palace acquired by the second
Nizam of Hyserabad in the year
1750 . It has a wonderful collection
of artifacts and antiques. On
display at the museum are a plethora
of gifts and mementos that were
presented to the last Nizam. The
piece de resistance of the museum
are the vintage cars like the
1930s Rolls Royce, Mark V Jaguar,
Packard etc..are just a few of
the vintage cars on display. The
museum has a rich array of models
made of silver that artistically
depicts all the outstanding edifices
of Hyderabad. There are numerous
citations in Urdu with reference
to H.E.H. Mir Osman Ali Khan,
the gold polished wooden throne
used during the silver jubilee
celebrations, a golden tiffin
box studded with diamonds, a model
of Jubilee Pavilion, exquisite
silver coffee cups studded with
diamonds and a model of elephant
made of the finest variety of
silver with a mahout on top are
just a few of the items on display
at this intriguing museum.
The museum is open everyday of
the week except Fridays.
Osmansagar Lake:
The shimmering Osmansagar lake
is popularly referred to as Gandipet
and is located in the suburbs
of the city. It is one of the
most popular picnic destinations.
Osmansagar is a lake which has
a lot of significance to the residents
of Hyderabad for it supplies drinking
water to the city.. This lake
is actually a reservoir shaped
by a dam the has been built across
the Isa. Adjoining the lake are
lush green immaculately landscaped
gardens that lure both the residents
as well as visitors to this scenic
spot. the lake is the There is
a magnificent heritage edifice,
Sagar Mahal, built by the Nizam
of Hyderabad and served as a royal
retreat in the days of yore, has
now been converted into a luxurious
lake resort which is run and administered
by Andhra Pradesh Tourism.
NTR Gardens:
The beautifully landscaped NTR
Gardens is Hyderabad's prime entertainment
spot and is located adjacent to
the Hussainsagar lake. The NTR
Gardens is the final resting place
(Samadhi) of the former Chief
Minister of Andhra Pradesh - N.T.
Rama Rao who was a legend in his
lifetime. The Garden is well spread
out over a sprawling 36 acres
of landscaped vistas. For the
benefit of the visitors, there
are recreational facilities like
a Machan tree, Japanese Garden,
Souvenir shops, Car Cafe, high
quality Fruit Restaurant and Children's
playground. A joyride on the toy
train is a must.
Mecca
Masjid:
Mecca Masjid is located to the
southwest of the Charminar. The
name Mecca Masjid has been derived
from the bricks that were imported
from Mecca. The construction of
the mosque began during the reign
of Qutb Shahis but they were not
able to finish the work which
in due course of time was accomplished
by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in
1694. This astonishing mosque
is conspicuous by a hall which
is all of 67 meters and towers
above to a height of 54 meters.
There are fifteen elegant arches
- five on each of the three sides
holds the roof. The exquisite
marble graves of Nizam Ali Khan
and other members of the Asaf
Jahi dynasty are also located
within the mosque's premises.
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