Charminar :
You've heard about it, you've read about it, you've seen umpteen photographs and sketches of it, and now it's time for the real thing! 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 epitomises the pride of our city is a structure of char (four) huge minars (pillars). For the etymologists, the word minaret has originated from minar, rendered by the sweet sounding Urdu zabani. 

Enter the area and you can smell the fragrances of Persia, the attars of Afghanistan and the scents of Saudi Arabia as you jostle among crowds that seem to be hardly aware of this architectural splendor. You’ll also find a whole lot of pearl dealers seated in shops around the structure. It even has a small mosque located on its roof. Earlier you could have climbed up the stairs and watched the locale from a height of about 54 meters, but some unfortunate incidents have led to the stairs being sealed. 

Built to a height of 56.7meters (186 feet) and on a square base of 31.5 meters (100 feet), the Charminar is said to be a prototype of Tazia, a representation of the tomb of Imam Husain. It is also said that during the Mughal Governorship between the Qutb Shahi and the Asaf Jahi rule, lightning destroyed the South Western minaret which 'fell to pieces', but it was forthwith repaired at a cost of Rs 60,000! The whole structure was plastered in 1824 at a cost of Rs 100,000. Isn't it amusing? Ah, but then the rupee isn't what it used to be... 


Qutb Shahi Tombs :
These stately domes form an umbrella over the tombs underneath which rest the majestic kings of the Qutb Shahi dynasty in peace, thence the name. Located quite close to and in the vicinity of the Golconda Fort, these tombs were ornamented with blue and green tiles of which only a few can be seen now. The rooms inside the smaller tombs are basically single-storied while the larger ones have two-storied structures.

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. The tombs, which have been silent spectators to the many developments in Hyderabad over four centuries, are open to visitors on all days except Fridays.

Birla Temple :
One of the best ways to wake up is perhaps to mellifluous hymns in praise of the Lord, and that is one thing that you'd enjoy if you live anywhere in the vicinity of this architectural beauty that is such a splendor to behold. Kausalya supraja Rama poorva sandhya pravartate… the chanting mantra to arouse the Lord can be heard every morning at around 5.30am. And as for the evenings, they are a treat to your ears at this hilltop temple. Sweet melodies of cuckoos and the kirtans of Annamayya, Tyagaraja and Ramadas at the backdrop of the orangish-red sky pleasantly soothe your soul. 

Any by-lane falling on the same side of the road as the Forest Department, Saifabad, can lead you to the Birla Temple. The marble-structure is called so because it has been built by the Birla Foundation over a period of time. The temple was constructed with white marbles from Rajasthan. A blend of North and South Indian temple architecture, the place dedicates the main temple in its precincts to Lord Venkateswara. Away from the hubbub of the city, the temple is located on top of the erstwhile Kala Pahad, the twin of Naubat Pahad. It overlooks the Tank Bund and makes an excellent spectacle when illuminated lavishly during the evenings.


Salar Jung Museum :
One of the oldest museums in the twin cities, it is reputed to be the largest private collection in the world. It definitely is a major attraction and is open on all days except on Fridays. 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. 

Salar Jung III alias Mir Yousuf Ali Khan’s collection forms the major chunk of the art pieces on display. 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 clocks. 

Don’t miss out on the 19th Century British Musical Clock — a toy soldier popping out to ring the bell is a really cute sight. The Jade Room comprising jade objects is of special interest. You need to spend an entire day here to see all the exhibits. Read a more exhaustive profile of the museum in the Museum and Art Galleries section.



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. 

The Golconda Fort provides a majestic backdrop to Bhagyanagar, as Hyderabad was called once. Though the Kakatiyas, the Andhra rulers in the 12th Century, are credited with the original construction of the Fort, it was actually the Qutb Shahi kings that expanded the building. They used granite stones to reconstruct the Fort and fortify the massive structure with granite walls and barricades extending to nearly 7 kms in circumference. 

It is said that the Hope Diamond, the Koh-i-Noor Diamond, the Orloff Diamond, etc. originated from this place. While the Nagina Bagh, the guard barracks and the Taramati mosque represent the splendor of the Fort even in its ruins, the Fateh Darwaza, the Madanna Temple, the Ramdas jail, the Rani Mahal and the Jama Masjid are the other major attractions. The Baradari atop the hill offers a clear view of the city. 

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.

Details of the show :
English (daily) : 1830 to 1930 hours
Telugu (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) : 1945 to 2045 hours
Hindi (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) : 1945 to 2045 hours

Entry fee : Rs 20 (adults) and Rs 10 (children)

Spot booking : 1730 pm onwards at the venue

Advance booking : a) Yatri Nivas — 1000 to 1200
b) Salarjung Museum — 1000 to 1600



Lad Bazar :
Stroll across the lane to the west of the Charminar and you reach this street that seats a whole bunch of eager shopkeepers that beckon you and charm you into buying more bangles than you ever thought you needed. You wouldn’t feel bad about spending money here, though. The wares are a fashion statement of their own, and come pretty inexpensive. 

One of the oldest shopping centers in the city, Lad Bazaar has some real good stuff among bangles made of glass, lac, metal, semi-precious stones and pearls. You're likely to have a tough time taking your pick! If you're in the mood to bargain, you can get your favorite varieties at even half the originally quoted price. 

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.



Shilparamam :
The road straight ahead from Jubilee Hills leads to Hi-Tech City and then to Madhapur. At Madhapur are located two attractive spots of Hyderabad — Shilparamam and Durgam Cheruvu. Shilparamam is an arts and crafts village set up in an area spanning 30 acres of land. The place is famous for its annual festivals and bazaars. It provides ample space for the artistes and artisans from across the country to meet at one place to exchange their views with each another and also with customers.

Durgam Cheruvu — located in the vicinity of Madhapur — is a lake surrounded by huge rocks, popularly known as the Hyderabad rocks and dating back a few centuries. The place provides the visitors with pedal boating facilities before the sunset, organized by the APTDC. Don’t forget to take a dekko at the Hi-Tech City on the way!