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Places of Interest in Hyderabad

Char Minar
A magnificent edifice, it epitomises Hyderabad and marks its 400 years of history. Built by ruler Quli Qutb Shah it stands 180ft. tall, the four minarets soar to height of 48.7Mts. each above the ground. Within are 45 prayers spaces and a mosque. It is being pedestrianised for better access as well as safety of the monument. Must See!

Birla Mandir
This beautiful white marble temple of Lord Balaji is built on a hillock, the kala pahad. This exquisite temple has great sculpture excellence and a profusely carved ceiling. It is a beautiful sight at night when illuminated, standing against the dark sky and looking down on Hussain Sagar Lake. Timing: 7 a.m. to 12 noon & 3 p.m to 9 p.m.

Hussain Sagar Lake
This lake, around which the city is spread, was constructed in 1562 A.D. Today, it is the bejeweled heart of the twin cities with the newly built Necklace road. In the recent past it has evolved as one of the single largest gathering place for recreation. The road across the bund is a busy thoroughfare connecting the twin cities. Boating and Water Sports are a regular feature at the Hussain Sagar. Jutting out of the middle is the 18 meter high, 350 tonne monolithic statue of Lord Buddha on the rock of Gibraltar, in the middle of the lake. The bund is lined with 33 statues of famous personalities of the states.

Salarjung Museum
This museum is a unique art collection of a single, great connoisseur of art, Mir Yousuf Ali khan, better known to the world as Salarjung III, scion of an illustrious and wealthy family and a short lived prime minister of Hyderabad. The object d'art include Persian carpets, Mughal miniatures, Chinese procelain, Japanese acquerware, famous Pearls Of Hyderabad sculptors including the veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles, a superb collection of Jade, Daggers belonging to Queen Nur Jahen and the emperors Jehangir and Shahjahan, Aurangazeb's sword, Silver,Bidri and Braocade,Rococo,Baroque and Pre-Raphaelite art,even cuckoo clocks and walking sticks. Must See! (Closed on Fridays. Timings: 10a.m. to 5p.m.)

Mecca Masjid
South-West of Charminar lies Mecca Masjid, the most impressive mosque in South India. It was started in 1614A.D. by the sixth Qutb shahi King Abdullah Qutb Shah and completed in 1687 A.D. by Aurangzeb, when he annexed Golconda. This mosque is said to have bricks from Mecca built into its central arch. Its lofty colonnades and entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite brought from a stone quarry, 11km north of Charminar. Legend says, 1400 bullocks were required to pull these. Mecca Masjid is poetry in stone, with a hall measuring 67m and soaring to a height of 54m. The roof is supported by 15 graceful arches. It can accommodate 10,000 worshippers at a time. The southern end of the mosque has the tombs of all Nizams, from the time of Nizam ali Khan (who died in 1803 A.D.) and his successors, exept that of Mir Osman ali Khan Nizam VII.


Nehru Zoological Park
Spread across an area of 300 lush green acres, this zoo is a must for all nature lovers. The biggest zoo in India, it has over 1,500 different kinds of animals and birds, most of whom are kept in conditions close to their natural habitat. Other attractions are a lion safari park, a natural history museum, a prehistoric animal park and a children's park. (The Zoo is closed on Monday's Timings: 9 a.m to 5 p.m).

Qutub Shahi Tombs
1 km away from the Banjara Darwaza of the Golconda Fort, lies this cluster of graceful structures. This is the last resting place of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, where seven out of the eight sultans are buried. The tombs are built in persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles using grey granite, with stuco ornamentation. It features an annual Ghazal festival and other cultural entreaties. (Timings: 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Closed on Fridays)

Osman Sagar
Osman Sagar is a jewel lake, formed by the damming of the river Musi, in 1920, to maintain a regular supply of drinking water for Hyderabad. Beautiful gardens on either side of the bund, and a guest house make this a popular picnic spot. More popularly, Osman Sagar is known as Gandipet.

Jama Masjid
Also near the Charminar, this is the oldest mosque in Hyderabad (1597 A.D.)

Khazana Museum
On the way to Golconda, this is yet another museum which houses a number of stone sculptures.
Lumbini Park
A new amusement park near Hussain sagar. This has a musical fountain show at 6.30 p.m. and 8.00 p.m. open from Tuesday to Sunday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Government Archelogical Museum
Housed in Public gardens, this is a museum with interesting sections on Prehistoric implements, Sculptures, Paintings, Inscriptions, illuminated Manuscripts, Old China and Textiles. The special attractions is an ancient Egyptian Mummy.

Ocean Park
Ocean park is located at Gandipet in 20 acres of landscaped gardens. The park provides number of world class amusement rides, water rides and equipped with fastfood joints offering a variety of cuisine at affordable prices. A thrilling family outing! Rs. 125/- is charged as entry fee.

Ramoji Film City
The Ramoji Film City is a colossal creation. This is Hyderabad's answer to Universal Studios- nearly 2000 acres, a complete world created for assisting the dream merchants of cinema. Luxury hotels, Japanese gardens, parisian boulevards, lavish palaces, make-believe airports/railway stations and a host of other fantastic creations.

Sanghi Temple
In the nearby industrial town Sanghi Nagar,this temple named after its patron family, Sanghi, is situated on top of a hill. This is a beautiful temple contructed in the south Indian Style of temple archetecture and hosts all important Hindu god idols. It is a favourite getaway point for the Hyderabadis as well as a popular tourist spot.

Hi-Tech City
One of the modern monuments of trade and technology, it embodies the new found attitude of Hyderabad and today finds a place of pride. Situated on the outskirts of the city, it is the nucleus of Cyberabad, the IT destination in these parts of the world.


Shoppers Stop
The ultimate shopping experience at India's largest shopper's Stop at Hyderabad. Located very conveniently walking distance from the Hyderabad Airport, it offers a buyer all that he is looking for.