Hyderabad Tourism

"The City of Nizams" Hyderabad Tourism A veritable melting pot of the old and the new, Hyderabad, also known as the City of the Nawabs, is a city that exudes an old-world charm of its own while still coexisting with the rapidly growing onslaught of commercialization in perfect harmony. Steeped in history, Hyderabad is home to old mosques and bazaars lined parallelly alongside swanky new office buildings and malls, and it is these very contrasts ? these glimpses into the city?s rich past with inherent promises of an even better future ? this is what exactly makes Hyderabad a city worth visiting. Maybe even more than once. The most iconic landmark of Hyderabad is the Charminar, which is a distinguished monument that clearly exhibits the Indo-Islamic architecture of its times. Charminar, which literally translates to four minarets, is built entirely out of limestone and granite, with four minarets on four sides, each of them facing a different street. The Charminar is the oldest mosque in Hyderabad, and it has stairs leading to the second level, which is open for devotees to come and pray in. The entire stretch outside the monument is lined with little stalls selling pearls, bangles, and other jewellery, and this bazaar is bustling with both tourists and locals at any given hour of the day. Another impressive tourist attraction in Hyderabad is the Golconda Fort, which was considered as nothing less than an architectural marvel during its times. The entire fort is bordered by a 10-kilometre long wall, and with over 80 bastions, four drawbridges, and several mosques, halls and royal residences, the fort is nothing short of imperial. Today, while most of the fort is in ruins, hints of its regal ambience and its past grandiose still linger on. Hyderabad is very famous for being home to the Ramoji Film City, which is the largest film studio complex in the entire world. Built across a sprawling 2000 acres What's Great? The city is a beautiful amalgamation of tradition and modernity. The food is fantastic and affordable. The locals are conversant in Hindi, Telugu and English. What's not so Great? Not so developed public transport compared to other metropolitan cities.  For Whom Hyderabad is a place for foodies and the people who love historical architectural sights. In a budget of a pocket, one can make the most out of this dazzling 'City of Nizams'. Hyderabad is undoubtedly a photographer's paradise. Perfect for school excursions and backpackers.

History of Hyderabad Hyderabad, one of the largest princely state established by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591 has been enriching its historical values and culture ever since. After a century of Qutb Shahi rule Mughal mushroomed their control over this powerful state. History of the city has had an impact on its traditions, practices, food, clothing and language. During the rule of Asaf Jahi, Nizam of Hyderabad, Deccan region along with Hyderabad reached the summit of progress and development in every sense possible. In the beginning, Nizams ruled as a part of Mughals but later on, they split in order to form an independent kingdom. Nizams exercised their control over potent Hyderabad till Indian independence in 1947. Over the years, Hyderabad has established itself as one of the finest amalgamations of ancient and modern history. The land of the Nizams has a glorious history laced intrigue. The gorgeous Falaknuma Palace, the Charminar, the Golconda fort are majestic structures from this period of time that certainly merit a visit. The delicious Hyderabadi biriyani came into existence around this time. The Chowmahalla Palace is another stunning heritage structure of this era. Post-British Era: The wave of modernization that accompanied the IT boom lent a truly cosmopolitan touch to the city. The splendid Ramoji Film City, the breathtaking Birla Planetarium and Science Museum are attractions that are not to be missed. The stunning Husain Sagar Lake is a fantastic example of a combination of nature's beauty and man's ingenuity. Shopping in Hyderabad With jewellery that pleases the eye, handicrafts that woo the artistic you and spices to make your food even more luscious, Hyderabad promises to be a shopping fiesta at for everyone. Shopping in Hyderabad is a wonderful and memorable experience and one that won't leave you disappointed. Most of the famous markets are clustered near the Charminar and each of these markets has a unique charm of its own. Charminar market is famous for its lakh jewellery, black metal showpieces and oxidized jewellery items.Some of the markets worth visiting are Laad Bazar for the bangles, Moazzam Jahi for the food products, The perfume market, and Sultan Bazar for the accessories. There is also the Begum Bazar which is a wholesale market famous for the gold, silver, dry fruits and household items. If you are looking for some saree shopping, do visit Abids. When in the "City of Pearls" you would have an obvious question - Where to buy pearls in Hyderabad? Some of the most prestigious shops for your jewellery escapade are Mangatrai Pearls and Jewellers, Jagdamba Pearls and Kedarnathji Motiwale. If you are looking for high-end branded shopping there is no dearth of shopping malls in the city. Also, when in Hyderabad, do not forget to buy some famous Karachi Bakery biscuits. The Karachi Bakery has plenty of outlets in the city, almost in every area, including the airport. Furthermore, places like Sindhi colony in Secunderabad and Ameerpet wholesale market are the best to purchase the latest trends in clothing at much cheaper rates.  Read more aboutShopping In Hyderabad Nightlife in Hyderabad Hyderabad has an energetic nightlife with plenty of pubs and bars remaining open till the wee hours. The city is capable of delivering you energy so that you can party all night. Like all the major cities in India, Hyderabad offers a hugely diverse collection of clubs and bars. The popular nightspots in Hyderabad are 10 Downing Street, Aqua, MOB, Altitude Lounge Bar, Cuba Libre, The Sky Lounge, Mix - The Westin.and Kismet. Hyderabad does not have many microbreweries as of now, though the craze is catching up in the city. Some of the breweries are Prost Brew Pub, HyLife Brewing Company, Zero40 Brewing, and Over The Moon. Culture of Hyderabad he influence of this vast royal past shines even today in Hyderabad's culture, food and iconic architectural structures such as Charminar and Golkonda Fort which stand as testaments to the city's glorious history. The locals of the city are referred to as Hyderabadis, and they have developed a culture that is distinctly a mixture of both Muslim and Hindu traditions. Read more about Culture of Hyderabad Hyderabadi Biryani Hyderabad is evidently a kernel of the existence of Nizams and their recreational culture. However, it has also been an outset of the mouth-watering and slithering flavours of the Hyderabadi cuisine. This mind-blowing cuisine is famous for its traditional ?Biryani?. The dish was originally a delicacy of South Asian Muslims. Since rice is a staple food of south India, a number of dishes are popular in their culture especially in the state of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala. Biryani was prepared in the Mughal royalty on special occasions to manifest and embrace their cultural identity. However, to be specific ?Hyderabadi Biryani? has lasted for centuries and is loved by all. Hyderabadi Biryani is served in almost every restaurant you come by. But if you want to please your tummy then visit Paradise. It is one of the most famous biryani joints situated in Secunderabad. In INR 200-300 one can buy a family pack biryani which is sufficient for three people. Also, there are 40+ varieties of biryani to choose from. The food, the attire, the people, the traditions and practices altogether forms a culture. Hyderabad is no monotonous place but beholds multiple identities to itself; a thousand reasons to flaunt none to hide.

Itinerary Day 1:Arrive by morning/midday. Have the fabulously flavourful Hyderabadi biryani for lunch. Walk around the charming bylanes and streets of the older parts of the city. Visit the Charminar and the adjoining market. Don't forget to sample some of Hyderabad's lip-smacking chaat items! Day 2:Have a good breakfast and check out the Birla Science Museum and Planetarium. Sample some of Hyderabad's famous delicacies like paaya and kheema for lunch. Visit the Husain Sagar lake. Don't miss out on sampling the scrumptious Irani chai in the evening. End the day with a trip to the Chowmahalla Palace. Day 3:Visit the Falaknuma Palace after having a hearty breakfast. Make a trip to the Ramoji Film City. In the evening take some time to have the amazing sheekh and galouti kebabs on the streets of Hyderabad. Do take out some time to visit the NTR Gardens and Lotus Pond.

Restaurants and Local Food in Hyderabad Hyderabad is known for the grandeur, richness and flavours of the Mughal and Nawabi cuisines fund here. The city also fosters traditional and staple South-Indian preparations. TheHyderabadi Biryaniis the highlight and the centre of the cuisine here with rich, colourful garnishing and an elaborate method of preparation. The cuisine of the city, though houses much more, is almost synonymous to this dish.Other than these the other local specialities includePathar ka Ghosht, Nahari, Haleem, Double ka Meetha, Kheer, Mirchi ka Salan, Falooda, Irani Chaiand more. Equally sparkling is the street food culture here with the lip-smackingKachori, Samosa, Aloo Mirchi, Dahi Puri, Pani Puri and Sev Puri. Read more aboutStreet Food In Hyderabad View 13 Restaurants in Hyderabad >>

Sep-Maris the best time to visit Hyderabad With icky monsoons and harsh summers, Hyderabad is suitable to visit only during the months of October to March. Hence, the best time to visit Hyderabad is during the winter. Summers here are sizzling hot with no sea-breeze to alleviate the heat. Weather in Hyderabad Loading... Hyderabad in Winter (November - February) The temperature is quite low during this time. The weather is delightfully cool during day time and gets pretty cold during the nights. Best time for sightseeing. It's also rather crowded at this time of the year. Hyderabad in Monsoon (August - October) Generally considered to be off- season, the city is, however, very lovely during this time of the year. The weather fluctuates between cool and sultry. Hyderabad in Early Summer (March-April) The weather slowly becomes warmer, but isn't as hot as the unforgivingly harsh summer months from May- July. In general, it will be okay to visit Hyderabad at this time of the year. Hyderabad in Summers (May-July) The weather is very hot and it will be difficult to get out of your hotel for any kind of sightseeing or shopping or eating out. It's best to avoid these months for touristy activities. Monthly Weather in Hyderabad Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 15 29 February 17 33 March 21 37 April 25 41 May 27 40 June 24 34 July 22 29 August 22 30 September 22 28 October 20 30 November 16 30 December 16 31

Events in Hyderabad Deccan Festival, Qutub Shahi Tombs 25th February- 1st March One of the most sought after events held in Hyderabad, interesting cultural activities like mushairas and qawaalis, leads to a huge attendance at the Deccan Festival. The fair of Pearls and Bangles is another major attraction at this festival.