Tourism in Hyderabad

Popular as the City of Pearls, Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh. Founded in 1591 on the banks of the Musi River, this city has now developed as a hub of information technology and tourism. It is also home to the posh residential estates of Banjara and Jubilee Hills.

The erstwhile Qutb Shahi dynasty made several architectural innovations here such as the Charminar. Even the Nizams of Hyderabad contributed to the cultural developments. They built the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs. The famous jewels of the Nizams displayed in the city museums are among the top tourist attractions in Hyderabad. Tourism in Hyderabad helps you to enjoy this blend of history with its modern developments. Its deep-rooted culture and heritage gets reflected on the monuments, abandoned forts, artificial lakes and gardens.

Monumental attractions of this city include the heritage buildings, forts and mosques. Check out the prominent city landmarks.

• Golconda Fort, built in the 16th century was the capital of the kingdom of the Qutb Shahi dynasty from 1518 to 1687. Attractions in this fort include the palatial rooms, the water supply system and the gun of Fateh Rahben used during the Mughal invasions. The light and show program, during the evening, takes you back to those ancient times.
• Charminar, situated in the heart of this city, is the signature monument housing a mosque within its complex. Erected to ward off a deadly epidemic in 1591, Charminar gets its name from the four minarets towering 48 meters from its base.
• Mecca Masjid is a holy place for Muslims whose construction was initiated by Qutb Shahi and completed by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. It is the largest mosque here and listed as a heritage building. Interesting features of this mosque includes the main hall that can accommodate around 10,000 people at a time and the courtyard with graves of the Asaf Jahi rulers.

Apart from these, you can visit the Salar Jung Museum that houses collections of Mir Yousuf Ali Khan. Rare pieces of antiques, pottery, clocks, porcelain and weapons are part of the main attractions here. The show stealer remains the musical clock that strikes twice a day for over 6 centuries now! There are also galleries that include artifacts belonging to the Mughal rulers and their wives. Persian carpets, Chinese ware and miniature paintings form the collection of at least two main galleries of this museum.

Tourism in Hyderabad also revolves around the recreation and entertainment industry The Telugu film industry here is one of the largest in the country. The Ramoji Rao Film City, in the city outskirts has emerged as a visitor's hot spot.

The wide network of hotels and restaurants also play a vital role in making Hyderabad an interesting place to visit. Choice of accommodation for tourists range from luxury to budget hotels, situated close to the airport, central bus terminus and in proximity with the tourist attractions. You can avail of Hyderabad tour packages with Indian Holiday for a comfortable trip here.