Hyderabad, the City Of Pearls promises to be a rich mix of cultural and historical tradition

Posted on November 20, 2016 by Ghoomophiro

Hyderabad is the state capital of the newly formed South Indian state of Telangana. The city, although is visited majorly for the business operations, but there is no dearth of some great places to check in from a tourist’s point of view. Located on the Deccan Plateau, the city is located on the banks of Musi River.

How to reach

Being one of the most important business hubs of South India, the city is well connected with rest of the country via airways, railways and buses. The nearest airport is the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport which is well-connected with major cities across the globe. The airport also owns a domestic terminal called NT Rama Rao which is connected to most of the Indian cities. The airport is located in the Begumpet area, approximately 20 kilometres away from the city, The city has three major railway stations namely Hyderabad railway station, Secunderabad railway station and Kachiguda railway station. The massive interstate bus terminal enables easy connectivity to its neighbouring towns like Aurangabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Tirupati and Panaji.

Sightseeing

The city is quite rooted in the ancient and medieval Indian history. Moguls are believed to have the biggest influence on the architectural space of the city and hence, most of the monuments you will witness in your sightseeing tours, will be a strong reminiscent of mogul era architecture. The city happens to be divided into two parts now, old city and the new city.

Charminar- The word literally translates to four minarets and the monument was built at the very spot where a leader prayed at the end of the plague epidemic. The towers are more than 48 meters above the ground and over the years, the monument has become the icon for the city.

Mecca Masjid- This is one of the oldest mosques in the city and was built around 1617. However, Quli Qutub shah left the construction midways, which was later finished by Aurangzeb in 1694.

Chowmahalla place- The seat of Asaf Jahi dynasty back in the days, the place served for the Nizam as a guest house. The palace is located near Charminaar and is a beautiful building which is architecturally significant.

Falaknuma Palace- Built by Nawaz Viqar in the early years of 17^th century, the palace is one of the most beautiful creations of the mogul era when speaking architecturally. Although, the palace has now been bought by the Taj group and closed for public visiting.

Golconda fort- The fort was known to be the capital of Qutb Shahi kingdom back in the centuries. The outer walls of the fort measures about 10 kilometres and the the grand monument is known as the largest fort in the country. Situated 11 kilometres from Hyderabad, Golconda fort is undoubtedly one of most glorious fortress complexes in India. The fortress rests on a granite hill 120 meters high. With huge cenellated ramparts surrounding this structure, it is one of India’s most magnificent fortress complexes.

Birla Mandir- The majestic marble temple located in the new Hyderabad is a Hindu pilgrim. The temple is dedicated to lord Vankateshwar and happens to be located on the Naubat hills. The cameras and mobiles are banned for the security reasons.

What to eat

No trip to Hyderabad is complete without having a taste of the delicious Mughlai cuisines, especially the Hyderabadi Biriyani laced with rich ingredients along and Dum Pukht which is cooked with steam. Places like Paradise, Hyderabad House and Bawarchi sell the best Biryani. Also try out the famous cutting chai served with buttery nankhatai and the flaky puff pastry called khari. The hot and spicy Hyderabadi street food is not be missed. Pragati Gully is one of the famous streets for breakfast which serves items like idlis, dosas, upama, medu vada and pongal. Some places where you can eat are Bawarchi, Durga Mess, Hyderabad House and Kholani’s kitchen.

Shopping

Hyderabad is a place to rejoice when it comes to shopping as it has centuries-old bazaars that delight the shoppers with exquisite crafts like bidri and local products such as ittar. One can also find chic boutiques and designer stores for ethnic wear. Situated next to the Charminar, there is Laad Bazaar packed with shops selling perfumes, textiles and jewellery. Other places famous for shopping are Elahe which offers Indian ethnic wear, the popular perfume market and Abids, the perfect place for saree lovers. While you stroll at the jewelry shops and Laad Bazaar, do not miss out the pearls which Hyderabad is famously known for.

Where to stay

Dwarka Heritage, Ashoka Hotel, and Parklane are some of the budget hotels where you can spend your nights comfortably.

How to get around

Hyderabad has good bus and autorickshaw services. It also has well developed Radio taxi services and new app based services such as Uber and Ola. There is a local train service too called MMTS but it is grossly inadequate.

Tips

Travellers using smartphones are advised to download the apps Hyderabad Police and Hyderabad Traffic Police apps from the app store, as these apps come with some safety features such as SOS button to the control room, and they also provide options to lodge complaints.

Other than the delicious foods, the place is also a history enthusiast’s paradise, do check it out.