Jan
10
Hyderabad Travel & Sightseeing Guide
Filed Under India
A trip to Hyderabad
Perched on the Deccan plateau, on the banks of the River Musi, Hyderabad is the sixth largest metropolis of India. Separated from its twin city, Sinderbad, by the Husain Sagar, a manmade lake, Hyderabad is almost 400 years old and is renowned for its abounding history, culture and architecture. With innumerable mosques and temples, minarets and monuments, bazaars and parks representing the city’s distinctive character as a meeting place for north and south India, visitors will not be bored here. The city can be easily accessed via Hyderabad Airport.
Flights Hyderabad
Hyderabad Airport has domestic and international terminals and provides direct international connections from nearby countries, Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Flights link destinations like London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and New York. If you are looking for a cheap flight to Hyderabad try Expedia. The comparatively small air facility will be replaced by a new airport in April 2008, when the city is scheduled to become a domestic hub. Hyderabad Airport lies at the centre of the city, and the best choice for reaching your hotel is to take a prepaid autorickshaw or taxi from the airport.
To get around this city, there is a combination of suburban railway and light rail transportation system, and the MultiModal Transport System (MMTS) which offers links between road and rail. Hyderabad also has excellent local bus connectivity, with most buses starting and finishing their routes at train stations. Autorickshaws and taxis are metered, while driving in the city is not recommended due to the recklessness of the local motorists.
Hyderabad
Sightseeing in Hyderabad
Hyderabad boasts an abundance of historical attractions, above all Charminar (‘four minarets’), a breathtaking structure and the legendary masterwork of the Qutb Shahis. Built in 1591, it has long been the city’s icon. The stunning Falaknuma Palace is completely constructed from Italian marble with Louis XIV décor, while the 16th century Golconda Fort is one of India’s most magnificent fortress complexes and is famous for its one-time part in the diamond trade.
Located near Golconda, the Taramati Baradari was built by a Qutb Shahi sultan and is a must-visit. The stone-built Mecca Masjid is noteworthy for its architecture and royal splendour, and is one of Hyderabad’s most beautiful mosques. Among the plentiful museums and galleries, the Salar Jung Museum is a particular highlight housing the world’s most comprehensive one-man collection of antiques.
Fun by night – eating, drinking and partying
Hyderabad’s cuisine is a mix of Mughal, Persian and Telugu influences, and you can still find numerous dining places where dishes are prepared as they were 400 years ago. Apart from local fare, visitors can experience a great variety of cookery including north Indian, Dhaba, Marwadi, Chinese and vegetarian, as well as international fare and fast food.
There is a lot to do at night in the city, which is dotted with cafés, pubs and bars, although most places serve last drinks at 23:00 due to local regulations. On weekdays, some of the pubs have special offers, while most clubs are empty except on Fridays and Saturdays. As a general rule, the majority of nighlife spots are situated around Begumpet, in Banjara Hills.
Fun by day – shopping and activities
Hyderabad offers plentiful shopping facilities for every taste and budget, from jewellery and local handicraft shops to lively bazaars and modern shopping malls. The Golden Mile of Hyderabad consisting of shopping plazas, exclusive shops and designer boutiques, and starts at Lifestyle close, stretching to the Begumpet flyover and extending to Banjara Hills. Other recreational amenities include 13 cinemas, four golf courses and several amusement parks such as NTR Gardens, Lumbini Park and Treasure Island.
Daytrips
Visitors to Hyderabad are offered an extensive choice of overnight and day trips. A short bus journey away lays the Mahaveer Harina Vanasthali National Park, home to the endangered black buck among other animals. Once the centre of Telugu culture, Warangal is famed for its impressive architecture.
The tallest masonry dam in the world can be seen at Nagarjunasagar, one of south India’s most popular tourist destinations. The beautiful waterfalls at nearby Ethipothala are well worth a visit.
The ancient temple village of Keesaragutta was historically an important Vishnukundin capital, and the charming village of Pochampally is famed for its production of striking hand-woven silk and cotton saris.
Located a taxi journey away from Hyderabad is the Ramoji Film City, regarded as being one of the world’s largest film studios. Spotless buildings sit among gardens, lakes and hills, and tourists to the city are able to see the latest Bollywood productions being filmed.
Must-see attractions
As well as an extensive selection of architectural wonders, Hyderabad offers an array of outdoor attractions. The ambient Kasu Brahmanda Reddy National Park is spread out over 350 acres and is home to a number of bird and animal species, while the Snow World theme park is a great place to take the family. Incredibly, manmade snow falls here even when temperatures outdoors soar to 45°C.
Stretched over the banks of the Hussainsager Lake, the glamorous NTR Gardens are a relaxing place in which to escape the city. Here the Japanese Garden, lovely machan trees and children’s playing area can all be explored by monorail. Hyderabad is not short of picnic spots, with Sanjeevaiah Park, Lumbini Park and Kotaguda Reserve Forest all offering quiet, natural surroundings.
The white marble Hindu temple of Birla Mandir is another of the city’s must-see attractions. Sitting upon Naubat Prahad, it is a wonderful place from which to view the city. The splendid Osmania University is an excellent example of Indo-Saracenic architecture.
Best time to go
Hyderabad tends to be a hot city, with temperatures reaching more than 40°C in the summer months. Winters tend to be milder and this is when most tourists choose to visit. At this time temperature fluctuate between 20 and 24°C. The long monsoon season stretches from June to September, and high humidity prevails at this time. The colourful five-day Deccan Festival in late February is a great time to visit and sample some delicious Nawabi cuisine.
Rainy day suggestions
With such a long rainy season and humid summers, it is always a good idea to have planned some indoor attractions for a trip to Hyderabad. The outstanding Salarjuang Museum is the third-largest in the world, but the Birla Science Museum and the Archaeology Museum are also well worth visiting. The fascinating Planetarium features fossils that are more than 160 million years old.
Comments
Leave a Reply
-
Subscribe to our RSS Feed
