Hyderabad
also known as the 'City of Nizams' is the capital of
Andhra Pradesh. The city together with its twin city
Secunderabad forms the fifth largest city of India.
Founded by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, the fifth
Sultan of Golconda in 1591. Today this beautiful
city with modern structures and development has in
no way failed to retain its old charm. The city is
dotted with a number of ancient monuments that are
known for their architecture and historic
significance. The ancient mosques, majestic forts
and magnificent palaces present a perfect blend of
the Hindu and Islamic architectural styles.
Hyderabad spreads over an area of 260 sq. km and the
city has a population of 6,145,000. Main languages
spoken in the city are Telugu, Hindi, English and
Urdu.
Climate & Clothing
The climate of Hyderabad remains firmly warm round
the year. The average temperature during the summer
(April - June) remains around 42°C and in the months
of winters ( November - February) the average
temperature is about 16°C. July to September are
monsoon months and these months are loaded with
rains. Though the climate of Hyderabad is suitable
to visit anytime of the year, but the best time to
visit the city is from October to February. During
summers light cotton clothes are recommended and for
winters woollens are necessary.
Accommodation in Hyderabad
Stay during your travel in some of the most popular
hotels of the city include Kakatiya Sheraton and
Towers (5 Star/ 6-3-1187, Begumpet), Hotel Taj
Krishna (5 Star/ Road No 1. Banjara Hills), Tulip
Manohar Hotel (5 Star/ Begumpet), Taj Banjara Hotel
(5 Star/ Road No.- 1 , Banjara Hills), Taj Residency
(5 Star/ Street No :1 , Banjara Hills), Hotel
Viceroy (5 Star/ Opp Hussain Sagar Lake, Tank Bund
Road), Hotel Green Park (5 Star, Greenlands,
Begumpet), The Central Court Hotel (3 Star/ 6-1-71,
Lakdi ka Pul) and Quality Inn Residency Hotel (3
Star/ Public Garden Road).
Tourist Attractions of Hyderabad
»
Charminar : The huge triumphal arch stands in
the heart of the old walled city. It was built by
Mohd Quli Qutab Shah in 1591 to commemorate the end
of the plague epidemic in the city.
» Mecca Masjid : Located adjacent
to the Charminar, this is one of the largest mosques
in the world and is said to accommodate around
10,000 worshippers. Constrcution of this mosque was
begun by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah in 1614 but was
finished by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1687.
» Birla Mandir : Built in white
marble, the beautiful modern temple graces the rocky
Naubat Pahad Hill, which overlooks the Hussain Sagar
Lake. The temple offers excellent views of the city.
» Salar Jung Museum : Renowned as
the world's largest one-man collection, the world
famous museum houses around 35,000 antiques and art
objects. The museum has a huge collection of
sculptures, wood carvings, religious objects,
miniature paintings, armour and weaponry and
clothings of the Mughal emperors.
» Golconda Fort : Built in the
13th century A.D, Golconda fort was rebuilt by Qutab
Shahis in 1525. The fort is located at a distance of
11 kms from the city and houses the ruins of
palaces, assembly halls, stables, barracks and
arsenal.
» Hussain Sagar Lake : The
beautiful lake was built by Qutab Shahi king Hazrat
Hussain Shah Wali in 1562. In the middle of the lake
a gigantic statue of the Lord Buddha has also been
erected.
Airport
Hyderabad city has one airport that is located at
Begumpet, at a distance of 5 kms from the city
centre. The airport provides two terminals namely
the Rajiv Gandhi Terminal (International) and the N.
T. Rama Rao Terminal ( Domestic). Flights to the
major cities of India are available and also for the
international destinations like Middle East,
Southeast Asia Singapore and Malaysia.
Local Modes of Transport
APSRTC
buses are used by most of the people for moving
around within the city. Auto-rickshaw, taxis and
cars are other local modes of transport.
Entertainment Options
The cyber city of Hyderabad offers plenty of
entertainment options that are on par with the
finest in the world. Multiplexes and cinema halls
are the top priority for entertainment seekers, but
the city offers much more for the tourists. There
are a number of amusement parks, theme parks,
cultural centers, golf courses, sports clubs, pubs
and discotheques scattered throughout the length and
breadth of the city.
Shopping
The pearl city of Hyderabad has been a major
shopping centre of India for centuries. The city is
known for the trade of pearls and semi-precious
stones. The colourful bazaars of Hyderabad offer
everything from antiques to handicrafts to Jewellery
and from readymade clothes to leather items. Some of
the exclusive shopping items are kalamkari, himroo,
handloom fabrics, lacquered bangles, lambadi
mirror-work and other handicrafts. You can also
purchase arts and crafts items like Kondapalli toys
bidri metal craft, gun metal craft, pembarthi sheet
metal art, stone carvings, wood carvings, brassware,
nirmal art, banjara embroidery, khadicrafts and
dhurries. Most popular shopping areas include
Charminar, Abids, Baseerbagh, Nampally, Koti, Sultan
Bazaar, Narayanguda, Chikkadpally and Monda Market.
