Hyderabad Travel Guide
About Hyderabad :
Falaknuma Palace
Hyderabad - an important centre of Islamic culture, was the seat of the legendary Nizams of Hyderabad, rulers of one of the largest native states in India. Sightseeing tour commences with a visit to High Court, built in solid pink granite. It is a very impressive building in Mughal - Saracenic style, enriched with panels of bas-relief decoration carved in red Hyderabad sandstone. Visit the Char Minar or 4 towers, which are 186 feet high and 100 feet wide on each frontage. It is a masterpiece of the Qutab Shai dynasty and was intended to mark the centre of the city. Immediately Southwest of the Char Minar is the Mecca Masjid. Built in local granite, it is one of the largest mosques in India. Each column is carved out from a single stone. The small red stones in the central arch are made of earth from Mecca. Also, drive past the Osmania General Hospital, a spectacular range of stone buildings dressed with chunam and designed by Vincent Esch in Indo-Saracenic style. State Central Library has an outstanding collection of Islamic manuscript. Also visit the Public gardens, Archaeological Museum and Gandhi Bhawan.
Getting There :
Ramoji Film City
Air : Hyderabad has its own airport, so travelling air to Hyderabad is not a problem.
Rail : The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderbad are connected to all the major cities of India.
Road : Hyderabad lies on National Highway No. 7 and 9, hence is connected by the rest of the country.
Tourists Attractions :
Golconda Fort
The principle landmark of Hyderabad is the Charminar (four towers), the massive arch built by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1591 to commemorate the end of a devastating epidemic of the plague. There is a small mosque on the second floor, which is the oldest in Hyderabad. In the south-east corner is a small Hindu shrine honoring Laxmi, the goddess of wealth. Each evening, the arch is illuminated and is a sight worth seeing.
Charminar
Often called "The Arc de triomphe of the East", Charminar was built by Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah, the erstwhile Qutub Shahi Sultan of Golconda, in 1591. It was the centre of attraction of the magnificent capital city of Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah. In spite of it being dwarfed by present day buildings, the Charminar has not lost its erstwhile majesty and continues to attract travellers. Presently, Charminar stands with pride, at the centre of the old city.
Architecture
Charminar is a squarish structure with four towers in the four corners of the square, each of whose sides is 20 metres in length. Every side opens into a plaza through giant arches, which overlook four major thoroughfares and dwarf other features of the building except the minarets. Each arch is 11 metres wide and rises 20 metres to the pinnacle from the plinth. The minarets soar skywards by 24 metres from the roof of Charminar. Each minaret has four storeys, each looking like a delicately carved ring around the minaret. Some Anglophiles call Charminar the Arc de Triomphe of the East. From the ground to the apex, the minarets cover a length of 48.7 metres.
Salar Jung Museum :
One of Hyderabad's prime attractions is the Salar Jung Museum, the world's largest collection by a single individual, Sir Yusaf Ali Salar Jung III. The 36 rooms, house around 35,000 exhibits from all over the world including sculptures, illuminated manuscripts, unusual collections of jade, marble statues, rare manuscripts, Persian miniature paintings, Chinese porcelain and other objects d'art. The collected items in the museum could be far better classified because a lot of the really good pieces of art need to be hunted for. Whatever the inevitable drawbacks of a one man collection, a must visit. The museum is closed Fridays.
Mecca Masjid
Location :
Located near the Charminar.
Mecca Masjid
About Mecca Masjid :
One of the largest mosque in the world (accommodating up to 10,000 worshippers) Construction began in 1614, during the reign of Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah, but wasn't finished until 1687, by which Mughal emperor Aurangzeb had annexed the Golconda kingdom and completed this Masjid in 1693.
The hall is 67m by 54m and 23m high.The roof is supported by 15 arches, 5 on each of the three sides.The western side is blocked by a high wall to provide the Mehrib. This mosque is one of the largest mosque in India and can accommodate ten thousand people at a time.
The minarets look rather stunted in comparis on with the grandeur of the whole massive structure. But it looks more Mughal then Qutub Shah in its perfect granite finish and vast courtyard. A particular stone brick in the mihrab is believed to have been brought from Mecca. The name is derived from the Grand Mosque at Mecca on which it is patterned. The hall measures 67 mt. by 54 Mt. and is 23 Mt. in height. Fifteen arches, five on each of the three sides, support the roof. A high wall to provide the Mehrab blocks the western side. Each of the two octagonal columns on either side are made out of a single piece of granite, It took about 8000 Masons and laborers and 77 years to complete. At each end are two huge octagonal columns made out of a single piece of granite each topped by an arched gallery that is crowned by a dome.
One of the largest mosques in the world, the Mecca Masjid is said to accommodate upto 10,000 worshippers. The foundation of the mosque was laid during the reign of Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah in 1614, but was completed only in 1687, when the Golconda Kingdom was annexed by Emperor Aurangzeb.
Birla Mandir :
Birla Temple
You can visit this modern enchanting temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara on your tour to Hyderabad. The Birla Mandir stands in all its grandeur on the hilltop of Kalapahad. The intricately carved, tiered tower at the base is typical of the southern Indian shrines while the smooth dome at the top is in the north Indian Rajasthani style. Made of pure white marble from Rajasthan, the Birla Mandir overlooks the serene and placid waters of the Hussain Sagar Lake. The Birla Mandir presents a colorful spectacular sight when illuminated at night.
Gandipet :
Tank Bund
Gandipet, located at a distance of about 20 kms west on your tour to Hyderabad city. Mir Osman Ali Khan formed this water body as a result of damming of the river Moosi in 1920. Anyone visiting Gandipet is pleased to see a vast stretch of placid water that shimmer like gold with the rays of the morning sun.
Hitech City
