Best places to visit in Hyderabad

[Rahil]

I will be in Hyderabad for a total of 3 days, and I would love to see some places there. As my time is limited, it would simply make it easier to say what are the best places to visit in Hyderabad.
I already know about Char Minar, which I believe is not that great to see, but I need to know about other places.

Please put the best places to see in priority to the best being at the top of the list, in case I don't have time to visit all the places.

 

[Abinaya Sri]

I will be in Hyderabad for a total of 3 days, and I would love to see some places there. As my time is limited, it would simply make it easier to say what are the best places to visit in Hyderabad.
I already know about Char Minar, which I believe is not that great to see, but I need to know about other places.

Please put the best places to see in priority to the best being at the top of the list, in case I don't have time to visit all the places.

Hello Rahil,

They are many more places to visit in Hyderabad.

Here are few popular places to visit:
Birla Temple, Lumbini Park , Buddha Statue, Golconda Fort, Shilparamam, Peddamma Temple
you can spend one day in Sanghi temple and Ramoji Film City.

 

[briannagodess]

Hello, @Rahil! Welcome to the forum!

In Hyderabad, you get the best of both worlds. There's a blend of modernity and history in the city. It is a fast progressing city, with the advent of business centres in it. But at the same time, the presence of historical structures give the tourists a glimpse of its rich past. Here are the best places to visit in Hyderabad:

• Golconda Fort - Taking a tour around the Golconda Fort is like being transported back in time. It can take hours before you can even explore all the corners and hidden passages in the fort. Originally a mud fort built by the Kakatiya, the fort has since then been renovated and has become what it is today. The present structure of the stone fort and the inner structures like the palaces and mosques, can be attributed to the Qutub Shahi rulers though. The most striking feature of the fort is that it is made of three imposing walls, one over the other. This has ensured, for many years, the safety of residents of the fort as well as the treasures hidden inside it. The fort also has eight gateways, of which the main one is the Fateh Darwaza. It was intentionally built and designed to have spikes and alcoves that used to pour hot oil on the enemies and their elephants. Inside the fort, there are mosques, halls, temples, palaces and stables. The fort is also well-known for its ingenious acoustics system, wherein a clap in the Grand Portico can be heard in the Bala Hisar, which is about a kilometre away from the former. Alas, due to a traitor inside the fort premises, named Sarandaz Khan, the fort was seized by Aurangzeb and his army. The rich history of the fort can be seen amidst its ruins now. Don't forget to watch the light and sound show held every evening at the fort, it highlights the history of Golconda.

• Birla Mandir - Located on top of a hillock, it's impossible to miss this grand white temple. Built under the Birla Foundation, it is one of the several Birla Mandirs in the country. The temple took over ten years to be fully completed because of the intricacy and grandeur of its design. It is dedicated to the Lord Vishnu, which is locally known as Sri Venkateswara. During day time, the temple sparkles due to its white colour. During night time though, it is illuminated and exudes a different look. The idol of Sri Venkateswara here is made using granite, but its canopy is made using marble. Just beside the presiding deity is his consorts, Padmavati and Andal. There are also idols of other Hindu gods and goddesses, all made using marble too. Unlike other temples, Birla Mandir also has a separate shrine for Buddha, which even has some paintings retelling his life.

• Taj Falaknuma Palace - Originally owned by Sir Vicar, the palace was handed over to Mehboob Ali Pasha Nizam VI. It is believed that the Nizam paid a grand amount of money to the former in exchange of the place. But even with just this scenario, you can see just how beautiful the palace is, that even the Nizam wanted it for himself. Falaknuma means Mirror of the Sky, as the exteriors of the palace resemble the hue of the clouds. Now though, it is owned by the Taj Group of Hotels. Staying in the palace hotel can be quite expensive though. However, if you do have the money for it, it's definitely worth staying here. Most of the inner structures and furnitures of the palace were retained by the hotel and they have done some renovations to upgrade its look. You'd certainly feel like a royal in this palace hotel.

• Chowmahalla Palace - This palace was built over a hundred years, thus, it exhibits different combinations of architectural styles. The palace complex was originally comprised of four main palaces, hence the name. The main attraction of the palace is its Khilwat Mubarak, also known as the Durbar Hall. This hall used to be the location for special events or occasions. Now though, it houses some exhibits like the royal costumes, weaponries and photographs of the Nizams. You can find this hall in the northern courtyard of the complex. The other courtyard in the southern part has the four main palaces and an exhibit of a vintage Rolls Royce car.

• Shri Jagannath Temple - This is a replica of the original Jagannath Temple in Puri. Its bright red colour and elegant design is quite striking. Just like the original Jagannath Temple, this is also dedicated to the Lord Jagannath and his brother, Balabhadra and his sister, Subhadra. It is a fairly new temple though, completed in 2009 by the Odia Community. The exteriors of the temple has carvings of men and women. The interiors also have carvings, but only of the incarnations of Vishnu. The temple also celebrates the Rath Yatra, which has its roots on the original Jagannath Temple in Puri.

• Lumbini Park - This park is located just adjacent to the Hussain Sagar. The main attraction of the park is its Laser Show, held every night at 7:15 pm and 8:30 pm. This show uses multimedia and music along with the water of the fountains. It highlights the history of the city and the state as well. There is also a mini-children's play area within the park. The park has many flowers, plants and even cacti that add some greenery and beauty to it.

• Public Garden - The history of this garden can be traced back to the Nizams, making it the oldest garden in Hyderabad. The garden is surrounded by the famous buildings in the city, like the State Legislative Assembly, Andhra Pradesh Art Museum and State Archaeological Museum Horticulture Department. Despite this, the garden is a breath of fresh air due to the lush greenery around it. There's even a mosque and an open air auditorium within its premises. For the kids, a ride in the toy train can be a fun activity for them. Because of its central location, the garden is visited by tourists and locals alike.

• Nehru Zoological Park - This is the largest zoo in the country. The zoo has several sections like a section for snakes, a section for birds and a section for the bigger animals. Guests can ride the toy train to tour the whole zoo. There are also different safari rides for lions, tigers, butterflies and bears. The zoo has a wide variety of animals, ranging from deers, Bengal tigers, Asiatic lions and even India elephants.

• Hussain Sagar - This is the largest artificial lake in the country and even in Asia. Its roots can be traced back to the dynasty of the Qutb Shahis. Specifically, it was Hussain Shah Wali who built the lake, thus it was named after him. The lake is surrounded by different parks, which provides some greenery around it. Boating is a favoured activity of most tourists here, with different types of boats that can be rented out like motor or pedal ones. The huge Buddha statue in the middle of the lake is an added attraction, as if it looks over the people in the nearby areas. During night time, the statue is illuminated and it provides some form of light for the surrounding areas.

• Ramoji Film City - A visit in Hyderabad won't be complete without touring the largest film complex in the world, the Ramoji Film City. Mumbai has Bollywood, but did you know that Hyderabad has a local version as well? This is known as Tollywood, in which the Ramoji Film City is located. The film city has various setups, one minute you're in a suburb in India and in another minute, you're in a Japanese garden. Thus, the film city has many sets that can keep any tourist busy. There's even a vintage bus here that can tour you around the film city. There are two luxury hotels within the film city, if you'd like to stay here.

I hope this helps you.