1. Charminar
- Famous for: History, Architecture, Heritage Site.
- Tickets: 5 INR for Indians and 100 INR for Foreigners.
- Opening Timings: Open all days from 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
- Duration: 1 hour
The first tourist attraction that comes to mind when you think of Hyderabad is Charminar, which is located in the heart of the city. Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah constructed this monument in the year 1591. The architecture of Charminar reflects Cazia style. The idea behind constructing the monument was to ward off deadly epidemic, which claimed many lives during that period. The four minarets are 48.7 meter tall. There is a mosque and 45 prayer spaces inside Charminar. Do not get discouraged by the crowd there if you want to have a feel of the old city and its culture. The shopping area around the monument offers products for cheap rates.
2. Golconda Fort
- Famous for: Architecture, Heritage, Fort, History.
- Tickets: 5 INR for Indians and 100 INR for Foreigners.
- Opening Timings: Open all days from 9 AM to 5:30 PM.
- Duration: 1 hour.
A place you cannot afford to miss during your tour of Hyderabad. The name Golconda finds its root in “Golla Konda”, which means Shepherd’s Hill. The fort was originally constructed during the period of Yadava Dynasty and later it was under the control of many other dynasties namely Kakatiya Dynasty, Bahmani Dynasty from whom it went into the control of Qutb Shahis and later Mughal Dynasty. The Golconda fort dates back to 13th century. The acoustics effects are excellent in the fort. If you clap your hands at Fateh Darwaza, the sound can be clearly heard at Bala Hissar, which is located a kilometer away. The royal palaces and whispering walls are some of its main attractions.
3. Makkah Masjid
- Famous for: Islam, Devotion, Monument, History.
- Tickets: No entry fee.
- Opening Timings: Open all days from 4AM to 9:30 PM. Tourists not allowed during prayers.
- Duration: 1 hour.
This ancient mosque is more than 400 years old and was built by the founder of Hyderabad, Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah. He personally laid the foundation stone and planned the whole city around this mosque, making it the centerpiece of the same. The central arch of the mosque was built from the soil especially bought from Mecca and one of the rooms here is believed to have the hair of prophet Muhammad. A visit here is recommended for people of all faiths for its historic, religious and architectural importance.
4. Old City.
- Famous for: Shopping, Monuments, Hyderabadi cuisines.
- Tickets: No entry fee.
- Opening Timings: Open all days.
- Duration: Depends on the visitor.
A major tourist spot and the heart of Hyderabad, the old city of Hyderabad has been an important part of the city since it was first founded. All the major monuments in the city like Charminar, Taramati Baradari, Makkah Masjid and many more are located in or in the vicinity of this city. The famous Laad Bazaar known for pearls, traditional jewellery is also here and along with The Madina Market, this place is a shoppers paradise. This is also the birthplace of biryani and therefore the Hyderabadi cuisine here is to die for.
5. Salarjung Museum
- Famous for: Museum, History,
- Tickets: 20 INR for Indians, 500 INR for foreigners and free for students/children.
- Opening Timings: Open all days except Friday from 10AM to 5PM.
- Duration: 1.5-2 hours.
Salarjung Museum was founded in the year 1951. The museum has stunning collections and most of them were from Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, famously called as Salar Jung III. The collections are exhaustive and could be classified as Indian Art, European Art, Art of the Middle East, Far Eastern Art and a section for children. The collections include antiques from various parts of the world. Indian sculptures, bronze statues, Persian carpets, Chinese porcelain, jade carvings, woodcarvings and many more. This museum has the distinction of having the largest personal collection in the world.
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