Hydrabad City Parks Travel Guide

• Public Gardens. Known as the Bagh-e-aam (Garden for the commoners), it has well laid out gardens and is surrounded by the imposing State Legislative Assembly building, the Jubilee Hall, the Jawahar Bal Bhavan, the Health Museum and the State Archaeological Museum. Free.
   

• Necklace Road ( The Chaupati of Hyderabad) 

• Indira Park - A sprawling 76 acre park located near Tank Bund with a nice little pond and boating. 

• Public Gardens (This was the old zoo and now is a beautiful place for both children and adults).
  
  
  
• Sanjeeviah Park
  
  
  
• Krishna Kanth Park
  
  
  
• Lotus Pond (Jubilee Hills)
  
  
  
• Botanical Garden
  
  
  
• Nehru Zoological Park
  
  
  
• KBR National Park (Chiraan Palace)
  
  
  
• Chilkur Wildlife Park
  
  
  
• Jalavihar Family Water Park (Necklace Road)
  
  
  
• Mahaveer Vanasthali Wildlife park
  
  
  
• Lumbhini Park - It also offers nice Laser Shows in the evening which is first in India.

(The wild life parks, botanical garden and zoo have several educational programs including lectures with live snakes)

• Chacha Nehuru Park (Masab Tank)
  
  
  
• Jalagam Vengal Rao Park (JVR Park, Banjara Hills)
  
  
  
• NTR(Nandamoori Taraka Ramarao) Gardens (Necklace Road)

Hydrabad City Temples

The Birla Mandir.


* Balaji Temple, Chilkur, [21]. 6.00 to 21.00. Chilkur has come up as a very important pilgrim centre in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (India). The Lord here is Sri Venkateswara Swamy in a standing posture, beside whom is Goddess Sridevi and Goddess Bhudevi. It is said that the Lord bears an injury on his chest which is believed to have been made during digging out of the Idol!. The deity also is famously known as "Visa Venkat". Students applying for visa after enrolling in US universities, come here before the interview date, make a wish for visa acceptance. After receiving the visa approval, the students re-visit the temple and do 108 "pradakshinas" around the temple as their wish came true. Free. (17.34839,78.39883E) edit
   
* Sanghi Temple, Hayat Nagar. Free. (17.34839,78.39883E) edit

* ISKCON Temple, Abids, [22]. Free. (17.34839,78.39883E) edit

* Mahankali Temple, Kacheguda. Site of the main annual Bonalu procession Free. (17.34839,78.39883E) edit


* Ujjaini Mahankali Temple, Secunderabad. Free. (17.34839,78.39883E) edit

* Peddamma Temple, Jubilee Hills. Free.

Hydrabad City Lakes

Hussain Sagar Lake.

    * Hussain Sagar Lake (Tank Bund), Necklace Road. 24 hrs. artificial lake is a historical landmark, built during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah in 1562 by damming the Musi. This forms the boundary between Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Surrounding the lake are various parks, temples, statues and historical buildings. This is one of the few walkable places in the city. At the centre of the lake stands a famous statue of the Buddha installed in 1992. Free.  edit

    * Osman Sagar / Gandipet
    * Himayat Sagar
    * Durgam Cheruvu (Secret Lake) - this is quite close to Hi-Tec City area and now hosts various parties and events. It used to be a real hidden gem in the busy city but it is still a nice lake to sit around.
    * Shamirpet - 24 km away to the north of Secunderabad, Shamirpet has a beautiful lake & a deer park. Its peaceful environs make it a great picnic spot. AP Tourism offers comfortable cottages facilities for accommodation (under private management), while the forest lodge can be booked with the AP Forest Department office at Saifabad.

    * Saroornagar - this lake is very famous as it has been lined by a solid strong wall on one side recently. A two lane undivided road is laid over this wall. The road is neat and exciting to drive. It has abundant lighting during nighttime and large pedastrian space provided. A problem is 'eutrophication' which is caused due to water hyacinth. A pleasant space for young couples to spend their evening. Smells sometimes, but that is the nature of any waterbody in a metropolis. Another important event that takes place is 'vinayakachaturthy',(a festival for Hindus in which Lord Vinayaka's statues are dumped in water). All roads lead to saroor nagar lake on the day of the Lord Ganesh's nimajjanam.

Hydrabad By Taxi Travel Information

Metered taxis are available, but they cannot be hailed off the street. One needs to call their centralised call centre and book the service. Service is very good, especially if you are booking for longer distances. It can be next to impossible to be able to get a cab without prior booking since demand far outstrips the supply. All metered cabs have digital meters that show the distance and fare.
Operators offering metered taxis (not all below are reliable and not all of them are prompt) at Rs 10 per km (Most of them are now charging Rs. 12 per km for an Indica, Rs. 10 continues in case of Maruti Omni),with a minimum charge is Rs. 80 in most cases. Many taxi services prefer not to book trips that are only a short distance. In alphabetical order:

• Apple Cabs, +91-40-6599-2225/2226

• Call Cab, +91-40-6625-1313/1414
• Call Taxi, +91-40-2790-1111/1122 (Good Service)
• Cel Cabs, +91-40-2324-2526
• City Cab, +91-40-2776-0000/6631-6000/6631-6001 (Good Service)
• Euro Cabs, +91-40-2351-1888/6673-8882
• Fast Track, +91-40-2888-9999/2760-2760
• Green Cab, +91-40-2460-6060
• Hyderabad Cabs, +91-40-2330-3324/3245-5055
• Metro Cab, +91-40-6610-0676/0677
• Orange Cab, +91-40-6631-5555
• Yellow Taxi, +91-40-4400-4400 (Good service)

Hydrabad Culture and attitudes

In many senses, Hyderabad is the meeting ground between North and South India. The city has a culture that is distinct from the rest of Andhra Pradesh, showing Islamic influences and a courtly presence imparted from its period as the capital of the Nizamate. This is more evident in the old city. The new city resembles many provincial state capitals in India. Secunderabad is more cosmopolitan, as the Cantonment area is located in this part of the city.

Due to a recent influx of young men and women from various parts of the country, Hyderabad's culture and attitudes have taken a turn towards "modernity". However, it is good to keep in mind that the city is still a deeply conservative place and to dress appropriately, especially in the old city.

Hydrabad City Orientation Information

The best way to orient yourself to Hyderabad is to think with reference to two water bodies - the Musi river and the Hussain Sagar Lake. The Musi river flows from the west to the east, a few kilometers south of Hussain Sagar Lake.

• The Old city lies mostly on the south bank of the Musi, though this guide will treat Golkonda, which lies on the north bank, as part of the old city. Most historical attractions, including the Charminar lie on this bank. 

• Secunderabad lies to the north-east of Hussain Sagar lake. This has historically been a military cantonment, which means that the roads are better maintained and broader. It has nice parks, open spaces and some excellent restaurants. 

• The New city, which contains the administrative offices of Andhra Pradesh lies on the north bank of the Musi, to the east and south-east of Hussain Sagar. 

• Punjagutta to Gachibowli is a vast region to the west and north-west of Hussain Sagar, on the north bank of the Musi. This has developed in the past twenty years. Areas of interest here are Punjagutta and Ameerpet, which are enormous shopping areas. Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills is where Hyderabad's swish set lives, and contain some good parks and restaurants. The newly developed "Hi tec city" and Gachibowli are 9 km to the west of the new city. This is where most technology and business process outsourcing (BPO) firms have their campuses.

History of Hydrabad India

In 1463 Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk established the fortress of Golconda about 8 km to the west of Hyderabad’s present day old city. He had quelled rebellion in the Telangana region and was appointed the subedar, or administrator of the region as a result. By 1518, he had become independent from the Bahmani sultan, declared himself the Sultan under the name of Quli Qutb Shah and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty. In 1589, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, a grandson of Quli Qutb Shah, made the decision to move his capital from the Golconda fort to the present day location of Hyderabad due to water shortages at the old location. In 1591, he ordered the construction of the Charminar, reportedly in gratitude to Allah for cutting short a plague epidemic before it could do too much damage.

The name "Hyderabad" reportedly had its origins in an affair between Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah and a local Telugu courtesan named Bhagmati. He named the city Bhagyanagar after her, and after she converted to Islam and took on the name of "Hyder Mahal", he named the city Hyderabad. Hyderabad was built on a grid plan with help from Iranian architects. French traveler Jean-Baptiste Tavernier favorably compared Hyderabad to Orleans.

The Qutb Shahi dynasty lasted till 1687, when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb defeated the sultanate and took over Hyderabad. He appointed his governor as ruler of the region and granted him the title of Nizam-ul-Mulk. However, Mughal rule was short-lived and in 1724, the Nizam Asaf Jah I gained independence from a declining Mughal empire. Legend has it that while on a hunting expedition, he met a holy man who offered him some kulchas and asked him to eat as much as he could. Asaf Jah ate only seven, and the holy man prophesied that his dynasty would last for seven generations. Sure enough, the seventh ruler in the dynasty was the last. In honour of the legend, the flag of the Nizams featured a kulcha.

Around 1763 Asif Jah II, defeated by the Marathas and threatened by Tipu Sultan of Mysore, entered into a subsidiary alliance with a British. Hyderabad ended up as the capital of the largest princely state in British India. The British maintained their army in nearby Secunderabad to protect the Nizam and to ensure that he did not do any mischief. Hyderabad state was the richest in the country and in the 1930s Time magazine rated the Nizam the richest man in the world. In 1947, with India's independence, the seventh Nizam was reluctant to cede his principality to the newly independent India, preferring Pakistan instead. India sent in its troops and the 200 year old prophesy was fulfilled. Hyderabad became the capital of the newly formed state of Andhra Pradesh in 1956 and steadily grew in size.

The next major events in Hyderabad's history took place when Chandrababu Naidu became the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1995. Among his key policies was a major initiative to turn the city into an IT hub. He cleaned up the streets, laid out IT parks and did much to attract technology companies into the city. A major achievement for him was when Microsoft chose Hyderabad as its India headquarters over rival Bangalore. Today, as Bangalore’s infrastructure is choked by the city’s rapid growth, Hyderabad's well-laid out streets are proving to be a major attraction for software and IT-enabled companies. Hyderabad takes its brand as an IT destination very seriously. Cyberabad is not just a nickname. The technology enclave of Madhapur has actually been officially named Hi tec city, and Cyberabad is commonly used in official documents.

In 2007, the suburbs of Hyderabad were merged with the city to form Greater Hyderabad

Hydrabad Tourist Guide

Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh in Southern India, located on the banks of the Musi River and on the Deccan Plateau. Hyderabad and Secunderabad are "twin cities" near Hussain Sagar Lake (also known as Tank Bund in local parlance) but both cities have grown so much that now they have become one big metropolis.

The city and district of Hyderabad are coterminous. Hyderabad district is entirely contained within the Ranga Reddy district of Andhra Pradesh. Many of the suburbs of Hyderabad were recently merged into the city, now called Greater Hyderabad.

    *  Charminar. 9AM-5PM Mo-Sa. Closed on Fridays between 1-2PM for prayers.. Literally "Four minarets", this structure was built at the very spot at which Quli Qutb Shah prayed for the end to the plague epidemic. The Charminar has long been the icon of Hyderabad. The towers rise to a height of 48.7 m above the ground. There is a mosque with 45 prayer spaces located inside in the upper storeys. The structure stands in the middle of a busy road with vehicular traffic, but a pedestrianization project is under way. Atop the minarets, you get a panoramic view of Hyderabad city. Rs 5, Children below 11 free (for Indians) Rs.100 (for foreigners) Video cameras are charged Rs.25 extra.  edit

    * Chowmahalla Palace, Khilwat, 20-4-236, Motigalli Hyderabad - 500 002, ☎ +91-40-2452-2032, [18]. 10AM-5PM Sa-Th. Closed on National Holidays. Situated near Charminar, it was the seat of the Asaf Jahi dynasty where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors. Rs. 25 (for Indians) Rs. 150 (for foreigners), camera permit Rs. 50.  edit

    * Falaknuma Palace. Built by Nawab Viqar al-Umra in 1872, Falaknuma is a stunning piece of architecture and the most opulent of the Nizam's palaces. The interior is particularly impressive and features the works of Florentine sculptors and a 100-seater Dining Table. The palace is currently being renovated and the Taj Group is converting it into a luxury hotel. Visitors are not allowed inside. Avoid this unless viewing the exterior will satisfy you.  edit

    * Golconda Fort. 9AM-9PM. The Golconda Fort was the first capital of the Qutb Shahi kingdom. In the 16th century, it was the centre of a flourishing diamond trade. The fort is a gigantic complex with an outer wall measuring 10km. Set aside a minimum of 2 hours to do justice to your visit. Learning a little about the fort ahead of time is recommended as it is easy to get confused or lost in the massive space. Avoid the local guides, as they are not very enlightening. There is also a light and sound show (price for foreigners Rs.50/100 for normal/executive ticket) after sunset lasting ~1h that tells you the story of the fort and is worth seeing. The English show runs every day at 6:30pm November to February and 7pm March to October. Hindi and Telugu shows are run afterwards in certain days. Rs 5 for Indians, Rs.100 for foreigners.  edit

    * H.E.H The Nizam's Museum, Purani Haveli, Behind Princess Durru Shehvar Children's Hospital Hyderabad-2, ☎ +91 40 2452 1029. 10am-5pm Sa-Th. Adults-Rs.50 Students & children-Rs.15.  edit

    * Hussain Shah Wali Dargah.  edit

    * Mecca Masjid, Southwest of the Char Minar. Mecca Masjid is one of the oldest mosques in the city and easily the biggest. Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah began building it in 1617 under the supervision of Mir Faizullah Baig and Rangiah Choudhary. Mughal emperor Aurangzeb completed the construction in 1694. The mosque is a granite giant with awe-inspiring innards. The main hall of the mosque is 75 feet high, 220 feet wide and 180 feet long, big enough to accommodate ten thousand worshippers at a time. The entrance arches are made of single slabs of granite. It is believed that Muhammed Quli commissioned bricks to be made from earth brought from Mecca and inducted them into the construction of the central arch of the mosque, which explains the name of the mosque.  edit

Mecca Masjid

    * Moula Ali Dargah. 400 stairs brings you to a place of worship built by the Asif Jahis. The Moula Ali Dargah was built in the memory of Hazrat Ali, the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad. Legend has it that Yakoob, a eunuch in the court of Ibrahim Quli, went to the hill after he saw Hazrat Ali seated on it. To his surprise, he saw the impression Ali's palm on a stone, which he had dreamt. He had the impression cut out and installed in a shrine. Ibrahim Shah later built a mosque beside the dargah. A Ashurkhana , a Baradari (pavilion) and an Nqqar khana (place for beating drums) were built during the Qutb Shahi period.  edit

    * Osmania Arts College. Built during the period of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan. The imposing facade of the building is a great sight.  edit

    * Paigah Tombs, Santoshnagar (Pisal Banda). These tombs belong to the 'Paigah' nobles (tied by blood and marriage to the Nizams) and are about 200 years old. These unique lime and mortar tombs are beautifully carved and have marble inlay work on them.  edit

    * Purani Haveli, Dewandevdi (Southeast of Afzalganj bridge). 10:30am-5pm Sa-Th. Originally, the palace of the Nizam's Prime Minister, later it was renovated and became the quarters of the Nizam's son. It is a U-shaped complex with a single-storeyed building in the European style.  edit

    * Purani Haveli Museum, Purani Haveli, Hyderabad.. Home to the world's longest wardrode, built in two levels with a hand-cranked wooden lift(elevator) in place. This occupies the entire length of one wing of the palace.  edit

    * Raymond Tomb. Michel Raymond, a French mercenary, was a military commander in the service of the second Nizam and also his close friend. His tomb is located at Saroornagar, and is made of black granite.  edit

    * Salar Jung Museum, Naya Pul, Afzalgunj (Turn left once you reach the south bank of Musi using the Nayapul), ☎ +91 40 2452 3211. 10:00 AM - 5 PM Sa-Th. (Ticketing closes at 4:15 PM). This collection belonged to the Salar Jungs, Prime Minsters of Hyderabad, but has been augmented since. The collection includes articles mostly from medieval and modern times, with a concentration of articles from the Islamic era. The western wing on the second floor is interesting. It contains paintings, furniture and other objects that the Salar Jung got from the West. The collection of Nizam jewellery is displayed only on special occasions. Free guided tours lasting two hours each are available at scheduled times, four times a day. Inquire at the entrance. Cameras, bags and liquids are not allowed, but mobile cameras are winked at. Deposit your contraband at the free lockers available near the ticketing area. Rs 15 for Indians and Rs 150 for Foreigners.  edit

    * Toli Masjid, Karwan. 300 years old. Known for its splendid architechture.  edit

    * Qutb Shahi Tombs (1 km north of Golconda fort, approached via Banjara Darwaza), [19]. 9:30AM-5:30PM Sa-Th. The Qutubshahi mosques in Hyderabad are so named because they were built by the Qutubshahi dynasty. Most of them were built by Quli Qutb Shah, the founder. Rs 10; camera Rs 20.  edit

    * Qutub Shahi Tombs Site Museum, Hyderabad-8, ☎ +91 40 2351 341. 9AM-4.30PM Sa-Th. Rs. 2.