• Hyderabad Must-Sees

Hyderabad Must-Sees

Duration: 8 hours including drive time
All days of the week, not ideal on Fridays

Hyderabad has lots of interesting places to visit, all of which cannot be covered in a single day. Some of the highlights are listed below. If you tell us what interests you, we will help structure the tour based on the time available, the location of your hotel, and the days on which monuments are open/closed.

Our personal recommendation for must-sees (especially if you have only one day in Hyderabad) are the first six items from the list below: Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi tombs, Charminar, Mecca Masjid, Chowmahalla Palace and the famous bazaars of the Old City. These sights give you a glimpse into the two dynasties (the Qutb Shahis and the Nizams) who ruled Hyderabad before Indian independence. They also showcase the vibrant, tolerant "Ganga-Jamuni" living culture of the city.

Highlights of Hyderabad

  • Golconda fort – dating back to the 13th century, this impressive fortress complex has a very interesting set of legends and stories.
  • The Qutb Shahi Tombs – a short distance away from Golconda fort are the grand mausoleums of the Qutb Shahi kings who ruled this region for nearly 170 years. These are among most eloquent specimens of Indo-Persian architecture.
  • Charminar - Standing majestically amidst the hustle and bustle of the crowded old city, the Charminar is an enormous yet elegant monument, a masterpiece of the bygone Qutub Shahi era. This beautiful colossus in granite, lime and mortar was built to signify the beginning of the construction of the city of Hyderabad.
  • Mecca Masjid – this graceful mosque is one of the largest in India. With beautiful minarets, a wide courtyard and a water tank for ablutions, the mosque is an island of tranquility in bustling Lad Bazaar.
  • Chowmahalla Palace – This palace built by the Nizams functions as a museum which houses several artifacts from the Nizams’ period. With beautiful gardens and fountains, the museum houses furniture, clothing, antique cars, photographs and various other curiosities.
  • Bazaars and Food – Around the Charminar you can see various restaurants which sell Hyerabadi delicacies like dum ka biryani, kababs, nihari, etc. There are also stalls making and selling doshas, kulchas and other street food. In the bazaars , you can see workshops of zardosi embroidery, lac bangle making, etc., and shop for jewellery and clothes.
  • British Residency – this opulent Palladian style villa constructed by the British Resident of Hyderabad, James Kirkpatrick, for his Indian wife Khair-un-Nissa. The decadent mansion takes you back to the days of intrigues between Hyderabad’s nobility and the British.
  • Paigah tombs – the quiet, picturesque necropolis of the noble Paigah family which loyally served the Nizams for generations as governors, ministers, advisors and generals. The tombs are built in marble and lime stucco, with intricate stone latticework and inlay work.
  • Birla Mandir – built entirely out of marble from Rajasthan, this temple is on top of a hill. Completed in 1976, the temple looks down over the waters of the Hussain Sagar Lake, the beautiful Lumbini Park and various government buildings and landscaped gardens. The Nirmala Birla Modern Art Gallery is also on this hill. It houses an excellent collection of contemporary Indian art.
  • Salar Jung Museum – this museum’s collection was put together by the seventh Nizam’s Prime Minister, Salar Jung III. It has art from around the world. It includes oil and water paintings, Mughal miniatures, stone sculptures, bronze images, painted textiles, carpets, wooden carvings, ivory carvings, jade carvings, metal-ware, books and manuscripts, arms & armor, furniture, clocks, lacquer etc.
  • Purani Haveli (HEH The Nizam’s Museum) – this was the home of the sixth Nizam. It now contains the personal effects of the seventh Nizam. An interesting sight in the palace is the two-storey wardrobe (with a hand-cranked wooden elevator) belonging to the sixth Nizam, who reportedly never wore the same thing twice.
  • Badshaahi Ashurkhana – a mourning house dating back to the 16th century, with exquisite tile mosaic work. It is visited by Shias to memorialize the martyrdom of Imam Hussain.
  • Craft workshops – you can visit craft workshops producing cloth, bidriware, basket making, zardosi, lac bangles, etc.

If there are things outside this list you wish to do or see, please let us know and we will incorporate them into your tour. You could also read descriptions of some of our other tours for ideas.

We will pick you up and drop you at your hotel.

Cost:

  • INR 2500 per person for 7-10 persons
  • INR 3500 per person for 5-6 persons
  • INR 4500 per person for 3-4 persons
  • INR 5500 per person for 2 persons
  • INR 10550 for a solo traveller

Includes:
AC transport, driver with cell phone, fuel, parking charges, tolls, knowledgable guide, bottled water and all taxes.

Excludes:
Entrances, meals, tips

Tour notes: Please dress conservatively and ensure you have adequate sun protection. Some religious monuments require women to wear a long scarf/stole/dupatta. If you forget to bring one they will lend you something but it is better to bring your own. Please ask permission before photographing people.

Prior reservation is mandatory. Email deepa@magictoursofindia.com or WhatsApp wa.me/+919867707414.