The Essentials of Hyderabad For Visitors

imajohnson | Aug 8, 2011 |

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Known as the ‘city of pearls’, Hyderabad is the capital of the state of Andhra Pradesh in South India. It is one of the fastest growing cities in India due to its leading IT industry, but Hyderabad’s attractions are diverse enough to keep even the most demanding visitor busy.

Hyderabad Attractions

Any trip to Hyderabad would not be complete without a visit to these key sights.

Golconda Fort:– steeped in history and believed to date back as far as 1143, the fort is an architectural wonder reaching as high as 60 feet.

Charminar:– holding pride of place in the centre of the city, this is a major draw for Hyderabad tourism. The monument features four beautiful minarets which can be climbed for panoramic city views.

Qutub Shahi tombs:– the seven kings of the Qutub Shahi dynasty who ruled for a total of 170 years are buried here. The tombs are varied and represent Hindu, Persian and Pathu styles.

Yadagirigutta Temple:– the golden Sudarsharna Chakra of Lord Vishnu glows from the innermost sanctum of this temple. Locals also believe that 40 days worshipping in the main shrine has the power to cure illness.

Ramoji Film City:– dubbed the Universal Studios of India and the centre of the Tollywood film industry, this epicentre of Hyderabad tourism produces around 150 films per year.

HITEC City:– visit Cyber Towers, home to Microsoft offices, to get a feel for the ever expanding field that represents a significant part of Hyderabad’s future.

Laad Bazaar:– stock up on your Indian shopping essentials at this bazaar, the most popular item being lacquer bangles.

Sleeping

Treat yourself to the opulence that is common in Hyderabad with a stay in one of cities impressive range of luxury hotels. Try:

Hotel Golkonda Resorts & Spa
Marriot Hyderabad
Taj Deccan Hyderabad

Dining out

Necklace road is at the heart of Hyderabad attractions tourism. This long, tree lined boulevard comes alive at night with stalls, music and restaurants. Eat Street and Water Front provide the best choices.

Food is a Hyderabad attraction in its own right. A fusion of Persian and Mughlai cuisine with a Telugu influence, one must try dish is the Hyderabad Biryani.

Walk off dinner whilst exploring any of Necklace Road’s parks and gardens. Favourites include:

Sanjeevaiah Park, known as ‘Lover’s Park;’ or
more family oriented Jalavihar Park.

When to visit

Hyderabad tourism is defined by three seasons.

Summer – during March to mid-May/June temperatures can hit 40 degrees Celsius, but are more likely to average 25 degrees.
Monsoon –temperatures become more bearable from mid-June to October but rainfall is high and the weather is humid.
Winter – some consider November to February the better time to visit, with average temperature around 13 degrees.

Transport

Air – Hyderabad Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is served by a number of international and Indian airlines and is based only 22 kilometres from the city. Most countries offer non-stop flights.

Rail and bus – the Mahatma Gandhi bus station (known locally as Imlibun) provides a daily service to a number of long distance destinations. Hyderabad rail station is also a great option for getting to and from the city.

Car – car hire is widely available but road conditions vary, so the first time visitor should take care.

Local transport – Walking around the Old City is the best option but autorickshaws or local buses (run by APSRTC) are available. Taxis need to be called and can be hard to get so are better for longer distances.

If you’re visiting on business make time to visit some of the sights, if you’re travelling for leisure, Hyderabad will be a delight.