Venue | Places to visit

This is a detail from the minarets of the Charminar, one of the most picturesque buildings in Hyderabad. This monument is located in the heart of Hyderabad’s old city, and is surrounded by markets, palaces and the Mecca Masjid. The old part of Hyderabad lies in the area surrounding Charminar, and has several famous markets. These are famous for traditional and locally-made products such as hand-crafted lac bangles and sandalwood oil perfumes known as ittar.

The Mecca Masjid, located close to the Charminar, is another landmark in the old city. Like the Charminar, it was commissioned by the QutubShahi rulers. Besides its impressive architecture, it also has an imposing size, and is the second largest mosque in India.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. It is believed that Muhammed Quli commissioned bricks to be made with the soil brought from Mecca and inducted them into the construction of the central arch of the mosque, which explains the name of the mosque.

Hyderabad was also governed by the AsafJahi dynasty whose rulers called themselves the Nizams of Hyderabad. The Chowmahalla Palace (pictured here) is among the numerous buildings constructed by them. It comprises four palaces built in the Mughal and European styles.Situated near Charminar, it was the seat of the AsafJahi dynasty where the Nizam entertained his official guests and royal visitors.

‘Falaknuma’ means ‘mirror of the sky’, a reference to its location at 2000metres above Hyderabad. Built by NawabViqar 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 has been converted into a hotel run by the Taj group and is no longer accessible to general publicIt was recently restored and is managed by the Taj hotel group.

Before the founding of Hyderabad, the QutubShahi dynasty ruled from the Golconda Fort. The Golconda Fort was the capital of the QutbShahi kingdom. This imposing fort encloses beautiful palaces and fountains. It is considered to be among the most impressive forts in India.

The Qutubshahi mosques in Hyderabad are so named because they were built by the Qutubshahi dynasty. Most of them were built by QuliQutb Shah, the founder. The tombs of the QutubShahi rulers are located close to the Golconda Fort. This picturesque complex contains various onion-domed mausoleums and gardens.

This sprawling museum is among Hyderabad’s finest cultural jewels. It was established in 1951, and displays art and antiquities collected by Salar Jung III, a noble who worked under the Nizam of Hyderabad. These include artefacts from various parts of India, China, Japan, Iran, Syria, Egypt and Europe.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 Nizamjewellery is displayed only on special occasions. It is one of the best private collections and museums in India.