Hyderabad, the capital of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, is the fifth largest metropolis of India. The city has a very rich history and cultural heritage. Though, the city has a cosmopolitan culture, yet it has retained its old customs and traditions. Also famous as ' Cyberabad', the beautiful city of Hyderabad is fast emerging as India's foremost Cybercity, with cyber cafes and software companies coming up in every nook and corner of the city. Fondly called the 'city of Nawabs', Hyderabad is also known for the most extravagant royals in the country. The uniqueness of its culture can be seen in its language and mouth watering cuisine including the world famous Hyderabadi Biryani.

Hyderabad is well known for its natural beauty, historical monuments, mosques, temples, minarets, bazaars, lakes, pearls and a rich and varied heritage in arts, crafts and dance.

Places to Visit

Charminar: The main landmark of Hyderabad, the Charminar (four minarets) is an architectural masterpiece built by Muhammad Quli Qutab Shah in 1591 to mark the end of the deadly plague. The four storied minarets rise 20 meters from the roof of the massive monument and measures 24 meters from the plinth. The neighboring old bazaar is famous for trading of pearls, lac bangles and other accessories and pulsates with life every evening.

Mecca Masjid: The largest mosque in Hyderabad and one of the biggest mosques in India, it can accommodate around 10,000 people at one time. The beautiful mosque is situated in close vicinity of the Charminar. The name of the mosque is derived from the Grand Mosque at Mecca on which it is patterned. A room in the courtyard is said to house the sacred hair of the Prophet Mohammed.

Golconda Fort: The Kakatiyas originally started its construction in the 13th century and later the Qutub Shahi kings expanded it into a massive fort. The beautiful granite fort is famous for its water system and fine acoustics that can echo even the minutest sound all across the fort.

Sri Venkateshwara Temple: The beautiful Sri Venkateshwara temple is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara. The white marble architectural masterpiece was built in 1976 on one of the twin rocky hills of Kalabahad. The main deity is nine and a half feet high and is made of granite. The temple overlooks the beautiful Husain Sagar Lake.

Salar Jung Museum: The largest one-man collection of objects d'art in the world, the Salar Jung Museum houses the precious collections comprising of European and Indian paintings and statuary gathered during the Nawab's travels around the world. The museum showcases 35,000 exhibits that include sculptures, woodcarvings, manuscripts, weaponry, Persian carpets, Chinese porcelain, sculptures and jade.

Other major attractions in Hyderabad include the Qutab Shahi Tombs, the Falaknuma Palace, Public Gardens, Lad Bazaar, Tank Bud, Birla Planetarium, Buddha Statue and Nehru Zoological Park among many others.

How to Reach

By Air: The Begumpet airport at Hyderabad is well connected to all the major towns and cities of India. All the major domestic airlines operate between Hyderabad and other major cities of India.

By Rail: The city is well connected by trains to almost all the major cities and towns in India. Secunderabad, Hyderabad (also known as Nampally) and Kacheguda are the three railway stations in Hyderabad city.

By Road: Hyderabad has a very good network of roads and is well connected to various major and small destinations in South and West India.