My initial interactions with Hyderabad were pure business and I had missed out on many attractions suggested by my colleagues as the best places to visit in Hyderabad. But this time, I made sure that I took out time, just to explore the marvels of this historic city, lovingly called as ‘City of the Nizams’. An evergrowing IT hub, Hyderabad is not only developing as a hi-tech commercial hotspot but interestingly is also investing heavily to preserve its heritage buildings and treasures of the yesteryears. A true amalgamation of cultures and religions is evident as you step into any part of the city where different communities have lived together in harmony for centuries. And if you are a history lover, then this heritage city is an absolute culture dose that you shouldn’t miss while exploring South India. While the city needs more time to be seen completely for those who do not have the luxury of more than 2-3 days in Hyderabad, here is our recommendation on places to visit in Hyderabad.

Golconda Fort
The ruins of the Golconda

Golconda

The tales of Golconda takes one through many centuries and even more ruling dynasties. Not many know that the Golconda fort still houses a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Jagadamba, near the top of the mountains surrounded by the ruins of the fort. According to folklore, a shepherd boy had discovered a statue of God on top of the hill and a temple was built. The fort was later built first with mud and came to be known as Golla Konda meaning ‘shepherd’s hill’ in Telegu, the local language. The mud fort was expanded and reinforced significantly by Kakatiyas and then by Bahmani and Qutb Shahi Sultans.

Golconda Fort
The army mosque and barracks

The kings of Qutb Shahi dynasty made Golconda their capital and introduced many architectural secrets inside the walls of this massive fort. The history of Golconda fort and the city of Hyderabad can be known by attending the Light and Sound show that takes place every evening amidst the ruins of the fort. It is one of the best places to visit in Hyderabad in the evening to get a sneak peek into the rich past of the fort and the enthralling legends surrounding it. Golconda was the crowning glory of Hyderabad and probably one of the most mysterious stories about Hyderabad is the way the city was named.

Golconda fort
The gardens where diamond traders would sit for king and queen’s selection

Bhagmati was a Telugu courtesan in the Sultan’s court. It is believed that the young prince, Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah fell in love with her. Despite tough opposition from the Sultan, they continued to meet in secret. Bhagmati lived in a village by a river which flooded due to heavy rains. As per the locals, the prince swam across the river and rescued the lady. Seeing this the sultan’s heart melted and he accepted their love. Quli Qutb Shah succeeded to the throne in his teens and later married Bhagmati. Some say that he named his capital city Bhagyanar after his lady love and renamed the city to Hyderabad when Bhagmati converted to Islam and accepted the name Hyder Mahal. It is difficult to separate legend from facts in this story, however, it does reflect the spirit of Hyderabad, which seems to stand above the differences often created by minds.

Golconda Fort
The setting sun at Golconda

Inside Golconda, as you walk through the paths and gardens that once were evergreen, it is difficult not to wonder how glorious the fortress would have been in its time. The diamond mines of Golconda have produced many world famous diamonds like Kohinoor, Hope diamond and Dariainoor but lay abandoned today.

Golconda Fort
The queen chambers in Golconda Fort

The fort has a treasure of acoustic tricks that helped in the security and communication through the thick walls of the court. The greatest minds have failed to explain how sound travels the way it does in Golconda. A clap under the dome of the entry gate can be heard at the top in Bala Hisar pavilion, which is more than a kilometer away and 400 ft high. In the Queen’s chambers, a whisper through one wall can be heard clearly on the other side. A small snap of fingers can echo through a hall and cause a strong reverberation. And if this is not mysterious enough, peep through the tunnel that connects Golconda to Qutb Shahi Tombs complex.

Golconda Fort
The royal bath

Qutb Shahi Tombs

‘How interesting can tombs be, right ?’  Your answer may differ once you visit the Qutb Shahi Tombs in Hyderabad. The beautifully landscaped gardens of Ibrahim Bagh envelopes 40 mausoleums, 23 mosques and a hammam. The complex is an epitome of calmness with timeless domed structures adorned with intricate carvings and grand mausoleums built in remembrance of the kings who truly served their people. The beauty of this hidden gem is in its glorious past and the tales it tells. Which is why it is an important pitstop on your list of place to visit in Hyderabad.

Quli Qutb Shah Tomb

Every ruler from the Qutb Shahi dynasty who ruled Hyderabad is buried here except the last one. Interestingly, once a sultan was coronated, he started building his tomb and hence each tomb reflects its owners’ artistic and architectural preferences. One of the most distinctive tombs is that of Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad. Not only is it the largest, but the ceramic work on the dome and below is being restored. The mausoleums have an amalgamation of various architectural styles taken from Persia, Hindu, Pathan and Deccan and are a treat for any architecture lover.

Qutb Shahi Tombs

The Qutb Shahi Tombs are another addition to the list of best places to visit in Hyderabad in the evening. At sunset, the golden glow against the backdrop of the domes and minarets creates a magical scene, one that still reminisces about the legacy of Hyderabad.

Qutb Shahi Tombs

Chowmahalla Palace

The best place to visit in Hyderabad to get a glimpse into the royal life of Nizams is undebatably the Chowmahalla Palace. The palace that is an iconic landmark in the city, has been restored into a museum now. It used to serve as the Nizam’s royal residence and durbar and still manages to create nostalgia of the bygone era. The magnificent Khilwat Mubarak, the grand pillared durbar hall is where the Nizam held his court. The marble platform in the center of the room is where the Takht-e-Nishan or the royal seat was laid and the room looks spectacular with its 19 grand chandeliers made from Belgian crystals.

Chowmahalla Palace
Khilwat Mubarak and the clock tower

The grandeur and opulence of the Nizams are displayed through the other halls in the palace where various items from the Nizam’s collection are displayed. Handcrafted furniture with intricate craftsmanship, ceramic-ware, valuables gifted to the Nizams, royal dresses, weapons, and armory, etc adorn the showcases and walls of the adjoining rooms that do seem to take you back in time. Interestingly, the clock on top of the Khilwat Darwaza overlooking Khilwat Mubarak and the Bara Imam corridors still works. I wonder what tales it would tell if it could talk, having witnessed Hyderabad’s transformation from the city of Nizams into a high-tech IT hub.

Chowmahalla Palace
The grand durbar hall

Behind the grand durbar lie the four palaces, Afzal Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal and Aftab Mahal, which contribute to the name Chowmahalla meaning ‘Four palaces’. The highlight of this section, however, is the Buggy Khana which houses Nizam’s collection of regal buggies and vintage cars.

Chowmahalla Palace

Nizam’s Museum

Another hidden gem and mostly never included on the listicles about places to visit in Hyderabad, the Nizam’s museum is a treasury on display. Mostly missed out on the regular tourist circuit, this museum is housed inside the Purani Haveli and displays many of the treasures of the last Nizam’s household. Estimated to be the richest man in the world during his time, Osman Ali Khan Bahadur Asaf Jah VII, was the last Nizam of the Princely State of Hyderabad and his net worth was reported to be at US$2 billion in the early 1940s.

Nizam Museum

As you walk the rooms, you will find many historical pieces like the like letter boxes made of gold and silver, personal belongings studded with diamonds and pearls and a golden throne that belonged to the last Nizam. The museum came into limelight when the golden tiffin box decorated with diamonds and rubies was stolen.  It was stolen along with two gold cups and saucers in 2018. The thieves claimed that they wanted a taste of the Nizam’s luxury and dined in the gold tiffin every day while it was in their possession. But before the thieves could sell these invaluable items in the black market at an estimated price of 40-50 crores, they were arrested and the treasures were restored back to the museum.

Nizam Museum
The Nizam’s gold tiffin that was stolen

The museum also holds the world’s largest wardrobe. The sixth Nizam, Mehboob Ali Khan was quite fond of his dresses and never wore a dress twice. And to store all these dresses, he had a dedicated 240ft long walk-in wardrobe, covering the complete right wing of his palace.

Charminar & Mecca Masjid

Charminar to Hyderabad is what Eiffel Tower to Paris. Ask any Hyderabadi and you will surely see the pride in his eyes when he talks about Charminar. You will also find that this monument is the most highly recommended amongst the places to visit in Hyderabad. Built in 1591-92, the monument was planned to be the centerpiece of the city and is believed to have been made as a tribute to Allah.
Charminar
The iconic Charminar
It is said that the city was under the attack of Cholera, a deadly disease. The Sultan, Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah had prayed to god to stop the plague and vowed to build a mosque in the heart of the city. Charminar was built as a masjid to commemorate the eradication of Cholera and the old city of Hyderabad was designed around it. Locals believe there was an underground tunnel that connected Golconda Fort and Charminar however has not yet been found.
Old Hospital
The view from Charminar
As you look from the balcony of Charminar, you will see the bustling lanes connecting bazaars and muhallas all around. Historical landmarks like the Mecca Masjid, Char Kaman and the old hospital buildings add to the heritage scene of Charminar. The Mecca Masjid is one of the largest mosques in India and was commissioned by Quli Qutb Shah. It is said that the bricks were made from soil brought from Mecca, Islamic holy site and hence the name. The masjid also contains the tombs of the Nizams dynasty except for the first and last Nizam.
Mecca Masjid
Mecca Masjid
It is quite difficult to walk through the lanes of old Hyderabad city without actually coming across a building or a mosque that has a bit of history attached to it. Although many of these heritage buildings are in dire need of maintenance, the rustic beauty of such localities does take one down a path of nostalgia.
Wondering where to stay in Hyderabad? Read about our experience at Holiday Inn Express, Banjara Hills here…

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86 COMMENTS

  5. The interior spaces in these buildings are just as magnificent. I love the intricate moldings and the the spare use of color.

  6. Every time I see photos of places we can visit in India, I marvel at the beauty and depth of choices. What a beautiful city this is.

  17. Those pictures are so inviting and beautiful. They really reflect the beautiful story of those places. I would definitely travel to each of them.

  19. Hyderabad has a beautiful architecture with lots of historical importance. I lived in Hyderabad and have seen some of them and have missed a few places like Nizam’s museum. Loved the grand Durbar Hall of Chowmallah Palace. Beautiful photos of a lovely city.

  20. I didn’t know anything about Hyderabad so thank you for this enlightening post. The acoustics would be incredible in Golconda Fort – that sounds amazing and almost spooky. The museum would be beautiful to visit too and see all those treasures and artefacts of the Nizam household. What wonderful history in this region.

  24. Wow Hyderabad has some incredible architectural sites! I’ve yet to visit India, but will be sure to remember this place if I ever do travel there.

  31. Stunning! I have always wanted to visit India. I think this city would be the first in my list. Thanks for the great info. 🙂

  32. Truly spectacular photos and amazing architecture you’ll never see here in the states! I have seen many India travel blogs lately and have to admit, it was never on the top of my travel bucket list, but I’m telling my husband now, to move it up the ladder!

  39. Hyderabad! Truly enjoy learning about these different places around the world. It looks like an amazing place to visit. Wondering what business lead you there initially. You mentioned that in your article. As an entrepreneur myself, there might be an opportunity to visit on business as well. — You never know. 🙂 Nice article!

  43. Visited Hyderabad twice and I must say it’s a beautiful city. Here I have written a post about things to do in Hyderabad. Would be happy if you visit and share your opinion 🙂

  46. I really dislike it when work takes away from the experience of the trip. What a wonderful place to see though!

  50. Hyderabad is truly a place of palaces, I haven’t seen all of them. I have heard very few of them from this list. Someday I am gonna take out many days vacation to have a proper Hyd tour.

  52. I am yet to visit Hyderabad in spite of the fact that my sister and best friend stay there. But I did fall in love with the city after reading “White Mughals”. Hyderabad is such a beautiful city steeped in history, art and architecture. And of course, I have heard great things about the food there. Loved reading about the tidbits of history of these iconic structures.

  53. I visited Hyderabad a couple of years ago and visited all the places you mentioned. Many people forget just how rich the history of this beautiful city is. I love that you included the Qutb Shahi Tombs in your article. At least when I visited, this place felt very empty and seemed like most tourists aren’t aware of it.

  55. Have had the opportunity to visit this historic city a couple of time and really admire the wealth it has in terms of history architecture and culture. My favourite is the charminaar as it reflects everything the nizami state is all about. The food around the area is to die for and a must for every visitor. The darbaar hall looks splendid and represents all the nizam stands for. Thanks for sharing.

  56. Hyderabad is indeed a historic city with a rich heritage and culture. These monuments take you back in time to the era of the Nizams and beyond. Golconda fort is our favourite and of course the iconic Charminar. Incidentally, we have been in Hyderabad recently and experienced the Ramadan vibes of Hyderabad around the Charminar.

  58. Wow, that’s a great list of historical places you get to visit just being in Hyderabad. I did not know about the Chowmahalla Palace and the Nizam’s Museum. The grand durbar hall looks elegant. Is there a fixed day tour to see all these places?

  59. I’m really hoping that India gets to by my next big trip! I just visited Sri Lanka last month and fell in love and I heard it’s very similar to India. I think I’m finally ready to take the leap!

  66. I love the spectacular architecture. I love history and love going to historical sites. There’s a mystique about Hyderabad

  67. Oh, lots of beautiful things to explore here. I bet this would really be fun vacation.. Thanks for sharing..!

  68. What an incredible part of India to visit. I’ve never been there, and now you’ve inspired me to visit Hyderabad. The palace is stunning!

  70. I’ve only recently started to hear more about Hyderabad and the more I hear and read about it, the more fascinating it becomes. It sounds like there is a lot of history to learn through visiting these different places which just look and sound stunning!

  73. Wow- there sure is a lot of history here. Our boys love both history and architecture so this would be an amazing place for us to take them!! So much to learn!

  74. Charminar looks beautiful, and I can imagine spending some time up there watching the activities of the city beneath, and people on their way between the bazaars. I’m very fond of my own humble tiffin box, and appreciate the beauty and ornate structure of its gold relative. That walk-in wardrobe is fascinating too; you could get your day’s step count while just choosing your outfit!

  76. Wow I love these historical places. Glad to know that there are so many in Hyderabad apart from Golconda and charminar.

  77. It is posts like these that give me the travel bug. My Husband and I want to travel so bad. All of these places look and sound amazing. We love history and love teaching his daughter about places. Thank you for sharing!

  79. Clearly, another beautiful place in India that I need to add to the list. I enjoyed my visit of India but my time was short and would love to return again soon.

  80. I absolutely enjoyed reading this blog. I love history and love visiting historical sites. Feels like it brought me to olden days.

  81. Truly, these are the best places to visit in Hyderabad with so many interesting and beautiful history to offer. I wasn’t here before, and I will make sure to include this in my bucket list of historical places to visit in the future. Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

  82. I had no idea there was so much to see! This is filled with so much useful information. India is on my Bucketlist so I will be saving this!

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