Charms of Hyderabad

The original city of Hyderabad was found on the banks of river Musi. Now known as the historic Old City, it is home to the Charminar and Mecca Masjid. The heart of the city was shifted to the north of the river, with the construction of many government buildings and landmarks there, especially south of the Hussain Sagar Lake. The rapid growth of the city, along with the merging of Hyderabad, 12 municipal circles and the Cantonment has resulted in a large, united and populous area.

Ruled by the Qutub Shahi dynasty, the city has a history of 425 years. The capital Bhagyanagar was named after a royal beloved Bhagyamati, who later became the wife of Quli Qutub Shah and got the name Hyder Mahal and thus was born Hyderabad.

07:30 AM – 08:30 AM

Breakfast at the Hotel.

09:00 AM – 10:00 AM

After breakfast our tour starts. On the way to the Charminar, we pass by the Assembly Building. It is the first Legislative Assembly that came into being on 1st March 1952 in the old state of Hyderabad. Next to it is the Mozamjahi Market famous for its old shops, Osmania Hospital, which is one of a kind building, and then the High Court. You may have short photo stop in these places to capture the beauty of these century old buildings.

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM – Hi Tea

10:30 AM – 11:00 AM – Charminar

The Charminar is a two storied building with the first floor being covered. The grand structure received its name from the four minarets which stands in the four corners of the building in the center of the city. Charminar is square shaped and the minarets have four levels with level circled by a ring around the minaret.

Though it is the perfect epitome of Shahi architecture, there are clear elements of Hindu architecture visible on the monument. Though the arches and domes are of Islamic architecture, which is explicit, the ornamentation is primarily Hindu style. It was constructed using granite and lime-mortar. The floral designs and water screens enhance the monument’s beauty and elegance. It also offers excellent view of the Golconda Fort which reiterates the glorious times of Hyderabad when it was under the reign of Qutub Shahi and the Golconda rulers.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Mecca Masjid & Jama Masjid

Photo stop at the Mecca Masjid and the Jama Masjid. Know the history of the oldest and biggest Mosque in the city.

Mecca Masjid: The atmosphere inside the mosque is very peaceful and serene and, therefore, one can offer their prayers in solitude amidst a holy environment. You will be amazed to see the elegant designs carved on the arches and the Quran’s Verses etched on the walls of the mosque.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Laad Bazaar

We start the walking tour of Laad Bazaar. You may shop for the specialties of Hyderabad here. Laad Bazaar is the main market for bangles, semi-precious stones, pearls, jewellery, products such as silverware, Nirmal, Kalamari paintings, bidriware, lacquer bangles studded with stones, saris and hand-woven materials of silk, cotton, brocade, velvet and gold embroidered fabrics, traditional Khara Dupattas, lacquer bangles and perfumes.

01:00 PM – 02:00 PM – Chowmahalla palace

The Chowmahalla Palace in Hyderabad was at one time the seat of the Asaf Jahi Dynasty and was constructed with a reason to take care of Royal guests and visitors. Every area is so complicatedly composed that it shows Nizam’s charm. The design of the castle has been impacted by numerous styles of engineering and comprises a southern yard and northern patio, complete with gardens and wellsprings.

In the Chowmahalla Palace, you can likewise investigate a restrictive gathering of pictures from the former period. Aside from those you may also see the vintage autos, ceramics, furniture, surreys and troupes.

02:30 PM – 03:30 PM – Lunch

04:10 PM – 04:30 PM – Qutub Shahi tombs

Visit the Qutub Shahi Tombs. These 21 magnificent domed granite tombs, with almost as many mosques, sit serenely in landscapes gardens about 2kms northwest of Golconda Fort, where many of their occupants spent large part of their lives. The tombs great domes are mounted on cubical basis, many of which have beautiful colonnades and delicate lime stucco ornaments.

04:45 PM: Hi Tea

 05:30 PM – 08:00 PM – Golconda (Includes Sound & Light show)

Golconda Fort derives its name from a Telugu word ‘Golla Konda’ which means Shepherd’s Hill. With its extensive and elevated fortifications, it was a landmark that governed the destiny of the south back then. The fort originally belongs to the Kakatiyas of Warangal. This is testified by the over-door carvings and relief work in stucco consisting of lions, peacocks, griffins and lotus at the entrance of fort. In 1363 AD, it was passed on to the Baihmanis. After their downfall in 1518 it became the capital of the Qutub Shahi.

By the 17th century, Golconda was famous as a Diamond Market. It gave the world some of the best known diamonds like  the Koh-I-Noor, the Hope and the Orloff of Catherine the Great.

08:30 PM – 09:30 PM – Dinner

Drop back at the hotel.

07:30 AM – 08:30 AM

Breakfast at the Hotel.

09:00 AM – 09:30 AM – Birla Mandir

We visit the famous Hindu temple Birla Mandir. The temple manifests a blend of Dravidian,   Rajasthani and  Utkala architectures. It is constructed of 2000 tons of pure white marble.

11:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Tea Break

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM – Purani Haveli

Visit Purani Haveli. It was the official residence of the Nizam. It was also known as Haveli Khadeem, which means old mansion. The main building is a symbol of 18th century European architecture. Sikander Jha lived here for some time and later shifted to Khilwat Mahal. Due to this, these buildings are called Purani Haveli.

12:45 PM – 02:00 PM – Salar Jung Museum

Located on the southern bank of Musi River in Hyderabad, this museum is known to be the largest one-man collection in the world and serves as a paradise for the art lovers.

The Salar Jung family has a glorious past with great qualities of statesmanship for generations and rich contributions from the family towards the vast collection of art objects, manuscripts and printed books, which now find a place in the museum. It is a repository of the artistic achievements of diverse European, Asian and Far Eastern countries of the world.

02:15 PM – 03:15 PM – Lunch

04:00 PM – 04:45 PM – Shilparamam

Shilparamam recreates the setting of an Indian village, with 15 life-sized huts exhibiting the life of artisans. It houses numerous stalls selling textiles and handicrafts from Telangana and other parts of India. Other attractions include food courts, an art gallery, a rock museum, a sculpture park and boating in a lake surrounded by plantations. It also hosts a vibrant night bazaar called Shilp Sandhya Vedika with stalls of food and clothes.

04:50 PM – 05:45 PM – Hi Tea

06:30 PM – 07:30 PM – Hussain Sagar Lake

Hussain Sagar Lake is one of the largest Man Made Lake in Asia. There are boats available which take you to the “ROCK OF GIBRALTER” where Lord Buddha statue is placed.

An 18-meter high monolithic statue of Lord Buddha towers over the lake from atop the Rock of Gibralter. This boulevard is complete with beautiful lawns, restaurants, recreational facilities and good views of the city of Hyderabad.

08:00 PM -09-00 PM – Dinner

Drop back at the hotel.

                                                                                                  TOUR ENDS