Hyderabad city in ANDHRA PRADESH india|Hyderabad Tourist places

HYDERABAD CITY : PARADISE OF INDIA


Hyderabad stay has enlightened my life in many ways . I just loved the beautiful city ,with peaceful life,spacious houses ,historic places to visit, hyderbadi pearls (moti) & bangles in chudi bazaar from charminar ,simple people & Last but not the least the multi variety ,delicious & royal hyderabadi & andhra cuisine.According to me if there is paradise in india its hyderabad .

I have tasted both hyderabadi cuisine & typical andhra cuisine & my verdict is its simply superb ,one will keep licking his /her fingers .Not only that it was here that I learnt to make various hyderabadi & andhra dishes & not to forget the numerous chutneys & variety in dosas & idlis.

Today I would like to blog  about this beautiful city &  Tourist places  out of which I have personally visited few spots.

Hyderabad is the capital and largest city of the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. It was ruled by the Qutub Shahis, Mughals and the Nizams which shaped up its history. The city is noted for its monuments which includes the masterpiece of Charminar and the fort of Golconda. There are multitude of masjids, temples, churches and bazaars in the city. Tourism industry forms an important role in the economy of Hyderabad. Tourism-related fairs are held regularly in the city.
Hyderabad is known as The City of Pearls, as once it was the only global center of large diamonds and natural pearls trade.Many traditional and historical bazaars are located around the city.The Laad Bazaar situated near Charminar has shops that sell pearls, jewellery and products such as silverware, Nirmal, Kalamkari paintings and artifacts, bidriware, lacquer bangles studded with stones, saris, handwoven materials silk and cotton ware are made.

The city of smiles, of lights, of a thousand faces, endearingly called the Pearl City, Hyderabad offers a variety of tourist attractions ranging from Heritage monuments, Lakes and Parks, Gardens and Resorts, Museums to delectable cuisine and a delightful shopping experience. To the traveller, Hyderabad offers a fascinating panorama of the past, with a richly mixed cultural and historical tradition spanning 400 colourful years. Some of the tourist attractions inclu
The official language of Hyderabad is Telugu but there are various other regional languages spoken by the people of the state of Andhra Pradesh. English is used for official and commercial purposes. Most people on the streets understand and converse in English. The other languages popular here in Hyderabad are Urdu and Hindi.

Weather in Hyderabad is very pleasant exception being summer season which is too hot . Temperature in Hyderabad ranges from 11°C to 42°C.

Following is a list of tourist attractions in Hyderabad:

Charminar :

The Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris. Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the founder of Hyderabad, built Charminar in 1591 at the centre of the original city layout. It is said to be built as a charm to ward off a deadly epidemic raging at that time. Four graceful minarets soar to a height of 48.7 m above the ground. Charminar has 45 prayer spaces and a mosque in it. Visitors can view the architectural splendour inside the Charminar. The monument is illuminated in the evenings and a pedestrianisation project around the monument is under implementation.

Laad Baazar/ CHUDI BAZAAR :

This is famous, colourful shopping centre of the old city, tucked away in one of the streets leading off from Charminar. Bridal wear, Pearls and the traditional Hyderabadi glass and stone studded bangles / Lac ki chudi /lacquer bangles with studded stones  are sold here.

Hyderabad Pearls :

Hyderabad has always been referred to as the “city of pearls” even though it is far away from the sea. Some of the famous pearl shops in Hyderabad are: Mangatrai (Patthargatti and Basheerbagh), Kedarnathji Motiwale and Jagadamba (Charminar, Begumpet and M G Road ).







Mecca Masjid:

A two hundred yards southwest of the Charminar is the Mecca Masjid, so named because the bricks were brought from Mecca to build the central arch. The Qutb Shahis never finished the building of the mosque, which was completed by Aurangzeb in 1694.A Symbolic Mosque, Mecca Masjid was built 400 years back during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah, the 6th Qutub Shahi Sultan of Hyderabad. The three arched facades have been carved from a single piece of granite, which took five years to quarry. More than 8,000 workers were employed to build the mosque. Muhammed Qutub Shah personally laid the foundation stone of the 'mosque'.


Golconda Fort

Golconda is one of the famous forts of India. The name originates from the Telugu words “Golla Konda” meaning “Shepherd’s Hill”. The origins of the fort can be traced back to the Yadava dynasty of Deogiri and the Kakatiyas of Warangal. Golconda was originally a mud fort, which passed to the Bahmani dynasty and later to the Qutb Shahis, who held it from 1518 to 1687 A.D. The first three Qutb Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a span of 62 years. The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben gun, one of the cannons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell.

Sound & Light Show at Golconda Fort: 

The glorious past of Golconda Fort is narrated effectively with matchless Sound and Light effects. The unique Sound & Light Show takes you right back in time, when Golconda was full of life, glory and grandeur.


 RAMOJI FILM CITY /RFC :

It is the world’s largest integrated film studio cum theme park, at nearly 3,000 acres (8 km²). It is also one of Asia’s most popular tourism and recreation centres. Recently, it has made its way to the Guinness Book of World Records for being the largest film studio in the world. Opened in 1996, it is about 20 min. drive from Hyderabad on Vijayawada Highway.Ramoji Film City, a tribute to the bewitching magic of cinema, is the dream destination for entertainment and relaxation. Millions of tourists from all over the world come to the complex every month to revel in its infinite leisure and recreation options. Spread over idyllic 2,500 acres and studded with hills, woods, lakes and striking architectural triumphs, Ramoji Film City is one of Asia's fastest growing tourism destinations.

Birla Mandir (Venkateswara Temple) :

This white marble temple of Lord Venkateshwara floats on the city skyline, on Kala Pahad. The idol in the temple is a replica of the one at Tirumala Tirupati.







Shilparamam (The Arts & Crafts Village) :
Another attraction at Madhapur besides Hi-tec city in Hyderabad is the 30-acre village, which showcases arts and crafts of the country. India is an ocean of various arts and crafts but the talent of most of the artisans and artists goes unrecognized. To encourage them and give the necessary boost to their art, the crafts village hosts annual bazaars, where artists and artisans from all over the country exhibit their talent.

Located opposite Cyber Towers, HITEC city, it is an arts and crafts village which was conceived with an idea to create an environment for the preservation of traditional crafts such as sculpting wonders from stone, weaving in cotton, silk and gold thread, Dhaka muslin, Kondapalli toys, Bankura horses, gudda-guddis of Punjab, temple arts and a motley of Indian arts and crafts. Close to this is the Shilpakala vedika, a conference hall built with exquisite ethnic decor as well as with all state-of-the-art facilities.

Hussainsagar Lake :

Excavated in 1562 A.D. by Hussain Shah Wali during the time of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah, the lake has a promenade that is a busy thoroughfare today. Boating and water sports are a regular feature in the Hussainsagar. One of the World’s tallest monolithic statues of the Buddha stands on the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’, in the middle of the lake. Added to all these, AP Tourism has additional boating facilities like speed boats, motor boats, 48 seater launch etc. Starlit dinner on-board and private parties also can be arranged on the Launch.
Surroundings of Hussainsagar Lake provide marvellous entertainment options like NTR Gardens, Necklace Road, Tank Bund, Prasads Multiplex, Lumbini Park, Sanjeevaiah Park etc

Nehru Zoological Park

Spanning 300 lush green acres, the Nehru Zoological Park is a must for nature lovers. It has over 250 species of animals and birds, most of which are kept in conditions as close to their natural habitats as possible. This is the first zoo to create moated enclosures for animals. The Lion Safari Park, Natural History Museum and Children’s Train are the added attractions.

Chilkur Balaji Temple

The Balaji Temple is located at Chilkur in the Hyderabad district. It is 33 Kms away from Mehdipatnam. Approximately 75,000 to 1,00,000 devotees visit in a week. Generally temple gets heavy rush on Saturdays and Sundays. Set in sylvan surroundings, the temple attracts thousands of pilgrims every year and is an ideal place for sequestered retreat and meditation.Its also known as visa balaji.

DHOLA RI DHANI – ‘an ethnic rajasthani resort’  

Spend an evening the Maharajah way! Enjoy the ambience of the ethnic Rajasthani styled resort. Apart from the exquisite cuisine we serve, you could also take a cool dip in the pool, laugh your heart out with our ventriloquist who will also amaze you with a trick or two, the daily cultural programme evoking the golden era completed by the exclusive handicrafts showroom for amazing shopping discounts, puppet shows and lots of amazing games…
 

Qutb Shahi Tombs:
The tombs of the legendary Qutb Shahi kings lie about a kilometre away from Banjara Darwaza of the Golconda Fort. Planned and built by the Qutb Shahis themselves, these tombs are said to be the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. They form a large group and stand on a raised platform. The tombs are built in Persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles using grey granite, with stucco ornamentation, the only one of its kind in the world where an entire dynasty has been buried at one place.

Birla Planetarium: 
Birla Planetarium is India’s most modern planetarium and first of its kind in the country. It is equipped with advanced technology from Japan and is built on Naubat Pahad adjacent to Kala Pahad. And the Science Museum stands tribute to the advancement achieved by Science and Technology.

Srisailam /Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Temple:

Srisailam (Telugu: శ్రీశైలం) is a holy town and mandal, situated in Nallamala Hills of kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh, India. It is on the banks of River Krishna, about 212 km south of Hyderabad. Bhramaramba Mallikarjunaswamy Temple dedicated to Lord Mallikarjuna Swamy (a form of Shiva) and Devi Bhramaramba (a form of Parvathi) is located here and it is one of the 12 Jyotirlinga temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Srisailam Dam, located about 212 km from Hyderabad and 132 km from Nandyal, is a multipurpose dam built across River Krishna and caters to the irrigation and power needs of the state.
 
Salar Jung Museum

This museum houses one of the biggest one-man collections of antiques of the world by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III. The objects d’art include Persian carpets, Moghal miniatures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquerware, famous statues including the Veiled Rebecca and Marguerite and Mephistopheles, a superb collection of jade, daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jahan and the Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb’s sword and many other fabulous items.


AP State Archaeological Museum :

A visit to the Andhra Pradesh State Archaeological Museum is a delight for art lovers. Located in the picturesque Public Gardens, the museum boasts of one of the richest repositories of antiques and art objects in the country. Built in 1920 by the Nizam VII, the museum building itself is a fine example of Indo-Saracenic architecture. The museum contains a Buddhist gallery, Brahmanical & Jain gallery, Bronze gallery, Arms & Armour gallery, Numismatics gallery, Ajanta gallery and more. Adjacent to the State Museum is the Contemporary Art Museum.

Public Gardens:

Hyderabad has several beautiful gardens, one of the most popular being the Public Gardens, which also encloses the State Legislature, State Archaeological Museum, Jubilee Hall, Jawahar Bal Bhavan and Telugu Lalita Kala Thoranam, an open-air theatre.





KBR National Park :



One of the largest parks within the city KBR National Park is a Southern tropical deciduous forest and the last vestigial representative of the endemic flora of Hyderabad region, with over 100 species of birds, 20 species of reptiles and 15 species of butterflies.A sanctuary for Peacocks and Anteaters along with many other species including Monkeys and Snakes, the sanctuary is the green spot of the richest area of the city, Jubilee Hills.


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 Mrugavani National Park
 Located at Chilkur, 25 km. from Hyderabad, the park contains the endemic flora of Hyderabad and is an urban refuge for small mammals like wildboar, jungle cat etc. and birds.
 

 Mahavir Harina Vanasthali National Park 
Located 15 Km. from Hyderabad, the park has more than 350 black bucks, 400 cheetals and a number of wild boars, small mammals, reptiles and over 100 species of birds.
 

 Hyderabad Botanical Gardens

The first Botanical Gardens in Andhra Pradesh, spread over 120 acres. Already open to public is the first phase, with the completion of some sections. The sections include medicinal plants, timber trees, fruit trees, ornamental plants, aquatic plants and bamboos. The Park has been designed to have large water bodies, Rolling Meadows, natural forests rich grasslands and exquisite rock formations.
 

Lumbini Park :

Lumbini Park is a small public, urban park of 7.5 acres (0.030 km2; 0.0117 sq mi) adjacent to Hussain Sagar lake in the busy Necklace Road area and is one of the popular parks in the city. It is being maintained by Buddha Purnima Project Authority since 2000.[34] The main attractions of this park are the boat rides take you across the lake to give you a closer glimpse of the Buddha statue of Hussain sagar lake and 1500 seater Laserium, the first of its kind in the state. One of the major terrorist acts took place here on 25 August 2007 in which 44 people were killed.


NTR Gardens

This leisure spot is located beside the IMAX theatre. Situated on 36 acres (150,000 m2) of land adjoining the Hussain sagar, these gardens provide of entertainment and recreation to families and youth alike. It also houses a memorial of Late Shri N.T.Rama Rao, former Chief Minister. It is renowned for its creative design which includes tree-top restaurants and architecture






Hitec City

One of the modern monuments of trade and technology, it embodies the newfound attitude of Hyderabad and today finds a place of pride. Situated on the outskirts of the city, it is the nucleus of Cyberabad, the IT destination in this part of the world. Cyber Towers is the main building here.
 


Osmansagar Lake :

Osmansagar, better known as Gandipet, on the outskirts of Hyderabad is an excellent picnic spot. Osmansagar is one of the two lakes on the city’s periphery that supplies drinking water to the great metropolis. The lake is a reservoir created by a dam across the Isa, a tributary of the River Musi. Abutting the lake and the bund are lush gardens that provide the ideal ambience for an outing. Overlooking the lake is the heritage building, Sagar Mahal, built as a resort by the Nizam of Hyderabad and converted now into a lake resort managed by AP Tourism.
 



The Nizam‘S Silver Jubilee Museum :

The stately Purani Haveli, the palace acquired around the year 1750 by the second Nizam, is now converted into a museum with a fascinating collection. The museum exhibits the gifts and mementos presented to the last Nizam on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations in 1937. A 1930 Rolls Royce, Packard and a Mark V Jaguar are among the vintage cars displayed. There is an interesting collection of models made in silver of all the prominent buildings of the city and citations in Urdu about H.E.H. Mir Osman Ali Khan, gold burnished wooden throne used for the silver jubilee celebrations, gold tiffin box inlaid with diamonds, and a gold model of Jubilee Pavilion.