Monuments

Charminar, Hyderabad

The Charminar is as much the signature of Hyderabad as the Taj Mahal is of Agra or the Eiffel Tower is of Paris.

It is a magnificent square edifice of granite, built upon four grand arches facing North, South, East and West. These arches support two floors of rooms and gallery of archways. At each corner of the square structure is a minaret rising to a height of 24 meters, making the building nearly 54 meters tall. It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name Charminar. Each minar stands on a lotus-leaf base, a special recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings

The first floor was used as a madarasa (college) during the Qutub Shahi period. The second floor has a mosque on the western side, the dome of which is visible from the road, if one stands some distance away. A spectacular view of the city may be had from the roof of the Charminar, although, due to severe overcrowding of the minarets, only visitors with special permission from the Archaeological Survey of India, Hyderabad Circle are allowed to go to the top of the minarets. The clocks above each of the four archways were added in 1889.

Walking around the Charminar area, one is constantly surprised by vestiges of the past intermingling with the present. Towards the Southeast of the Charminar is located imposing edifice of the Nizamia Unani Hospital. About 50m to the West, the line of shops in Lad Bazaar is interupted by an old, crumbling brown wall, which marks the entrance to the old Nizama?s Jilau Khana (parade ground). The grounds are now being used for the development of a large commercial complex. Further down, a road to the left leads to the Khilawat Complex (Chowmahalla Palace). The Lad Bazaar road terminates in a square called Mahaboob Chowk where a large 19th century clock-tower looms over a delicate white mosque of the same period.

Timings people are allowed (only in the cellar of the monument) all the day and during night times till 100 clock.

How to Reach This Place

Road : Hyderbad, being Capital city is well conected by Road from all major cities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharastra and Orissa.

Rail : Being headquarter of South Central Railway , Well connected from all major cities of India. Hyderabad & Secunderabad Rly Stations.

Air : Has international airport.

Golconda Fort, Hyderabad

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 Kakatiyas period 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, factories, 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.

1st Show (English-All days)
Nov-Feb 6.30 pm to 7.30 pm
Mar-Oct 7.00 pm to 8.00 pm
2nd Show (Telugu- The, Thu & Sat)
Nov-Feb 7.45 pm to 8.45 pm
Mar-Oct 8.15 pm to 9.15 pm
2nd Show (Hindi-Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun)
Nov-Feb 7.45 pm to 8.45 pm
Mar-Oct 8.15 pm to 9.15 pm

How to Reach This Place

Road : Hyderbad, being Capital city is well conected by Road from all major cities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharastra and Orissa.

Rail : Being headquarter of South Central Railway , Well connected from all major cities of India. Hyderabad & Secunderabad Rly Stations.

Air : Has international airport.

Falaknuma Palace, Hyderabad

Falaknuma Palace is situated in Falaknuma, about 4 km South of Charminar. It stands on a hill overlooking the city of Hyderabad. It is a magnificent palace. "The edifice had the same importance in Hyderabad in the near past as the Palace of Kremlin had in Moscow" says Dharmendra prasad. Falaknuma served as the royal guest house for the rulers of Hyderabad, King George and Queen Mary, king Edward-VIII, then Prince of Wale. Falaknuma palace is a masterpiece designed by an Italian architect. The marble used was specially imported from Italy.

How to Reach This Place

Road : Hyderbad, being Capital city is well conected by Road from all major cities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharastra and Orissa.

Rail : Being headquarter of South Central Railway , Well connected from all major cities of India. Hyderabad & Secunderabad Rly Stations.

Air : Has international airport.

Osmania University, Hyderabad

Established in 1918, it is one of the oldest universities in India. Named after Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, the university buildings are splendid, especially the Arts College building which is a perfect example of Indo-Saracenic architecture

How to Reach This Place

Road : Hyderbad, being Capital city is well conected by Road from all major cities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharastra and Orissa.

Rail : Being headquarter of South Central Railway , Well connected from all major cities of India. Hyderabad & Secunderabad Rly Stations.

Air : Has international airport.

Purani Haveli, Hyderabad

Purani Haveli is situated to the South east of Afzal Gunj Bridge near Dewandevdi. This is also a building based on Western architecture and noted for its cultural and historical background. When the layout of the city of Hyderabad was being planned, the ruler of the kingdom, Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah earmarked a large estate for the residence of Hazrat Mir Momin, his Chief Adviser and peshwa (Prime Minister), who widely emerged as a saint and as a statesman.

The main building is reminiscent of the 18th Century European architecture. Although the buildings in the complex were constructed in the second half of the 19th Century during the reign of the sixth Nizam, Nawab Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Bahadur, the seventh Nizam, Nawab Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur added the auxiliary buildings with spacious court yards.

How to Reach This Place

Road : Hyderbad, being Capital city is well conected by Road from all major cities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Maharastra and Orissa.

Rail : Being headquarter of South Central Railway , Well connected from all major cities of India. Hyderabad & Secunderabad Rly Stations.

Air : Has international airport.

Paigah Tombs, Hyderabad

There are many tombs of several generations of the Paigah nobles including Asman Jah, Viqar-ul-Umara and Shams-ul-Umara. The tombs are magnificent structures, decorated in stuccowork, and represent the Asaf Jahi and Rajasthani styles. The geometrical designs in the Paigah Tombs are unique and perforated with screens. This style is unique to the Paigah tombs and is not found elsewhere in the world.