Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Hyderabad Attractions: The Highlights of Hyderabad

One of India's oldest cities, Hyderabad is a popular tourist destination as it boasts a wide range of interesting attractions. One of the best ways to explore the city is by booking a guided tour through your Hyderabad hotel, which will take you to places such as Golkunda Fort, Mecca Masjid and Ramoji Film City as well as a whole host of other important buildings, interesting museums and historical sites.

Charminar
Offering an impressive example of Cazia style of architecture, the Charminar has been built from granite and lime-mortar and dates back to the 16th century. This is without doubt one of the city's most famous landmarks and the Charminar is celebrated for its epic design features. Featuring large arches and towering minarets on each corner, the Charminar can be glimpsed from all parts of the city.

Golkunda Fort
Situated just 11kms to the west of Hyderabad, Golkunda Fort is one of the most popular attractions in this area of India. The is one of the country's most magnificent fortress complexes and the Golkunda Fort dates back to the 16th century. Once the centre of a prosperous diamond trade, the fort features a 10kms outer wall, while an impressive light and sound show is held here each evening from November to February.

Qutb Shahi Tombs
Consisting of seven different tombs, the Qutb Shahi Tombs have been made from green stone or black granite and feature octagonal bases. These domes are elaborately decorated with fine sculpture and feature onion-shaped domes. The reason that these tombs are so grand is that they serve as the final resting place of some of the leading figures in Hyderabad from the 17th century, including Abdullah Qutb Shah, Abul Hasan Tana Qutb Shahi, Muhammad Qutb Shah and Princess Hayat Baksh Begum.

Ramoji Film City
The largest film studio in the whole world, Ramoji Film City produces a large number of Telugu and Hindi films. Visitors can travel here in order to take a guided door of the studios, while two large Hyderabad hotels can also be found here and this is the perfect place to stay for those who are interested in the music and magic of India's vibrant film scene.

Mecca Masjid
One of the oldest and largest mosques in southern India, the Mecca Masjid can be found in the heart of Hyderabad's oldest section. Commissioned in 1617 by Muhammed Quli Qutub Shah, this magnificent mosque was finally completed in 1694 under the supervision of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. Built from granite, the Mecca Masjid features a beautiful interior, which attracts worshippers and sightseers from all over the globe.

Falaknuma Palace
Commissioned in 1872 by Nawab Viqar al-Umra, the Falaknuma Palace is simply stunning and an excellent place to explore to get a feel for how India's rulers once lived. While the surrounding gardens are extremely beautiful, the interior of the Falaknuma Palace is also worth checking out, as it contains the works of prominent Florentine sculptors as well as other enchanting items such as magnificent 100-seater dining table and intricately woven rugs and tapestries.

Hussain Sagar Lake
Located on Necklace Road, this picturesque artificial lake is one of Hyderabad's most prominent historical landmarks. The lake dates back to the 16th century, during the time of ruler Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah. The lake is an excellent place to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city and people travel here from every corner of Hyderabad to relax and unwind for a while. Hussain Sagar Lake is also surrounded by a number of pretty parks, statues, temples and historical buildings.

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