Hyderabad

Understand

If you are visiting Hyderabad on business, it is easy to miss the 400-year-old city. The city that immediately hits the eye is a sprawling metropolis of shopping malls and office buildings with glass façades. The magnificent "old city" that was once the seat of the Nizam, the ruler of the largest and the most opulent princely state, and the twin city of Secunderabad where the British maintained a cantonment to keep the army within striking distance of the Nizam, can be seen only if you take the time out to see them.

Name The name "Hyderabad" (Telugu: HIGH-duhr-AH-bahd, Urdu/Hindi: HEH-duhr-AH-bahd) literally means "Lion City" in Persian. A popular legend suggests that the founder of the city, Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, named it "Bhagyanagar" ("Fortunate City") after Bhagmati, a Telugu courtesan he had an affair with. After she converted to Islam and took on the name of "Hyder Mahal", he renamed the city to "Hyderabad". Hyderabad's many epithets include the City of Pearls, the City of Nizam, the Biryani City, and historically, Farkhunda Bunyad ("Of Auspicious Foundation").

History

Hyderabad was built on a grid plan with help from Iranian architects. French traveller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier favourably compared Hyderabad to Orléans. In the 10th century, the kings of the Kakatiya dynasty built the fortress of Golconda (from Telugu Gollakoṇḍa (గొల్లకొండ), literally the "shepherds' hill"), about 10 km to the west of what is now old city. Over the next few centuries, the fort became a major centre of diamond trade fed by the mines of Kollur, so much so that the word "golconda" became synonymous with great wealth. The fort changed hands many times before it came under the control of Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk in 1463. He had quelled rebellion in the Telangana region and was appointed the subedar, or administrator of the region by the Bahmani sultan as a result. By 1518, he had become independent from the sultan, declared himself the Sultan under the name "Quli Qutb Shah" and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty. His son Ibrahim constructed the Hussain Sagar Lake in 1563, and in 1589, his grandson Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah moved his capital from the fort to present-day Old City due to water shortages at the old location. In 1591, he ordered the construction of the Charminar, reportedly in gratitude to Allah for stopping a plague epidemic before it could do too much damage. The Qutb Shahi dynasty lasted till 1687, when the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb defeated the sultanate and took over Hyderabad. He appointed a governor to rule the region and granted him the title of Niza

Getting there

By plane 1 Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD IATA), Shamshabad (22 km (14 mi) from the city centre), ☏ +91-40-66546370, [email protected]. The sleek and well-organised airport is one of the best in India. It has one integrated terminal (although passengers departing on international flights must now complete security, immigration and customs at the interim international terminal first, then go to the main terminal, with a free shuttle and premium check-in available) as well as a special Hajj terminal. (updated May 2023) As you would expect from a major international airport, there is good domestic as well as international connectivity from many locations. It is far from the city, and with the exception of Novotel, there aren't any good hotels close by. Road connectivity to the city is excellent, though. The Nehru Outer Ring Road Expressway connects to the airport - take exit 16. The P V Narasimha Rao Expressway connects the airport with Mehdipattnam in South Hyderabad. There are multiple options to get into the city. The Pushpak - Airport Liner, an air-conditioned bus service operated by the Telangana government, goes to various designated points - Secunderabad (Jubilee Bus Station), Miyapur, BHEL and the Mahatma Gandhi Bus terminal (Imlibun) near Charminar. These routes cover most major areas of the city. The airport website has detailed information about pickup and stop points, along with timings. Tickets cost between ₹106 and ₹265 depending on the bus stop. The frequency of the buses is 10-40 minutes depending on time of the day and route. Meru and Sky cabs are the two metered cab services approved by the airport @ ₹20/km. You can book your rides at counters in the airport departure area and they are available just after exiting the terminal building. The two major app-based ride-hailing services, Ola and Uber, are also available. You can book your ride using the app at the baggage carousel, walk into the designated area where the cabs are waiting and get into any that is available. There is a pre-paid taxi counter operated by the Hyderabad Traffic Police. That is also a good option. Another pre-paid option, available only for women, is the She Cab, a government service that features cabs driven only by women drivers. You can avail yourself of this service as long as at least one of the passengers is a woman. Beware of taxi soliciting touts at the airport greeting area; they will try to charge exorbitant rates. There are other counters where you can hire a taxi. These may be on the more expensive side, but the cars will be more

Getting around

Hyderabad's public transport options have been increasing over the years. It has an overcrowded bus network and a rudimentary local train network. In the past 5 years, it has had its own elevated metro rail service that provides fast and cheap connectivity to some areas. The ubiquitous yellow and black auto-rickshaws have now been supplemented by the app-based taxi services that provide fairly good service all over the city. Driving yourself around the city may be an excellent option or a terrible choice, depending on which areas you want to go to, and how comfortable you are with other people driving like utter lunatics.

By metro

The Hyderabad Metro is a fast, clean and efficient mode of travel, and is better than driving or taking a cab for the areas it serves. Trains run at every 4 minutes from early morning to late in the night. The trains run on an elevated corridor. Ticketing and platforms are above ground level. Lifts from street level are available at all stations. Many stations have escalators as well. You can buy single journey tickets or reloadable cards. Ticket vending machines are available but may not work reliably. Parking is available in most stations, but car parking is likely to be inadequate during rush hours. Bike parking is more available. A couple of stations have shopping malls with adequate parking areas attached to them. The metro has a tie-up with Ola, which has installed kiosks at all stations to easily order a cab to get you to your destination. Ticket prices start from ₹10, while ₹60 will take you from one end of the city to another. Signage at the stations and the trains is quite good and is available in all three languages, including English. Announcements in the trains are clear and helpful, and overall, the travel experience is a pleasant one. The metro has three lines: Red, Blue and Green connecting 57 stations.

The Red Line starts from Miyapur in North Hyderabad, goes via Central and Old City and terminates at L B Nagar in East Hyderabad. The Blue Line supports West Hyderabad, Secunderabad and East Hyderabad. It starts at Raidurg at HITEC City, and ends at Nagole. The Green Line connects Secunderabad and the Old City, starting at Jubilee Bus Station and terminates at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS). Ameerpet, Parade Ground and MGBS are the interchanges where easy transfers between lines are available.

By train The Multi-Modal Transport System, or MMTS, is the result of Hyderabad's earlier attempt to set up a local-train network. It serves only a few places in Hyderabad. The peak frequency is about every 1

See

Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles As you would expect from a city with a rich heritage, Hyderabad has many historical monuments, but there is much more to see. While the specific attractions are on the district pages, here is a quick rundown of attractions to visit and where they are located:

Monuments By Indian standards, Hyderabad's monuments are not very old, which means that they are better preserved. Many of the attractions including the iconic Charminar are in Old City, albeit the even older Golconda Fort and Qutb Shahi Tombs in Golconda. In Central Hyderabad, you find some of the major attractions built after independence, such as the Buddha Statue located on an island in the midst of the Hussain Sagar Lake, and the Birla Mandir.

Museums and galleries Hyderabad offers a feast for history buffs. It has many museums and palaces displaying historical objects collected by the Nizams or their aristocrats, the most recognizable among them being the Salar Jung Museum. The Chowmahalla and Falaknuma palaces, both under private ownership, have artefacts, photographs and memorabilia from the times of the Nizams, and there is a Nizam's Museum as well. All of these are in Old City. The Banjara Hills area has some art galleries including the State Gallery of Art.

Lakes There are quite a few artificial lakes and water bodies in and around Hyderabad, built over the past few centuries to alleviate the water shortage. Hussain Sagar Lake at the centre of the city is a major waterfront attraction, surrounded by parks, statues and monuments. Durgam Cheruvu which opened in 2019, is a natural lake in Cyberabad and worth a visit. Osman Sagar and Mir Alam Tank are also worth a mention. There are many others in and around the city in varying states of upkeep.

Parks Hyderabad certainly does not lack green spaces. The Nehru Zoological Park in South Hyderabad has a decent collection of animals and birds. The Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park (KBR Park), spread over 1.6 sq km between Jubilee and Banjara Hills, serves as the lungs of the city, with a wide variety of flora and fauna. Around Hussain Sagar Lake you will find many gardens and amusement parks, the largest among them being NTR Gardens and Sanjeevaiah Park. In Cyberabad, Botanical Gardens, Biodiversity Park and Shilparamam are worth visiting.

Ramoji Film City The Ramoji Film City is a destination that does not easily fit into any of the other categories. The world's largest film studio and also a theme park modelled on Universal Studios. Many Telugu and Hindi films

Do

Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles

Many resorts and amusement parks offer adventure sports, watersports and other rides. While some are located within the city, most are found on the outskirts.

Heritage walk, Charminar. 07:00-09:00 every Su and 2nd Sa. They are organized by the Telangana tourism department and led by a knowledgeable guide and Tourist Police. There are several types of walks: one that ends at Chowmohalla palace, and another that ends at Badshahi Ashoorkhana. Bonus: breakfast served too. It's probably better to call beforehand and confirm which walk is operating. Ticket price is ₹50 per head and can be bought at Char Minar on the spot. Friends of Snakes Society, ☏ +91 83 74233366-77-88. For reptile conservation work and field trips. Play cricket- Cricket is also a popular sport in Hyderabad. Hyderabad has the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. It is the home ground for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Hatsclub Hyderabad Adventure & Trekker’s club (HAT’s), ☏ +91 7799096396, [email protected]. Active and well-organised trekker’s group organising out of the Hyderabad area. It makes an effort to be as inclusive as possible by offering adventure treks at all levels, from bouldering and trekking to birdwatching and exploring wilderness.

Buy

Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles Supermarkets in Hyderabad include Spencer's, Big Bazaar, Heritage Fresh, Ikea, Metro Cash & Carry, Reliance Fresh, D Mart, Monarch Ergo lulu, Ratnadeep, Ushodaya and others. Most of them have multiple locations.

Eat

Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles

No visit to Hyderabad would be complete without sampling its unique cuisine, a rich blend of royal Mughlai flavours, Nizams special, and spice-up culinary traditions of South India such as: Hyderabadi biryani, pathar-ka-ghosht, nahari, haleem, double-ka-meetha, khubani-ka-meetha, seviyon-ka-meetha and kheer. A popular dish of Hyderabad is biryani. It is prepared with a blending of Mughal kitchen and the style of cooking practised by the Nizams. Hyderabadi biryani has a distinct aroma. Garnished with pudina, fried onion & boiled eggs. Mostly it is served with dahi-ki-chutney and mirchi-ka-salan. Biryani was traditionally made with goat meat, but in modern times it has many variants like lamb biryani, chicken biryani, biryani khaam, biryani zard or zafrani or the most exotic of all joban malti biryani in which mutton, partridges and quails were cooked with rice.

There are many stories about biryani. One of them says, in 1398 legend Turk-Mongol conqueror Timur brought a pot full of rice to feed this army. Culinary delicacies of Hyderabad include:

Hyderabadi dum biryani. Dum refers to the baking process and basmati rice and meat or vegetables are mixed in a pot and heated for a long time. During the Nizam's time, the biryani was made with goat carefully cooked with rice. (updated Mar 2025) Double Ka Meetha. A dessert made from bread, milk and dry fruits. (updated Mar 2025) Falooda. A favourite drink of Hyderabad. (updated Mar 2025) Gosht. Made from a buck/billy/young goat, and is associated with the Hyderabadi cuisine. Hyderabadis prize the meat of a male goat. (updated Mar 2025) Hyderabadi Haleem. A dish that is available only during the month of Ramadaan (Ramzan). (updated Mar 2025) Irani chai. This is the tea of Hyderabad, available at any of the ubiquitous "Chai" shops. However, not all of them have the best hygiene and it is best to go with a local. The crowd at the stalls is composed mainly of blue-collar workers and college students so expect a noisy environment with conversational topics that range from movies to politics. (updated Mar 2025) Kachchi gosht ki biriyani, of Hyderabad, where raw meat is stir-fried with spices (masala) for a couple of minutes and then covered with rice and put on dum. Today, biryani is also made using vegetables, chicken, seafood and beef. The beef biryani is known as Kalyani Biryani, available at many small eateries in the city. Although any Irani cafe might serve this delectable dish, there are a few places better known for tasteful food than the

Drink & nightlife

Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles There is plenty to do at night in Hyderabad, though local regulations have most places serving last drinks by 23:00. On weekdays, drinks in some of the pubs have the best offers, as most clubs are empty until Thursday or Friday nights, when the clubbers emerge. But the sheer number of nightlife spots makes it hard to choose which ones to list. As a general rule they tend to be clustered around Begumpet (Secunderabad) and Road No.1, Banjara Hills (Central). Alcohol is available easily from numerous liquor shops, known as wine shops in local parlance, spread across the twin cities, in restaurants with bars attached (including most upscale ones) and in pubs. Warning: Drunk driving is not tolerated, and police enforce the rule strictly. After 11:00PM, almost all the roads have police patrols and check for drunk driving. If caught, you may end up paying fines, apart from the vehicle being seized and a couple of rounds to the police station in worst scenarios. Some of the good pubs and bars are part of hotels, and they have been covered along with their hotel listing under Sleep.

Sleep

Individual listings can be found in Hyderabad's district articles

Accommodation in Hyderabad is unlikely to bust your budget, especially when compared to cities like Mumbai or Bengaluru, and rooms are usually easily available. However, because the city sprawls so much, you need to be careful about the hotel location if you want to avoid a long commute and traffic bottlenecks. Plentiful budget accommodation is to be found around the Nampally railway station and in Abids, Koti and other new city areas for a few hundred rupees a day, and tourist attractions aren't very far off. However, the facilities tend to be basic, the towels aren't necessarily clean, and air-conditioning tends to be extra. It might make sense to pay a little more and choose mid-range accommodation. The area around Hussain Sagar Lake, Begumpet, Punjagutta, Somajiguda, Banjara Hills and Lakdi-ka-Pul is close to both tourist attractions of the old city and the business areas of the new city. Hotels in Secunderabad might be slightly far for the tourist, but may still work for the business traveller. Hotel rooms tend to be expensive and scarce closer to HITEC City, and commuting from any of the above areas, except perhaps Banjara Hills, is not a good option because of the traffic. Areas around HITEC City are Madhapur, Kondapur and Gachibowli. For longer term stays, you might want to consider serviced apartments.

Go next

Basara — the home of Sri Gnana Saraswati Temple, in Adilabad District Bhongir — around 47 km from city of Hyderabad on the outskirts moving towards Warangal, is a huge rock fort on very smooth rock. At the foot of the hill is Bhongir bus station. It is a marvellous experience to climb the fort and needs great skill and balance at few places. An attractive place for trekkers and rock climbers. Mantralayam Medak Church — around 90 km from Hyderabad. Nagarjuna Sagar Dam — 165 km from Hyderabad - one of the earliest hydroelectric projects in India, the dam impounds the Krishna river. Sangareddy — around 55 km from Hyderabad Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple — 212 km from Hyderabad can be easily reached by state run buses or private taxi. Srisailam referred to as Tirupparuppatham in the Thevaram hymns, near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh is a venerated Shivastalam, the second of the 12 Jyotirlinga shrines spread all over India. This is a vast temple with several gopurams, on a hill which is said to be a manifestation of Nandi. This temple has been a site of Vijayanagar patronage, and is well visited and well endowed. Several other related Siva temples are in the vicinity of Sree Sailam. Kannada poetess Akkamahadevi made this spot her hermitage Srisailam Hydel Project — around 245 km from Hyderabad. The dam is surrounded by beautiful natural flora. Vijayawada — 270 km from Hyderabad, has many important Hindu pilgrimage sites. Visakhapatnam— around 620 km, R.K. Beach and many other beaches. Important Hindu pilgrimage sites. Warangal — 144 km from Hyderabad, is a beautiful city of lakes and temples. Location of Bhadrakali Temple. Yadagirigutta — around 60 km east of Hyderabad, features the Narasimha Swamy Temple.