City Hyderabad

Hyderabad The City of Pearls,Lakes and Gardens
Hyderabad The City of Nizams:


Hyderabad, the fifth largest metropolis of India, is the capital of the South India state, Andhra Pradesh. The city is perched on the top of the Deccan Plateau, 1776 ft., above sea level, spreading over an area of 260 sq. kms. Consisting of the twin towns of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the city is popular worldwide as the former seat of the Nizams of Hyderabad.

The city was founded in 1590 by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the fourth of the Qutab Shahi kings, on the banks of Musi river. Hyderabad has been the meeting point of various cultures and traditions, which can be seen in its cosmopolitan population.

The city is 400 years old now, but it still preserves its rich history, culture and a rich and varied heritage in arts, crafts and dance. In Hyderabad, architectural marvels like magnificent forts, majestic palaces, ancient mosques and temples, present an interesting blend of the Hindu and Islamic styles of architecture. Hyderabad is the also called the 'Pearl City' because of its major dealing in pearls and precious stones.


Major Attractions

1)Charminar :




Charminar (four minaret) has been the identity of the old city of Hyderabad for centuries. It was built in 1591 by Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah to commemorate the end of the deadly plague in Hyderabad.

The four arched monument stands amidst the lively bazaars and offers splendid views of the old city.

2)Mecca Masjid :



Just few metres away from the Charminar, this mosque is one of the biggest mosques in the world. The constrcution of the mosque was started by Mohammed Quli Qutab Shah in 1614, but was completed by Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1692. It is said that the mosque can accommodate up to 10,000 worshippers at a time.

Lad Bazaar :



Located close to the Charminar, the Lad Bazaar was founded by Ladli Begum, the wife of Mir Mehboob Ali Khan, the sixth Nizam of Hyderabad. The colourful market is truly a shopper's paradise, one can buy traditional Hyderabadi glass and stone-studded bangles. In addition the appliquéd, skirts, bags and belts set with sparkling mirrors and tiny beads by Banjara gypsies are also sold here.

Salar Jung Museum :



Built to match the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, this museum is an amazing amalgam of antiquity and modernity. Mir Yusuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III, is believed to be the chief architect of this magnificent congeries of art.

It is said this museum has the largest one-man collection of the world. The museum displays 35,000 exhibits drawn from the four corners of the world including wood carvings, sculptures, religious objects, Persian miniature paintings, illuminated manuscripts, armour and weaponry and clothing of the Mughal emperors and Tipu Sultan.

Hussain Sagar Lake :



This beautiful lake was built by Hussan Shah Wahi on a tributary of the Musi river. The artificial lake connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Along the bandh of the lake are 33 life-size statues of eminent personalities. Major attraction of the lake is the gigantic statue of Lord Buddha; the 18m high and 350 tonne monolithic statue stands amidst the lake.

Hussain Sagar Lake-Hyderabad' s Riviera

Hussain Sagar the beautiful and placid lake located in the heart of the City, constitutes a continuum between history and the contemporary. Popularly known as Tank Bund, it has acquired trappings and environs that enhance its appeal to tourists as well as the denizens of the twin cities.






With numerous parks, recreation spots, temples, statuary, and a host of other tourists attractions, it has emerged as the most sought after tourist destination in the City.
Extending 24 kilometres, it built by Hazrat Hussain Shah Wali on a tributary of the Musi River during the time of that great builder Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah, in 1562, to meet the water and irrigation needs of the city.



Necklace Road - A Glittering Garland of Hussain Sagar Lake



A new artery known as the Necklace Road links Lumbini park in Hyderabad with the Sanjeeviah park in Secunderabad. Necklace Road is the most popular boulevard and very scenic, its magnetism increased by a three-kilometer- long row of flowerbeds and lush green lawns running from north to south. On the west is a long protective and ornamental railing parallel to a row of wrought iron benches for romance-prone couples to forget time and mundane world.

The Necklace Road and the Tank Bund are great spectacles in the night and turn into rendezvous for relaxation and leisure. The Necklace Road is now much sought after by trade and industry for holding consumer melas and by the government to stage frequent cultural shows and programmes which are open to public.

Flanked by the Hyderabad Boat Club in the south and the Secunderabad Sailing Club in the north, Hussain Sagar becomes the annual venue for sailing events and regattas every year. One can see several rowboats and yachts gracefully navigating in the lake.


Most Popular Promenade with Myriad Attractions



Dotting the lawns and flowerbeds on the eastern side are an array of statues to commemorate the services of a host of luminaries who are an inseparable part of the history of the state. These bronze statues range from those of pioneers of Telugu classical poetry like Nannaya, the great saint composer Thyagaraja, the thirteenth century Kakatiya warrior queen Rudrama Devi, the illustrious founder of Hyderabad Muhammed Quli Qutb Shah, the bard Vemana of the sixteenth century to Arthur Cotton who harnessed the life-giving waters of the Krishna and Godavari rivers and made Andhra Pradesh the rice bowl of the south, and progressive writers and poets like Sri Sri and Maqdoom Mohiuddin.


Parks & Recreation around Lake Hussain Sagar

Lumbini park is one of the attractive leisure spots in the city. The park has a floral clock, nature trail, children's play area, and musical fountains. The boating facility which is one of the major attractions is extended to the middle of the lake.



Lumbini Laserium:



The spectacular state of the laser show on the water screen with a musical fountain, is India's first Multi media Laser Show, that narrates Hyderabad's history, in a thrilling display of laser lights.



NTR Gardens:



A leisure and entertainment centre adjoining the Hussain Sagar Lake, the NTR Gardens houses a Memorial of Late Shri N.T. Rama Rao, former Chief Minister, with an exemplary piece of architecture.



World's Largest Monolith Statue of Buddha



The piece deresistance of the entire land and waterscape of Hussain Sagar is the 18-metre high and 350-tonne monolith of Gautama Buddha, in the middle of the lake, standing on what is known as the Rock of Gibraltar. Two beautifully decorated floating decks shuttle between the statue and the Lumbini Park, every day, several times and are equipped to stage cultural and musical shows. Another boating point is likely to come up at the Sanjeevaiah Park also. The boat rides are the most exciting experience of the tourists because they cover the most scenic spots around the lake like the Secretariat, the Raj Bhavan, Sanjeeviah Park, the Lumbini Park, Shri Venkateswara temple and the majestic Buddha statue.


Birla Temple:



Hussain Sagar lake radiates in the night the reflection of the Shri Venkateswara temple built by the Birlas on a hillock close to the Secretariat. The temple is a quarter century old and built of white marble and represents several schools of architecture. Though the South Indian school is prominent in the construction of the rajagopuram. Utkal styles of temple architecture marks the tower over the main shrine called the Jagadananda vimanam. The towers over the temples for the Lord's consorts Padmavathi and Andal are again in the South Indian style. The temple has a 42-feet high flagstaff and the main idol of the Lord is 11 feet tall.


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Samina Khan