Hyderabad Tourist Attractions

Hyderabad is the capital of Telangana and sits on the Deccan Plateau in the middle of South India. The Qutb Shahi kings founded the city in the late 1500s, and the Nizams ruled it for about two centuries after them. Today it is a mix of old and new. The old city has the Charminar, palaces and bangle shops. The west side has HITEC City and big malls. Most visitors come for the history, the food, especially biryani and haleem, and a day at Ramoji Film City.

Top places to visit in Hyderabad

Plan at least two days to see the main sights. Old city places are close to each other, so you can cover them in one morning.

• Charminar - the four-minaret monument that is the symbol of the city, with Laad Bazaar for bangles right next to it.
• Golconda Fort - a hill fort of the Qutb Shahi kings. Stay for the evening sound and light show.
• Chowmahalla Palace - the palace of the Nizams, with halls, chandeliers and old cars.
• Salar Jung Museum - a large collection of art, clocks, statues and objects from many countries.
• Ramoji Film City - a huge film studio complex with sets, shows and rides. Keep a full day for it.
• Statue of Equality - the tall seated statue of Sri Ramanujacharya at Muchintal, lit up in the evening.
• Hussain Sagar Lake - the lake with the big Buddha statue in the middle. Boats leave from Lumbini Park.
• Birla Mandir - a white marble temple on a small hill with a good view of the city.

Best time to visit Hyderabad

October to February is the most pleasant time. Days are warm and nights are cool, which suits walking in the old city. March to June is very hot, often above 40 degrees C. The monsoon runs from June to September. The city is lively during Bonalu in July or August and during Ramzan, when haleem stalls open across the old city.

How to reach Hyderabad

Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is at Shamshabad, south of the city. It has direct flights from most Indian cities and many foreign ones. Airport buses and cabs run to all parts of the city. The main railway stations are Secunderabad, Hyderabad Deccan (Nampally) and Kacheguda. Some long-distance trains now also use the new Cherlapally terminal. Government and private buses reach the city from Bangalore, Chennai, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Mumbai. Inside the city, the metro, buses and cabs are easy to use.

Plan your trip

If you have only one day, our One Day Hyderabad City Tour covers the main old city and lake-side sights in a single trip, with transport included.