Introduction to city
Hyderabad - In Andhra Pradesh
Hyderabad, the city of Charminar and capital of Andhra
Pradesh, was founded by Quli Qutab Shah. Legends say that
the foundation of the city is the result of a love story
between the prince and a village belle. To appease his
beloved, Bhagmati, he named the city Bhagnagar (the city
of good fortune) which later changed to Hyderabad.
Modelled after Isfaan in Iran, the city was meant to be a
symbol of the might of the Qutab Shahi rulers. When it was
completed in 1592, the city received lavish praises from
many visitors including Tavernier and Abbe Carr.
Hyderabad is also the city of fabulously rich Nizams, the
stories of whose hordes of gold, diamonds and pearls
spread far and wide. Present-day Hyderabad is a place
where tradition and modernity meet: besides preserving its
rich cultural heritage, the city has also emerged as a
frontrunner in the field of information technology.
Sightseeing : Places to
visit in destination - Hyderabad
Being a city that has been in the centre of affairs for
around 400 years, Hyderabad has many interesting places
that attract tourists from far and wide. The Charminar
occupies the centre of the city and dominates its
landscape. The Hussain Sagar is a large tank whose
blue water provides a pleasant backdrop to the city’s
landscape. Salar Jung Museum is one of the
best-known museums in India where you can find private
collections of the Nizams. Other important attractions in
the city include Naubat Pahad, State Central Library,
and
Osmania University.
Hyderabad Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination
Hyderabad
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Places to visit in the city Hyderabad
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CHARMINAR - Hyderabad
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Situated in the heart of Hyderabad, the grand
Charminar has four wide roads radiating in the four
cardinal directions. You can see the four minarets
from miles. It is a square structure, each measuring
100 feet and a high central pointed arch. There are
numerous small decorative arches arranged vertically
as well as horizontally on the whole edifice. The
structure has been made elegant by adding the
projected canopy, ornamental brackets and decoration
in stucco plaster. The Charminar has two galleries,
one over other. The exterior of the Charminar is its
most beautiful part, surrounded by a thriving
market. There are four magnificent arches known as
Char Kaman situated near Charminar. They were the
gateway to Zilu Khana or antechamber of the royal
palace. The arches have been named Machli Kaman,
Kali Kaman, Sher Gil Ki Kaman, and Charminar Ki
Kaman. |
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HUSSAIN
SAGAR LAKE - Hyderabad
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Built by Ibrahim Qutab Shah in 1550, the Hussain
Sagar Lake is a large artificial lake lying between
Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The lake was created in
gratitude to Hussain Shah Wali, who had cured
Ibrahim Qutab Shah of a disease. A huge statue of
Lord Buddha has been put into the centre of the
lake. |
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SALARJUNG
MUSEUM - Hyderabad
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The Nawab/’s collection of European art, glass and
Chinese jade, ivory, porcelain, bronzes, illuminated
manuscripts and jewelled weapons, including the
Empress Noor Jehan/’s bejewelled dagger and the
Nawab/’s own diamond-encrusted sword, is now housed
in a big government building called the Salar Jung
Museum. The collection in the Salar Jung Museum is
the labour of love of a single family who had been
invested with the title of Salar Jung Bahadur. Today
the museum is under a board set up by an Act of
Parliament and housed in its own building.
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OSMANIA
UNIVERSITY - Hyderabad
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The University was established in the year 1918 and
named after its founder, the then ruler of Hyderabad
Nawab Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur. Today, the
university is one of the largest in India and
attracts students not only from its home state but
from all over the country and even abroad. |
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STATE CENTRAL LIBRARY
- Hyderabad
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Located in Afjalgunj, the library was initially
known as Asafia Library and then Hyderabad State
Library. It is considered as one of the best among
the Indian manuscript libraries. The library was
established in 1891 by Nawab Imad-ul-Mulk, Director
of public institutions in Nizam/’s Government. |
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NAUBAT PAHAD -
Hyderabad
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Naubat Pahad is a hilltop tourist spot that gives
superb views of Hyderabad. On the top of the hill is
Birla Temple, B.M. Birla Science Centre, and the
Archaeological Museum. In old days royal firmans
(announcements) were read to the people to the beat
of drums from this hilltop. |
Excursions : Places nearby
city - Hyderabad
The medieval age was the time of great artistic and
architectural development in South India, particularly the
region of Deccan. Much more calmer than its northern
neighbourhoods, cities and buildings of high aesthetic
value were created in this region that still make their
impact on the imagination of the visitors. The Golconda
Fort was the power centre of Qutab Shahi dynasty
during the 16th and 17th century before Aurangzeb came to
annex the region.
Warangal
was the capital of Kakatiyas and they created some
wonderful monuments to mark their authority. Bidar
was the capital of mighty Bahamani Empire while remains in
Nagarjunakonda show some strong Buddhist influence.
Hyderabad Excursion : Places nearby
Hyderabad - Andhra Pradesh
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Places to visit nearby destination - Hyderabad |
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Bidar
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Lying 110 km northwest of Hyderabad, Bidar was the
consecutive capitals to the mighty Bahamanis and
Barid Shahi dynasty. Within the fortified area there
is a vast range of palaces, mosques, baths, schools
and tombs. The major attractions are the tombs at
Ashtur and Gawan/’s Madarsa. |
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Golconda Fort
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Located at a distance of around 8 km west of
Hyderabad, Golconda Fort was the headquarters of the
Qutab Shahi Dynasty between 1512 to 1687. Once the
centre point of an empire whose boundaries touched
Bay of Bengal, the fort is stretched just 7 km
today. Durbar Hall is a 1000-step climb and on the
top of it is a panoramic view of the ruins of the
fort and other landmarks of Hyderabad. The main
attractions inside the fort are the heavily studded
Balahisar Gate, the Grand Portico, the bodyguard
barracks, the Nagina Bagh or royal garden, and a
12-metre deep water tank. The Sri Jagdamba Temple,
Rani Mahals, and Taramati Mosque are also housed
here. |
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Nagarjunkonda
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Located about 160 km from Hyderabad, Nagarjunsagar
is perhaps India/’s first island-museum. The place
presents a panorama of human evolution in the lower
Krishna river valley from the prehistoric age to
medieval times. The main attractions here include
Simhala Vihara (monastery for Ceylonese monks),
Mahastupa (considered the oldest structure on the
island containing some corporal relics of Lord
Buddha), and a Ashwamedh site. There is an
architectural museum here containing mithuna couples
in varying moods, a collection of antiquities
ranging from the bust of a Gandharv to figures of
dwarfs, yakshis, coins, pottery, a model of the
submerged valley, and exhibits of some Stone Age
implements such as wedges, axes, arrowheads,
spearheads and some broken pottery. |
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Warangal
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Famous for its thousand-pillared temple—a famous
specimen of the Chalukya architecture—Warangal is
situated 157 km north-east of Hyderabad. The fort of
Warangal was constructed by the Kakatiyas between
the 12th and 14th centuries. You can see the ruins
of the mud-brick fort that still survive in certain
portions. The great temple at Harnamkonda was built
by king Rudra Deva on the slopes of the hill in
1163. The temple has exquisitely carved pillars. The
entrance to the temple has a monolithic structure of
Nandi sitting on guard at the entrance along with
rock-cut statues of elephants on either side. The
fort suffered much destruction in the 14th century
after it was conquered by Muhammad Tughlaq. |
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