TOP TOURIST SPOTS IN THE TWIN CITIES – HYDERABAD & SECUNDERABAD

Hyderabad and Secunderabad are called twin cities. Hyderabad is the capital of Andhra Pradesh . Hyderabad is known as the City of Pearls. The land of Nawabs with deep rooted culture is known for its warm welcome and grand hospitality given to the visitors of the city.  The city offers a lot to the tourist ranging from Heritage monuments, Gardens , Resorts , relishing cuisines and a great shopping experience. With Information Technology at its high in Hyderabad the city is also known as Cyberabad. Hyderabad offers  a unique experience and the historical tradition spanning over 400 years.

Some of the tourist attractions include…

Charminar:

Charminar is symbolic of Hyderabad. No traveler misses Charminar from the travel list. Charminar was built in 1591 during the regime of Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah as a charm to ward off a deadly epidemic raging at that time. This monument has four minarets at a height of 48.7 metres above the ground. They are adorned with carved lotus buds and petals. Charminar has a mosque in it. Visitors are allowed to climb the Charminar through narrow steps during the day and view the architectural splendor closely. In the evenings the monument is illuminated colorfully and it is a remarkable structure at the heart of the Old city.

Very close by is the Laad Bazaar , the famous shopping centre. Here you will be fascinated to see the range of hyderabadi bangles, in different patterns of pearls, sparkling and in stone studded varieties, antique replicas, clothes and perfumes .

Golconda Fort: 

Golconda is one of the famous forts of India. The name originates from the Telugu words “Golla Konda” meaning “Shepherd’s Hill”. Golconda was originally a mud fort. The first three Qutb Shahi kings rebuilt Golconda, over a span of 62 years. The fort is famous for its acoustics, palaces, ingenious water supply system and the famous Fateh Rahben gun, one of the cannons used in the last siege of Golconda by Aurangzeb, to whom the fort ultimately fell. Today, it stands with a massive structure of granite.

A light and sound show is conducted within the fort. The glorious past of Golconda Fort is narrated effectively in different languages with matchless Sound and Light effects. The unique Sound & Light Show takes you right back in time, when Golconda was full of life, glory and grandeur.
The tombs of the legendary Qutb Shahi kings lie about a km away from Banjara Darwaza of the Golconda Fort. Planned and built by the Qutb Shahis themselves, these tombs are said to be the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. They form a large group and stand on a raised platform. Quli Qutb Shahi tombs is the only one of its kind in the world where an entire dynasty has been buried at one place. The structure is so strong, has become a huge crowd puller with Indian film industry using the locales.

 Birla Mandir (Venkateswara Temple):

This white marble temple of Lord Venkateshwara floats on the city skyline, on Kala Pahad. The idol in the temple is a replica of the one at Tirumala Tirupati. It took almost 2000 tones of white marble to build this temple. This temple is a perfect blend of north and south Indian style of architecture.

Birla Planetarium:

Birla Planetarium is built on Naubat Pahad adjacent to Kala Pahad  and it is India’s most modern planetarium and first of its kind in the country. It is equipped with advanced technology from Japan .The Science Museum stands tribute to the advancement achieved by Science and Technology.

Salar Jung Museum:

Visiting Hours: 10 am – 5 pm   (Friday closed)

The Salar Jung Museum houses one of the biggest one-man collections of valuable antiques of the world by Mir Yousuf Ali Khan, Salar Jung III. The objects on display include Persian carpets, Moghal miniatures, Chinese porcelain, Japanese lacquerware, famous statues including the Veiled Rebecca ,a superb collection of jade, daggers belonging to Queen Noor Jahan and the Emperors Jahangir and Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb’s sword and many other fabulous items. There are numerous clocks from all over the world. The crowd puller in the centre of the museum is the cuckoo that comes out  of the clock at 12 noon , tourists plan their trip to be present to watch this unique technological development of those times.

Nehru Zoological Park:

(Monday closed)

Spanning 300 lush green acres, the Nehru Zoological Park is a must for nature lovers. It has over 250 species of animals and birds, most of which are kept in conditions as close to their natural habitats as possible. The Lion Safari Park, Natural History Museum, Nocturnal zoo and Children’s Train are the added attractions. The eager visitors are taken in a closed-cage tour inside the zoo, where wild animals such as majestic lions, tigers, wild oxen, rhinos and panthers are let live in their replicated natural habitat.

Hitec City:

Cyber Towers is the main building here . One of the modern monuments of trade and technology, it embodies the newfound attitude of Hyderabad and today finds a place of pride. Situated on the outskirts of the city, it is the nucleus of Cyberabad, the IT destination in this part of the world. The city has expanded all horizons leading to massive development around it.

 Hussainsagar Lake:

Excavated in 1562 A.D. by Hussain Shah Wali during the time of Ibrahim Quli Qutb Shah, the lake has a walkway that is busy throughout the day. The Tank bund constructed connects Hyderabad and Secunderabad cities. You have several monuments displayed of freedom fighters, leaders and artisans. Boating and water sports are a regular feature in the Hussainsagar. One of the World’s tallest monolithic statues of the Buddha stands on the ‘Rock of Gibraltar’, in the middle of the lake. Added to all these, AP Tourism has additional boating facilities like speed boats, motor boats, 48 seater launch etc. Starlit dinner on-board and private parties also can be arranged on the Launch.  Surroundings of Hussainsagar Lake provide marvellous entertainment options like NTR Gardens, Necklace Road, Prasads Multiplex, Lumbini Park, Sanjeevaiah Park etc. It is a great place to avoid the heat.

Chow Mohalla Palace:

One of the heritage buildings  and a venue for grand occasions. Built in several phases by the Nizams between 1857-1869, this is now. The complex comprises four palaces in Moghal and European styles, of which the main palace is double storeyed with the others being single-storeyed blocks.

Ramoji Film City

It’s one the best moments one can spend in the city. It’s the largest film studio in the world lying on the outskirts of the city. The tricks of film making can be witnessed by watching live film shoots too.