Built by Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah in 1591, the Islamic architectural splendor Charminar is the most famous landmark of Hyderabad. Located in the heart of the city, this magnificent square edifice of granite is built upon four grand arches facing north, south, east and west with 56 meters high slender minarets and spiral staircases. These arches support two floors of rooms and a gallery of archways. It is these four (char) minarets (minar) that give the building, its name 'Charminar'. Each minar stand on a lotus-leaf base that is a recurrent motif in Qutub Shahi buildings. The whole edifice contains numerous small decorative arches arranged both vertically and horizontally. This monument has 45 prayer spaces and a small mosque on the western side on the open roof. The whole structure is illuminated every evening.
Ramoji Film City
The magical tourist destination, Ramoji film city alias RFC, is the world's largest film production complex. This magnificent dream world, owned by entrepreneur-cum-film producer Ramoji Rao, is located 25kms away from Hyderabad. It is an enchanting blend of man made wonders and nature’s pristine beauty. Sprawling over 2000 acres of land the complex houses studios, imaginable sets and locations, breathtaking gardens and fountains, hotels with five star and three star star facilities, multistoried buildings, fascinating fun & play areas and so on. This filmmakers paradise provides the most comprehensive international-standard pre-production, production and post-production facilities with dedicated professionalism. Twenty international films, and nearly forty Indian films can be produced simultaneously in the complex.
Ramoji film city is not just a film making complex but also a multi-faceted holiday haven for the whole family. The play zones with various exciting rides, video game parlour, dancing fountain, train restaurants all provide good amusement facilities. There is an exclusive nursery called Shangri-La which is the home to infinite varieties of exotic flowers, plants and shrubs. It is also a perfect venue for theme parties, lavish weddings, corporate conference and events, adventure camps etc.
The film city is open from 9.30A.M to 3.30 P.M. The ticket rates are Rs 200 per head on Sundays and Rs 150 per head on weekdays. For children above three years of age it is Rs 150 on a Sunday and Rs 100 on weekdays. The cost includes guided tour of the film city and transportation within. For taking their own cars, the rate is Rs 700.
Shilparamam
Located about 14 kms from Hyderabad at Madhapur, is the picturesque crafts village Shilparamam. This arts and crafts village showcases art forms and handicrafts of various artists from all over the state. Nestling amidst rocks, rippling waterfalls and gorgeous lawns, Shilparamam is a melting pot of traditions and cultures. Here each season brings a mood of festivity and Indian festivals are celebrated in the most traditional way. Shilparamam houses an amphitheatre where performances ranging from classical music concerts and dance programmes to contemporary English plays are staged. The village also has facility for learning crafts for those interested. Boating facilities with both peddling and rowing boats are also available at this Crafts village. An international kite festival and an All India festival of Arts and Crafts is held here annually that gives a unique opportunity to take home a piece of India.
Golconda Fort
he majestic ruins of Golconda Fort stands as a backdrop to the sprawling city of Hyderabad. It lies on the western outskirts at a distance of about 11kms from the city. Built by Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah in 1525, the Golconda Fort epitomizes the opulent nawabi culture of the time. The fort constructed on a 120m high granite hill, has 8 gates (darwazas) and the main gate is called Fateh darwaza alias 'Victory gate'. An added attraction at the fort is a sound and light show that brings the legend of Golconda to life.
Qutub Shahi Tombs
Qutub Shahi tombs, the royal cemetery of the Qutub Shahi kings, located 2 kms from Golconda fort is an amalgamation of Indian and Persian style of architecture. These tombs are said to be the oldest historical monuments in Hyderabad. Built in gray granite, the tombs are domed structures with an elevated square base surrounded by pointed arches. Most of the tombs, which rises to a height of 9-15mts above the terrace, are graceful structures with intricately carved stonework. The smaller tombs are single storied while the larger ones are double storied. These tombs were originally ornamented with blue and green tiles of which only a few pieces remain now. To distinguish the tombs of Sultans from others, a golden spire was fixed over the tombs of the Sultans.
The most striking among these is the tomb of Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth king of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and the founder of Hyderabad. This tomb is one of the largest, reaching up to a height of 42 meters with a large dome adorning the top and 28 open arches. The complex has around 30 tombs and they are open to visitors on all days except Fridays.
HITEC City
Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City alias HITEC City, located 14kms from Hyderabad airport, is the major technology township in the city. Sprawling an area of 158 acres, the city launched in 1997 offers a one stop solution to the business and social needs of IT and related industries. The largest software technology park in India, HITEC city is a joint venture between Indian engineering giant Larsen & Toubro Limited and the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited. It has facilities like office space, production areas housing colonies, showrooms, cafeteria, health club, banks, shopping complexes and auditoriums. Within the HITEC city, there are several IT companies. The cylindrical showpiece known as Cyber Towers is the main building here.
Palaces & Museums
Falaknuma Palace
The building is in classical style with a two-storeyed deep and colonnaded verandah carrying a pediment.
Falaknuma palace, a rare blend of Italian and Tudor architecture built by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra Bahadur, is located about 5km south of Charminar. Constructed over a period of nine years and covering a total area of 9,39,712 sq. mts, it is located on a hillock 2000 ft high from the ground level. The palace is laid out in the shape of a scorpion with two stings spread out as wings in the north. Often referred as the 'Mirror of the Sky', the palace houses Oriental and European treasures including a large collection of paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books.
Birla Science Centre 
Located in the heart of the city of Hyderabad on the panoramic hillock of Naubat Pahad, is the B.M. Birla Science Centre. It is one of the most prestigious institution in the country recognised both as an institute of Higher education and for research and development of science. The Birla Science Center houses a number of sections such as a Planetarium, a Science Museum that contains an archaeology and fine arts gallery, Dinosaurium, a Science projects division and so on. The science centre remains closed on the last Thursday of every month.
B.M. Birla Planetarium - Inaugurated in 1985, India’s most modern B.M. Birla Planetarium, is the first of its kind in the country. The cosmic presentations here have highlighted various mysterious of the Universe. The planetarium offers daily sky shows in Telugu, Hindi and English. Courses on Astronomy and Astrophysics are also conducted here.
The visiting time is from 10.30A.M to 3.00 P.M. The entry fee is Rs. 12 and children below five are not allowed inside the planetarium.
Science Museum - The B.M. Birla Science Museum which showcases India’s own achievements in science is the second phase of the science centre. Opened in 1990, the science museum encloses an archaeology and fine arts gallery that comprises unique archaeological exhibits both excavated and collected. This archaeological gallery is further divided into a stone sculpture gallery, wood carving gallery, gallery of miniature paintings and so on.
The visiting time is from 10.30A.M to 8.15 P.M.
Dinosaurium - The third phase of the science centre, Dinosaurium opened in 2000, is a unique natural history gallery which has a collection of smaller fossils of dinosaur eggs, marine shells, fossilized tree trunks etc. The major highlight here is the rare and magnificent fossil of a 160 million years old Dinosaur, Kotasaurus, belonging to the Lower Jurassic age.
The Salar Jung Museum
One of the oldest museum in the city, Salar Jung Museum has the largest compilation of personally collected artifacts from all around the world. Situated at Afzal Ganj, the museum houses more than 43,000 art objects and 50,000 books in the 38 rooms spread over three floors of the building. Open timing:10 to 7pm. Closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Health Museum
The Health Museum with its unusual collection of medical paraphernalia was started in 1948. The exhibits in the museum include models, charts, specimens, photographs etc. giving all the necessary details about how to maintain and improve health. The museum is divided into two sections, one is related to nutrition and health and the other dedicated to Motherhood and Childbirth. It has a medical library. The museum located in the Public gardens in Nampally, conducts lectures and play films related to health are shown on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Entry to the museum is free and the visiting hours are from 10.00 A.M to 5.00 P.M in winter and 11.00 A.M to 9.00 P.M in summer. It will be closed on Fridays and public holidays.
AP State Archaeological Museum
Located in the picturesque Public Gardens in Nampally, the Andhra Pradesh State Archaeological Museum has a rich collection of antiques and art objects of the country. A compilation of sculptures, paintings, arms and artifacts etc. dating back to the 2nd century BC are displayed in its various galleries. Apart from these, the unique feature of the museum is its Modern Art Gallery that has a sizeable collection of paintings and sculptures of contemporary artistes of Hyderabad. The impressive museum building, built by Nizam VII in 1920, itself is a fine example of Indo-saracenic architecture. It is open from 10.30 A.M. to 5.00 P.M. except Mondays. Photography is allowed only by permission.
Lakes
Gandipet Lake
Gandipet lake, also known as Osmansagar lake is located 20 kms west of Hyderabad city. Spreading over an area of 46 sq.kms, this lake is the main source of water supply to the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The lake was constructed by Mir Osman Ali Khan, the VIIth Nizam of Hyderabad by damming across the Isa, a tributary of the River Musi, after the disastrous floods of 1908. The well maintained lake shore, pleasant lush green landscaped gardens, swimming pool and boating facilities make it one of the most popular picnic destination. The best time to visit the lake is right after the monsoons i.e. from October to March.
Sagar Mahal, the heritage building which used to be the summer resort of the erstwhile Nizam has been converted into a lake resort by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development. This guest house with about ten double rooms and arrangement of food, provides good accommodation facility for the tourist.
Built in the 16th century, Hussain Sagar Lake around 3km from the city center, is the largest artificial lake in Asia that connects the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Also known as Tank Bund, it was built by Ibrahim Qutub Shah in gratitude to Hussain Shah Wali, who had cured him from a disease. A major attraction at the Hussain Sagar is the 16 meter high, 350 tonne monolithic Buddha statue on the Rock of Gibraltar. Installed at the center of the lake, the statue is entirely made of white granite. The rock can be reached by ferries.
The Lake is bordered by four major spans of greenery, Indira Park in the east, Sanjeevaiah Park in the north, Lumbini Park in the south and a green belt stretch squeezed in between the Raj Bhavan road and the Necklace Road. The lake is also lined with over 30 statues of famous personalities. Hussain Sagar has other attractions for lovers of water sports. The yachting and sailing clubs at the lake are active and the annual regatta draws a good number of sports lovers from all around the country. There is also parasailing facility available in the Hussain Sagar Lake.
Himayat Sagar LakeLocated 22kms from Hyderabad, is the Himayat sagar, a small tank which lies parallel to the Osmansagar lake. This reservoir on River Musi was named after Nizam VII's eldest son, Himayat Ali Khan. The lush greenery by the dam makes an ideal picnic spot, while the stretch of road atop the dam is a pleasant road for a drive or walk. Guest house facilities are available here which can be booked through Andhra Pradesh Travel and Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC).
Shamirpet Lake
Shamirpet Lake, situated 27 kms away from Hyderabad towards the northern direction of Secunderabad, is an ideal picnic spot with a serene environment. Boating facility is available and in its vicinity one can see the Shamirpet deer park. It is amazing to see the various species of deer that come to the lake to quench their thirst. The best time to visit the lake is from October to March. Accommodation facilities are provided by Andhra Pradesh Tourism board and AP Forest Department.
Durgam Cheruvu
This lake also called the secret lake is located 16 km. from Hyderabad, close to the arts and crafts village, Shilparamam near Hi-tech city. The lake spread over an area of 63 acres, is set amidst the rocky terrain in Jubliee Hills. Water Scooters, pedal/ motor boats are available for rides. Angling facility also available.
The grand Mecca Masjid, located adjacent to the Charminar is the oldest and largest mosque in the twin city. Even though the construction of this majestic and imposing structure was started in 1617 by the 6th Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah, it was completed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb only in 1694. The hall of the masjid measuring 67 meters long, 54 meters wide and 23 meters high can accommodate nearly ten thousand worshippers at a time. The roof is supported by 15 graceful arches. The octagonal columns on either side of the mosque and the stately entrance arches are made up of single slabs of granite. Inscriptions from the holy Quran have been intricately depicted on many of the arches and doors. It is believed that bricks brought from Mecca were implanted in the walls of the central arch and hence the name Mecca Masjid. In the courtyard of the mosque, there is a beautiful man-made pond of bluish water, flanked by two stone and slab seats. The masjid also houses many ancient and sacred relics, one of which is the hair of Prophet Mohammed. Towards the southern end of the mosque lie the marble tombs of members of the Asaf Jahi dynasty.
Birla Mandir 
The modern enchanting temple dedicated to Lord Venkateswara, the Birla Mandir stands in all its grandeur on the hilltop of Kalapahad. Made of pure white marble from Rajasthan, the Birla Mandir overlooks the serene and placid waters of the Hussain Sagar lake. The granite image of the presiding deity Venkateswara which is about 11-feet tall is a replica of the one at Tirupati. The consorts of the lord, 'Padmavati' and 'Andal' are housed in separate shrines in the temple. Exotic scenes from the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata are finely sculpted in marble.
Birla Mandir is a wonderful blend of North and South Indian temple architecture. The tower over the main shrine is built in the Orissan style, while the towers over the shrines of the consorts and the sanctum sanctorum are built in the South Indian style. The brass flagstaff of the temple reaches to a staggering height of 42 feet. There is also a temple dedicated to Buddha in this complex with fresco paintings describing his life and work. The Birla Mandir presents a spectacular sight when illuminated at night. The temple is open from 7 a.m. to 12 noon and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. all days of the week.
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