Discover Hyderabad

Hyderabad combines striking landmarks and extensive museum collections with lakes, parks and a large zoo. Hussain Sagar Lake connects Secunderabad and Hyderabad and was created on a tributary of the Musi River. Speedboats and motorboats are available on the lake. This gives you a range of very different options for planning your trip: city history, architecture, water and nature.

Lakes, parks and special outings

Lumbini Park is an urban recreation area in Hyderabad, accessible via Necklace Road. From there, visitors can take a boat ride to see the monolithic Buddha statue up close. NTR Gardens offer a different experience: they cover 55 acres and are home to a memorial to N. T. Rama Rao. A monorail ride takes visitors through the park. Hyderabad therefore offers a choice of both a trip on the water and a ride within a park.

Architectural history and historic sites

Charminar was built in 1591 by Sultan Mohammed Quli Qutb Shah. Its minarets are 48.7 meters high. Construction of Chowmahalla Palace began in 1750; it was completed between 1857 and 1869.

The Paigah Tombs are located in the suburbs of Pisal Banda in Hyderabad. Their Indo-Islamic architecture combines features of the Asaf-Jahi and Rajputani styles. The Qutub Shahi Tombs also offer insight into the city’s historic architecture: the complex comprises seven tombs of former kings of Golconda and is surrounded by landscaped gardens called Ibrahim Bagh. The tombs are among Hyderabad’s oldest historic monuments.

Golconda Fort is located in the western part of Hyderabad. Its inner citadel contains the ruins of palaces and mosques, as well as a pavilion on a hill. One special experience at the fort is its acoustic effect: a clap near the entrance to the dome can be heard at the pavilion on the hill, almost a kilometer away.

Museums with a range of themes

The Salarjung Museum houses 43,000 art objects as well as 50,000 books and manuscripts. Its 38 galleries are spread across two floors. The Dr. Y.S.R. State Museum spans the period from the 2nd century BC to the 19th century; its collections include Buddhist and Jain sculptures as well as an Egyptian mummy. At the Centenary Heritage Museum, the “Art through the Ages” gallery features terracotta, stucco, metal and wood. The Khazana Building Museum displays authentic cannons from the Qutb Shahi period and inscriptions from local excavations.

Those interested in more than historic collections will find another combination at the B.M. Birla Science Centre: alongside science, it focuses on art and archaeology and includes an interdisciplinary space museum in collaboration with ISRO. The museums offer different areas of focus—from art objects and manuscripts to sculptures, science and space.

Wildlife and other places to visit

Nehru Zoological Park is home to more than 1,500 species of birds, animals and reptiles. Its facilities and attractions include a lion safari, a prehistoric dinosaur park, a nocturnal zoo, a natural history museum and a mini railway. These options complement the historical and cultural attractions with a distinct focus on wildlife and natural history.

Hyderabad is well connected to other parts of India by an extensive rail and road network. When choosing a hotel location, you can use your planned visits and interests as a guide: museums and historic sites offer a different focus from parks or the zoo.

Discover more destinations: Mallakkapeta, Secunderabad, Shamirpet, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Khammam, Mahabubnagar, Ranga Reddy.

See the broader travel overview: Telangana.