Hyderabad also called as - The City of Nizams, is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad is known for its rich history and culture. It is a hub of information technology, ITES and biotechnology.
Hyderabad and Secunderabad are twin cities, separated by the Hussain Sagar, a man-made lake made during the time of Ibrahim Qutub Shah in 1562.
This blog aims to provide information about the sights to see in Hyderabad/Secunderabad.
An Overview of Hyderabad :
» Golconda Fort - Founded in the 13th century, it is one of the most remarkable fort complexes in India. It was later built by the rulers of Qutub Sahi Dynasty, who made it their capital in the year 1525. The massive fort complex houses the ruins of palaces, assembly halls, arsenal, barracks, royal gardens and the Durbar Hall which are the prime features of the fort complex. The beautiful Durbar Hall provides a commanding view of the twin cites Hyderabad and Secunderabad.
» By Air - The Hyderabad Airport is situated at a distance of 8km from the city centre and has air flights to major international destinations especially the Middle East countries. It is also well connected to various parts of India by regular domestic flights.
Secunderabad, like its twin city Hyderabad has a number of tourist attractions. The city is small yet has tourist places that are worth visiting. Secunderabad was named after Sikander Jah, the third Nizam of the Asaf Jahi dynasty. Secunderabad had its own municipality and city government, until lately when it was merged with Hyderabad. In common vernacular however, Secunderabad is seldom used these days outside the twin cities. Hyderabad is normally used. Secunderabad has interesting places to see. Some popular tourist attractions are given below:Rashtrapati Nilayam
Rashtrapati Nilayam is considered the equivalent of Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. This serves as the office of the President during his yearly stopover in South India. The building virtually transforms into a grand office when the President of India comes here every year.
Trimulgherry Fort
You can also see the Trimulgherry Fort, situated in the cantonment area. The fort was built in 1867. A deep trench surrounds it, which is about 3 miles in length. The fort once comprised of barracks, arsenals, stables, mews, mess houses, and military offices. It has now been transformed to a Military Hospital.
Trinity Church
Among the other noteworthy places a visit to the tranquil Trinity Church is must, which was once famous among the British regiments. The local church community now looks after the maintenance of the church.
Victorian Prison
There is a gloomy Military Prison from Victorian times, thankfully no longer used as a confinement quarters. The prison looks eerily grim and used to be no less than a nightmare for the prisoners.
Sangeet Cinema
The contemporary face of Secunderabad is reflected by Pizza Corner on S.P.Road, Anand and Sangeet cinemas, Elahe's boutique, Minerva Shopping Complex, Foodworld on Prenderghast Road, Sangeet Sagar, the music shop, and the office of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The city is also flanked by multiplexes that are popular hangout joints among the current generation.
To truly experience the magic of Hyderabad, it is better to hire a tourist guide. Not only will he be able to help you getting around the city with ease, but also keep giving you information regarding the bearing of each place. These tourist guides are easily available around the city. It is better to ask the place where you stay to arrange a guide for you. The guides are acquainted with many languages including English, Hindi and some regional languages. Besides these languages, some guides can even converse in French, German, Latin etc.
Hyderabad has a rich amalgamation of different cultures. One can see different cultures peacefully co-existing with each other. Thus Hyderabad is bound to celebrate different festivals almost throughout the year. Apart from the 3 major National Holidays of India, Hyderabad has some festivals that are unique to its culture. These festivals and holidays are given below.
Hyderabad has been an important commercial center of India for centuries right from the time of Mughal kings to the British rule. Shopping in Hyderabad will give you an insight into the culture of the city too and you will get a fair idea about what all to buy. The city has a huge variety of goods to offer which ranges from antiques to handicrafts to leather goods to Pearls and semi-precious stones. Commerce in the city of Hyderabad starts at around 11am. There are many business areas with dealings running into crores of rupees on a given day.
HITEC City stands for the Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City, a technology township in Hyderabad, India. The HITEC city in Hyderabad is a fine example of how fast and beautifully a city can develop if nurtured in the right way. The high potential structures coming up in Madhapur area of the 400-year-old Hyderabad city provide a classy contrast to the grand and antique monuments and palaces in the Qutub Shahi capital. It is a consummation of the vision of an information technology advocate unfolding itself in a rapid speed, akin to the architectural ambitions of Muhammad Quli Qutub Shah. The hitech structures are a two-phase acknowledgment to a technology that has concentrated the world to a global village.
