Charminar Hyderabad is among the top 10 historical places in India, and it is one of those marvels that is soaked knee-deep in history. Its literal translation is "char" (four) and "minar" (minarets/towers). It is a classic example of Catia style of Islamic architecture. It is built with a wide variety of stones like marble, granite, mortar and limestone. The grandiosity of this structure will leave you awestruck!

    Charminar was built in 1591 during the rule of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, by its fifth ruler- Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. A lot of theories have been put forth about Charminar and the reasons for its construction. The mainstream and the most accepted one is that a plague epidemic had hit the city of Hyderabad, and the ruler Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb prayed at a particular spot for the plague to end. And when it did end, at that very place where he offered his prayers, the grand Charminar was built.

    Various folklores and stories have been circulating about Charminar since time immemorial. One of them is that it was built at the exact location where Quli Qutb Shah saw his future queen Bhagmati for the first time! Another one talks about Charminar having an underground tunnel connected to the Golconda fort. However, due to lack of evidence, many such stories about Charminar history have been rejected by scholars and historians alike.

    The beauty of Charminar Hyderabad does not simply lie in its structure, but also in what the structure means to the people and its symbolic importance. The area surrounding Charminar is bustling with energy at all times. There are innumerable shops selling innumerable things! But that is what Charminar Hyderabad represents; it is beautiful and larger-than-life, yet grounded amidst the everyday-life. It is sacred and mundane at the same time.

    Golconda Fort is located in the western part of Hyderabad city and is about 9 km from the Hussain Sagar Lake. The outer fort occupies an area of three square kilometers, which is 4.8 kilometers in length.

    It was originally known as Mankal, and built on a hilltop in the year 1143. It was originally a mud fort under the reign of Rajah of Warangal. Later it was fortified between 14th and 17th centuries by the Bahmani Sultans and then the ruling Qutub Shahi dynasty. Golconda was the principal capital of the Qutub Shahi kings. The inner fort contains ruins of palaces, mosques and a hill top pavilion, which rises about 130 meters high and gives a bird’s eye view of other buildings.

    Golconda fort is undoubtedly one of most magnificent fortress complexes in India. The history of Golconda Fort goes back to early 13th century, when it was ruled by the Kakatiya’s followed by Qutub Shahi kings, who ruled the region in 16th and 17th century. The fortress rests on a granite hill 120 meters high while huge crenellated ramparts surround this structure.

    It was initially called Shepherd’s Hill, meaning Golla Konda in Telugu while according to legend, on this rocky hill a shepherd boy had come across an idol and the information was conveyed to the ruling Kakatiya king at that time. The king constructed a mud fort around this holy spot and after 200 years, Bahamani rulers took possession of the place. Later the Qutub Shahi kings converted this into massive granite fort extending 5km in circumference. The fort is considered a mute witness to historic events. The Qutub Shahis reign at Golconda ended in 1687 when it was run over by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, who intentionally left it in ruins

    Golconda still boasts of mounted cannons, four drawbridges, eight gateways, and majestic halls, magazines, stables etc. The outermost enclosure is called Fateh Darwaza meaning Victory gate, after Aurangzeb’s army marched successfully through this gate. At Fateh Darwaza one can witness fantastic acoustical effects, which is one among the many famous engineering marvels at Golconda.

    Grandeur of rulers, glory of its past, glimpse of their enigmatic way of living, are still alive in the form of palaces like Chowmahalla Palace, a place worth visiting.

    Built in the 18th century, almost 200 years ago, the Chowmahalla Palace is one of the popular sightseeing places in Hyderabad. The literal meaning of this place is “Four Palaces” with “Chow” means four in Urdu and “Mahalat” which is the plural of “Mahalel” meaning palaces. Chowmahalla palace is said to resemble Shah Palace of Tehran in Iran.

    The construction of Chowmahalla Palace was mainly completed between 1857 to 1869 during the rule of fifth Nizam, Afzar-ud-Daulah, Asaf Jav V. However, its building is mostly credited to Nizam Salabat Jang in 1790. The Palace originally covered 45 acres which extended from the Laad Bazaar on the north to the Aspan Chowk Road on the south. Now, the total remained area of the palace is close to 12 acres.

    The Chowmahalla Palace is consisted of two courtyards which are divided into the northern courtyard and the southern courtyard. The southern courtyard of the palace has four palaces which are namely Afzal Mahal, Tahniyat Mahal, Mahtab Mahal, and Aftab Mahal. The Aftab Mahal is a two storied building and is the biggest of all the four. The northern courtyard which has been open to public, houses Bara Imam, a long corridor with many rooms on the eastern side, which was once the administrative wing. Another captivating feature of this courtyard is the Shishe-Alat. This was used to receive guests and public figures.

    It is said that Chowmahalla Palace used to have around 7000 attendants on any given day. For its grandeur and charm, it has been often compared to the Enchanted Gardens of the Arabian Nights for its grandeur.

    The Qutub Shahi Tombs were planned and built by numerous monarchs who ruled the city and the state during the 18th century. Lying two kilometers from the Golconda Fort, the Qutub Shahi Tombs are built to Persian, Hindu and Pathani styles of architecture. Located in the heart of Hyderabad, these tombs are a famous landmark in the city. Domed structures, terraced gardens, intricate parapets and exquisite ornamentation can all be found at one place. What's more, the Deccan Festival is held at the Qutub Shahi Tombs every year, presenting an opportunity for all those who want to witness the architectural and engineering marvels of the 18th century. Small and big sarcophagi can be found here, although only a few of them remain and are open to public now. These monuments are not only known for its splendid artistry and sprawling gardens, but is also known for the countless tombs of the last standing royals of Golconda.

    One of the most important tombs at the Qutub Shahi Tombs is the one that belongs to the Qutub Shahi dynasty founder, Sultan Quli Qutub-ul-Mulk. He built his tomb himself and was the longest overseer of the architectural project. He also decided to build tombs that belonged to the non-ruling members of the royal families for example the sisters, nephews and nieces. The Qutub Shahi Tombs were built and dedicated to the seven Qutub Shahi rulers and their families who ruled Golconda for nearly 170 years.

    The grandeur of the tombs is shielded by the majestic, landscaped gardens of Ibrahim Bagh. The styles of the tombs are perhaps, the most important reason why thousands of tourists flock the resting places of these Golconda rulers. One will be able to see Hindu, Persian, Pathan and Deccan styles of architecture. As a result, you will be able to spot the amalgam of the Indo-Saracenic entrances, Persian minarets, domed structures and intricately designed columns. Inside, the tombs differ in size and number. One of the most modest looking tombs belongs to the founder of the Qutub Shahi dynasty himself-Sultan Quli Qutub-ul-Mulk.

    Simple designs and geometrical symmetry are probably the only patterns that glaze his sarcophagus. However, one of the most impressive tombs belongs to the founder of Hyderabad, Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah and rises to a height of 42 meters and protected by a large dome. Minarets and ornamental parapets complete the Islamic architecture and his tomb. The other tombs are still awe-inspiring in their own right.

    The historic Mecca Masjid is located adjacent to Charminar in a south-west direction. The construction of this mosque started in the year 1614 by Sultan Muhammad Qutb Shah and was Aurangzeb completed in 1693. Built with local granite, it finds place among largest mosques in India and is the most important and largest one in the city. The arched gallery displays the tombs of all the Nizam’s from the year 1803.

    The mosque has a length of 225 feet and is 180 feet wide with a height of 75 feet. The name is derived from the Grand Mosque in Mecca on which it is modeled. The hall has a dimension of 67 metres x 54 metres x 23 metres. The roof is rested on 15 arches.

    There is a high blocking wall on the western side for Mehrab. It has two huge octagonal columns, which are created from a single piece of granite. This is inturn topped by an arched gallery crowned by a dome. This mosque can accommodate 10,000 worshipers at any time. It is located two hundred yards from Charminar. The mosque was believed to have used bricks during its construction where brought from Mecca. A room in the courtyard is believed to house a sacred relic of the prophet. According to history, Sultan Muhammad Qutub Shah invited the entire devout religious elders in the city to lay the foundation stone but as no one had come forward, Sultan Muhammad himself volunteered to lay foundation and it is said that he never missed his midnight prayer in life right from the age of 12. Visitors coming to Charminar also visit the holy mosque, which lends a divine aura to the Muslim worshippers in the old city of Hyderabad.

    The glistening white structure dotting the skyline of modern Hyderabad, Birla Mandir is located towards the southern end of Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad. It situated atop the Kala Pahad which is a twin hillock of Naubat Pahad. The Birlas built the Hyderabad temple in 1976 and constructed it with white marbles imported from Rajasthan. The hillock is at a height of 280-feet situated on a 13-acre plot.

    The construction took almost a decade to complete and was consecrated in the same year by Swami Ranganathananda of Ramakrishna Mission. Birla Foundation, known for constructing other similar temples across the country is the patron of Birla Mandir at Hyderabad too.

    The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu present in the form of Sri Venkateswara. One can find the kirtanas of Tyagaraja, Annamayya, and Ramadasu reverberating against the backdrop of a blue sky in the morning. The temple combines the architectural styles of Utkal (Oriya) and South Indian style. The Rajagopuram represents South Indian architectural style while the tower over the main shrine also called the Jagadananda Vimanam represents the Oriyan style. The temple also boasts of finely sculpted marbled images depicting the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The 42-feet high sanctum sanctorum (garbha gudi) is an impressive replica of the Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala.

    The presiding deity is made of granite, 11-feet tall. Swami Venkateswara’s consorts Padmavati and Andal are worshipped in adjoining separate shrines. The Birla Mandir complex also houses a temple dedicated to Buddha along with fresco paintings describing his life. The temple also has separate shrines for other gods such as Shiva, Ganesh, Saraswati, Hanuman, Brahma, Lakshmi and Saibaba.

    The temple also boasts of finely sculpted marbled images depicting the great epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata. The 42-feet high sanctum sanctorum (garbha gudi) is an impressive replica of the Venkateshwara temple at Tirumala.

    Falaknuma Palace was built by Nawab Vikar-ul-Umra. With the construction laid out in 1884, it took almost 9 years to complete the construction of the palace. One of the popular tourist spots of Hyderabad, Taj Falaknuma Palace was later purchased by Nizam VI in 1897. The palace served as a royal guest house to him.

    Constructed over an area of 32 acres and approximately 2,000 feet above Hyderabad, the Falaknuma Palace has been constructed with Italian marble. Built by an Italian architect, the palace is one of the architectural wonders of 19th century and is often referred as "mirror of the sky".

    With interiors decorated lavishly, the palace has close to 220 rooms and 22 halls, each designed beautifully. One of the most captivating features of this palace is its innumerable Venetian chandeliers; their exquisite beauty and large size alluring every visitor. The palace represents the glamour of Nizam era and its carefully designed architectural beauty.

    It is said that Nizam was an ardent traveller who used to love collecting souvenirs from places around the world. This is one of reasons why Falaknuma Palace houses such a rich collection. Not only chandeliers Taj Falaknuma Palace boasts of marble staircase, carved balustrades, huge library and unique collection of the Holy Quran. Along with this, the rosewood dining table of the palace with a capacity of hosting 100 guests at a time is also worth noticing. The Nizam also treasured massive collections of rare paintings, statues, furniture, manuscripts and books. The Jade collection of the Falaknuma Palace is famous all over the world. Gardens, Mughal, Japanese and Rajasthani here at the palace are also exceptional.

    This Palace was taken over by Taj Group and has been opened as 5-star hotel in the year of 2010. Now it is popularly known as the Taj Falaknuma Palace. The hotel is consisted of 60 spacious guestrooms offering all the visitors with a royal experience. The hotel not just offers grand staying opportunities but also has a tea room, hookah lounge and two restaurants for everyone.