Highlights:

Charminar - the central point around which the city was built, the Charminar is the symbol of Hyderabad. It is a grand gate with four minarets and from it, spread out the main markets and shopping area of the old city. The colourful bangle market (Lad bazaar) is famous, as also the ittar (perfume) shops and jewellery shops.

Mecca Masjid - this is a huge mosque close to the Charminar where many of the Nizams were buried.

Jami Masjid - the second oldest mosque in Hyderabad, it was built in 1597.

Salarjung Museum - This fascinating museum was set up by Salarjung, the Prime Minister of Hyderabad state in the early 20th century. It consists of his personal collection of over 40,000 items ranging from jewellery, sculpture, paintings, manuscripts and much more.

Purani Haveli - This is a museum housed in the mansion of the sixth Nizam, Mahbub Ali Pasha. It shows the lavish lifestyle of the erstwhile rulers of Hyderabad and has a huge display of antique furniture, costumes, silver ware, paintings, and photographs.

Faluknama Palace - this grand palace of the Nizams is a fantastic display of wealth and opulence of the bygone ages. Craftsmen from Florence were brought to work on the interiors and marble was imported from Italy, and tapestries from France.

Hussain Sagar Lake - This huge lake created in the 17th century, lies between Hyderabad and its twin city, Secunderabad.

Secunderabad - originally the British cantonment, this city is now an extension of Hyderabad. It has some colonial churches, the huge parade grounds, and the Paigah Palace complex where the Nizams relatives lived, with the Spanish mosque (so called because of its Moorish architecture) at the entrance.

AROUND HYDERABAD
 
GOLCONDA
Just 9 km away from Hyderabad is the awesome Golconda fort. This area is famous for its diamonds and was one of the richest provinces during the time of the Nizams. The fort has three boundaries and several grand palaces, mosques and ceremonial arches within its compound. The Bala Hisar complex houses the main buildings, including the Grand Portico and the Rani Mahal. The royal treasury, armoury, granaries and bathing tanks are all evidence of the vast kingdom that was ruled over by the Qutb Shahi Kings who built this fort. A kilometre away are the Qutb Shahi tombs built in a flamboyant mix of Persian, Turkish and Hindu architecture.