Charminar

with 56 m tall minarets and 4 huge arches, the Charminar, often called the Arc de Triomphe of the East, was built between 1591 and 1612 by Sultan Mohammad Quli Qutub Shah. The Charminar, once the entranceway to the palace complex, is the symbolic centre piece of the city. Today, this impressive landmark is surrounded by the lively and crowded bazaars and is illuminated at night.

Golconda Fort

Famous for its diamond mines (from which the famous Kohinoor diamond of the British Crown was mined) Golconda, 10km west of Hyderabad is one of the greatest medieval fortresses in India. Initially built of mud in the 12^th century it was later reinforced by the Bahmanis, who occupied the fort from 1363. The main structure is a huge citadel with 5km of double walls, 87 bastions and 8 huge entrance gates. The incredible acoustics of the Fateh Darwaza Victory Gate would enable the sound of a drum, bugle or a handclap, to be heard in the breezy Durbar Hall at the top of the fort.

The extensive ruins of Golconda Fort bear witness to the engineering genius of the Qutb Shahi builders. Visit the Mortuary Bath, Armoury, the Women’s Palace, the Ambar khana, the Mahakali Temple and finally at the top, the Durbar Hall, which affords amazing views of the surrounding countryside from the roof.

Qutb Shahi Tombs

The final resting place of the Qutb Shah Kings, 12km from Hyderabad, the Qutb Shahi tombs are built on a raised platform with balustrades and beautiful minarets surrounded by well-maintained gardens. These tombs, a mixture of Persian, Pathan and Hindu forms are built from grey granite and embellished with stucco ornamentation. They are noted for the uniformity of the design, and for the exquisite onion shaped domes. The tomb of the 5th king of the Qutb Shahi dynasty who founded Hyderabad rises to a height of 42.5m, with a large dome and 28 open arches; undoubtedly one of the largest and most imposing tombs.

Laad Bazaar

in the Old City is famous for its lacker bangles, pearls, fabrics etc. Hyderabad, ‘The city of pearls’ is famed for its enchanting pearls, beautiful poetry, delicious cuisine and the much in vogue Hyderabadi Bangles. With their adorable Chan Chan, appealing colors and ethnic patterns bangles have become a fashion statement for today’s women. Gracefully adapting it with the modern trends this versatile traditional ornament is a fashion accessory enhancing aesthetic beauty. Bangles are not just a decoration for women but are a

beauty in itself, ask any Hyderabadi and they will definitely vouch for it! There are many types of bangles and there are quite a few present near and around Charminar, where bangle sellers weave a web of magic around your wrists.

The most famous is the Hyderabadi Lacquered Bangles, molded out of pure lac and studded with glittering and beautifully cut glass pieces of various colors. The old city’s best-loved market sells famed lac bangles encrusted with coloured stones and boasts a trove of other embellished goods and lacquer work. The shops here have been retailing beautiful, artsy wares for almost 200 years.

Ramoji Film City

Ramoji Film City is India’s only thematic holiday destination with cine-magic. Certified as the World’s Largest Film Studio complex by Guinness World Records, it spreads across 2000 acres. Millions of tourists visit the amusement park to live their dream vacation. It is a perfect getaway and theme park that stimulates the mind and heart alike.

A comprehensive, fun entertainment and leisure hub, Ramoji Film City is a special engagement with the magic of cinema whose heavenly charm is unraveled in every element, including breath-taking avenues, landscapes, make-believe locales and unlimited fun and entertainment options. Plan for a wonderful vacation, Film City Tour to experience the excitement of enthralling film studio complex - Ramoji Film City.

Salar Jung Museum

The 36 halls of the Salar Jung museum display a large array of objects; all collected by Sir Yousuf Ali Salar Jung III the Wazir (Prime Minister) to the Nizam of Hyderabad, from 1899 until 1949. The Salar Jung Museum is quite possibly the largest one-man collection of objects d’art in India.

Makkah Masjid or Mecca Masjid

Is a congregational mosque in Hyderabad, India. It is one of the largest mosques in India with a capacity of 10,000 people. The mosque was built during the 17th century, and is a state-protected monument. It serves as the primary mosque for the Old City of Hyderabad, and is located close to the historic landmarks of Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace and Laad Bazaar.

Muhammad Qutb Shah, the sixth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, commissioned bricks to be made from the soil brought from Mecca, the holiest site of Islam, and used them in the construction of the central arch of the mosque, thus giving the mosque its name.

The complex was put by UNESCO on its "tentative list" to become a World Heritage Site in 2014, with others in the region, under the name Monuments and Forts of the Deccan Sultanate (despite there being a number of different sultanates).