Hyderabad is a city of palaces and forts, of biryanis and haleems. A city that flourished under the influence of its various Nizams; at its heyday Hyderabad was one of the grandest and most advanced cities on the planet. It was an artistic and cultural center and a scholarly mecca. Learn more about the city and what it has to offer with our guide to the top 10 things to see and do in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad’s biryanis are highly reputed as the world’s best biryanis, and with good reason. Once considered to be the Nizam’s (the state ruler) dish, it is now commonly available throughout Hyderabad and the rest of northern India. The biryani contains long-grained, fragrant basmati rice alongside marinated meat that has been soaked in a special spice concoction overnight. The cooking vessel is then sealed with dough and it is steamed over hot coals (known as dum). The ultimate taste of the biryani is spicy and complex, with a wealth of unusual and rich flavours.
There are plenty of places to try this traditional staple, read our guide to Hyderabad’s best biryanis here.
The lake of Hussain Sagar was built in 1562 across a tributary of the Musi river, and is an artificial lake that used to be Hyderabad’s main water supply before two more lakes were built. An 18-meter-tall monolithic statue of Buddha stands in the middle of the lake and is lit up at night. The lake is a popular sailing area, and boats make a 30-minute journey to the statue and back.
The prestigious Salar Jung Museum is one of India’s three National Museums. The entire antique collection in the museum was collected by Nawab Mir Yusuf Ali Khan Salar Jung III, and is currently the world’s largest antique collection owned by one man. The collections comprise worldwide treasures from places such as Persia, Egypt, and even North America. Among its treasures are paintings by the famed painter Raja Ravi Varma and swords and daggers of various Mughal emperors. The most famous exhibit is, the Veiled Rebecca, a sculpture by the Italian artist Benzoni.
Opening hours: 10am – 5pm
Qutub Shahi Tombs
A short walk away from Golconda Fort are the Qutub Shahi tombs. These tombs number 21 in their entirety and have almost as many mosques. Each of these edifices are mounted on cubical basis and are domed; they are ornamented with lime stucco decorations. The occupants of these tombs were rulers, physicians, courtesans, and various other privileged courtiers. The tombs are currently undergoing construction work, and the places where the restoration is complete hark back to the grandeur of the original tombs.
Built in the early 1800s by the East India Company representative James Achilles, this stunning neo-classical mansion was designed to signify British colonial power. There’s a massive ballroom, complete with large chandeliers and a balcony which allowed guests downstairs to watch. Although the building is now in complete disrepair and looks shabby, it’s still worth a visit. A good read would be William Dalrymple’s White Mughals, which is set in this building.
Pat, as she is otherwise known, is currently studying for an MA Honours in English Literature at the University of Edinburgh. Her passions include poetry, travelling, wit, and cooking. She has a perfectionist’s attitude to coursework and essay-writing and wants to write hers as artistically and exquisitely as possible. She is always open to learning more about new ideas, opinions, cultures and lifestyles. She would like to continue studying literature for a few more years and eventually branch out into academia and/or researching and presenting documentaries, as both allow her to share the things she’s learnt with the world.
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